Shahram "Ram" Zare carries a dark secret—shadows of unresolved pain. Five years earlier, he and his brother fled their home country after a tribal war, but now, the ghosts have settled, and their uncle travels to the US, hoping to encourage the brothers to marry. And Ram has been charged with finding a pseudo-fiancée for his older brother, Javad. His search leads him to a beautiful woman. He hesitates to ask her to be a pawn in such an archaic system of duty, especially as his heart grows deeper in love with her.

As Mia Phillips watches her mother slip away from cancer, she bows under the pressure of unpaid bills and heartache. No amount of soul searching fills her empty bank account... or her indecision over the most breathtaking man. Ram offers her a life change, yet not with him—a fake marriage of convenience to his brother. Javad is too hard and rigid, but Ram... he is the other half of her soul. Yet they must remain friends to make the lie seem real. Or will they? Everything comes down to propriety, honor, and the right to choose the love of their hearts...