A fake engagement. An inheritance that asks too much. And a love story that refuses to stay pretend. Lara Bennett has spent years rebuilding her life—raising her children, honoring her responsibilities, and learning how to live inside the quiet balance she created after everything once fell apart. But when two men arrive from Scotland with a truth she was never meant to know, that balance begins to fracture. Lara is the unexpected heir to Glenallen Estate, a centuries-old Scottish Highland estate tied to the father she never knew she had. The inheritance is extraordinary—and it comes with a condition that demands more than she is prepared to give: Marry a Scottish citizen within one year—or lose Glenallen forever. Drawn to Scotland in search of answers, Lara finds herself immersed in a world shaped by history, loyalty, and unspoken expectations. There she meets Cal Reid—charismatic, world-famous, and far more grounded than the tabloids suggest. He is the last man she expects to trust with something this personal—and the one who quietly challenges the careful way she has learned to live. A temporary fake engagement offers a way forward. On paper, it’s practical. Strategic. Contained. In reality, it changes everything. As the year unfolds against the rugged beauty of the Scottish Highlands, long-buried family truths surface, old patterns are tested, and Lara is forced to confront a question she’s avoided for years: what does it mean to choose a life that feels honest—not just safe? With time running out and pressure mounting from all sides, Lara must decide what she’s willing to risk for a future she never imagined—and whether leaping toward love will cost her everything… or finally lead her home. Inherited Hearts is a slow-burn contemporary romance about love that gives without keeping score, the families we are born into and the ones we choose, and the courage it takes to step fully into the life meant for you.