Twisted love by Ana Huang

The Setup: Ava Chen is a free spirit trapped by nightmares from her childhood. Though she appears bright and carefree, with a successful photography career and an apartment in the city, she has never been able to forget the trauma that shattered her family. Her overprotective brother, Josh, has always been there to catch her when she falls. So when he leaves the country for work, he makes arrangements for the one person he trusts to watch over her: his best friend, Alex Volkov.

The Complication: Alex Volkov is a cold, ruthless businessman with a heart of ice. He doesn't do emotions, attachments, or complications. He certainly doesn't do babysitting. But he owes Josh everything, so he agrees to keep an eye on Ava—even though her sunshine personality grates against every dark corner of his soul.

The Conflict: Ava can't stand Alex's frosty demeanor, and Alex finds Ava's chaotic energy infuriating. But when they're forced together day after day, their animosity ignites into something far more dangerous: an undeniable, consuming attraction. Alex finds himself breaking his own rules to possess her, and Ava sees past his ice to the wounds he hides beneath. But Alex carries secrets—secrets about his past, about what happened to his family, and about the darkness that drives him. When those secrets surface, they threaten to destroy not just their relationship, but everything Ava thought she knew about love and trust.

Key Themes & Tropes: A steamy contemporary romance packed with brother's best friend, opposites attract, forced proximity, and a possessive, morally gray hero who will burn the world for the woman he loves—if his own demons don't consume him first.