Heartless

Elsie Silver

48 pages 1-hour read

Elsie Silver

Heartless

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2023

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Twenty-five-year-old Willa Grant is a playful, free-spirited woman from a family of high achievers. Living off a trust fund and bartending at her brother's city bar, she feels restless and unsure of her long-term direction. Willa agrees to work as a summer nanny at Wishing Well Ranch simply to spend more time near her best friend. She uses humor and quick banter to hide her insecurities, but she possesses a fiercely loving nature and quickly breathes life into the quiet ranch household.

Key Relationships

Employee and romantic interest of Cade Eaton

Nanny to Luke Eaton

Best friend of Summer Hamilton

Acquaintance of Winter Hamilton

Thirty-eight-year-old Cade Eaton manages his family's property at Wishing Well Ranch and raises his young son on his own. After his mother died when he was eight, Cade assumed the heavy responsibility of helping raise his younger siblings, developing a strict and highly responsible exterior. Still wounded by his ex-wife's abandonment three years ago, he avoids emotional risks and focuses solely on his farm work and his son's well-being. He hires Willa reluctantly, suspecting she is too wild for the job.

Key Relationships

Employer and romantic interest of Willa Grant

Father of Luke Eaton

Older brother of Rhett Eaton

Older brother of Beau Eaton

Older brother of Violet Eaton

Ex-husband of Talia

Luke is Cade's five-year-old son. His biological mother abandoned the family when he was a toddler, leaving him to be raised by his father and extended paternal family. Despite the absence of a maternal figure, Luke is a sweet, energetic, and curious child who knows he is deeply loved. He craves fun and affection, quickly attaching himself to his new nanny.

Key Relationships

Son of Cade Eaton

Charge of Willa Grant

Grandson of Harvey Eaton

Son of Talia

Supporting Characters

Summer is Willa's best friend and Rhett Eaton's fiancée. She recently left a stressful city life to live with Rhett on Wishing Well Ranch, where she thrives in the country environment. Summer serves as a grounding force for Willa, offering her practical advice and encouraging her to take a chance on the Eaton family.

Key Relationships

Best friend of Willa Grant

Fiancée of Rhett Eaton

Future sister-in-law of Cade Eaton

Estranged sister of Winter Hamilton

Harvey is the patriarch of the Eaton family. After his wife died when his children were young, he dedicated his life to running Wishing Well Ranch. In recent years, he has stepped back slightly from operations to serve as a reliable and involved grandfather to Luke. He is highly respected by his children and offers them steady, practical guidance.

Key Relationships

Father of Cade Eaton

Grandfather of Luke Eaton

Father of Rhett Eaton

Father of Beau Eaton

Father of Violet Eaton

Rhett is Cade's younger brother and a professional bull rider. He lives on Wishing Well Ranch with his fiancée, Summer. Rhett possesses a laid-back, easygoing demeanor that contrasts sharply with Cade's rigid seriousness, and he frequently teases his older brother about his tightly wound habits.

Key Relationships

Younger brother of Cade Eaton

Fiancé of Summer Hamilton

Talia is Cade's ex-wife and Luke's biological mother. She pursued Cade since childhood but ultimately abandoned him and their two-year-old son, citing boredom with Cade's lifestyle. Her rare appearances in town create significant anxiety and frustration for the Eaton family.

Key Relationships

Ex-wife of Cade Eaton

Mother of Luke Eaton

Jasper is a famous hockey player who grew up alongside the Eaton siblings. He is deeply integrated into the family and is treated as an honorary brother by Cade and Rhett. He enjoys the local bar scene and participates in the family's social outings.

Key Relationships

Friend of Cade Eaton

Friend of Sloane Eaton

Winter is Summer's estranged sister. She works as a medical professional and carries the lingering weight of her and Summer's difficult upbringing. She maintains a strictly professional demeanor when interacting with Willa and Cade at the hospital.

Key Relationships

Estranged sister of Summer Hamilton

Acquaintance of Willa Grant

Lance is a local cowboy and friend of the Eaton family. He frequents the town's bars and is highly social. His visible interest in Willa on the dance floor sparks Cade's protective and jealous instincts.

Key Relationships

Friend of Cade Eaton

Admirer of Willa Grant

Beau is one of Cade's younger brothers. He frequently participates in the family's social gatherings and shares the tight-knit bond that defines the Eaton sibling group.

Key Relationships

Younger brother of Cade Eaton

Violet is Cade's younger sister. She is part of the sibling group that Cade helped raise following their mother's early death, and she remains close to her brothers and father.

Key Relationships

Younger sister of Cade Eaton

Daughter of Harvey Eaton

Cousin of Sloane Eaton

Sloane is a cousin to the Eaton siblings. She visits the ranch and shares updates about her personal life, including news of her engagement, which causes noticeable tension among certain family friends.

Key Relationships

Cousin of Violet Eaton

Friend of Jasper Gervais

Betty is a local mother whose son attends the same birthday party as Luke. When her son bullies Luke in the pool, Betty dismisses the dangerous behavior as a joke, leading to a sharp confrontation.

Key Relationships

Antagonist of Willa Grant