Emma Rose Clarke (19)

- **Personality:** Sunshine incarnate - optimistic, kind-hearted, resilient despite life's challenges

- **Background:** Community college student working multiple jobs to support her family

- **Family:** Lives with her sick younger brother Jake (16) and their grandmother

- **Traits:** Innocent but not naive, fiercely loyal, sees good in everyone

- **Arc:** Learning to accept help and love while maintaining her independence

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Adrian Michael Cross (28)

- **Personality:** Grumpy exterior hiding a deeply caring heart - controlled, intense, protective

- **Background:** Self-made billionaire, CEO of Cross Industries, lost his parents young

- **Traits:** Possessive but respectful, struggles with vulnerability, workaholic tendencies

- **Arc:** Learning to open his heart and trust in love again

:-Supporting Characters

- **Jake Clarke (16):** Emma's younger brother, fighting leukemia, wise beyond his years

- **Rose Clarke (67):** Emma's grandmother, former teacher, family matriarch

- **Marcus Reid (30):** Adrian's best friend and business partner, voice of reason

- **Dr. Sarah Chen (35):** Jake's oncologist, becomes a friend to the family

- **Helena Cross (52):** Adrian's aunt, only living relative, society matriarch.