Taming My Billionaire’s Ruthless Desire

A new vertical starring Mariah? Count me in! (#TeamMyra4Ever)
While the storyline falls into familiar (and sadly abusive) tropes, I gave it a watch because of the phenomenal cast—and I’m glad I did, even if I had mixed feelings.

Meet the Lead Couple

Jade – Once the heiress of her family, her life is turned upside down when she discovers she was adopted. Suddenly, Olivia—the biological daughter—takes her place. On top of that, Jade is trapped in an abusive marriage with Samuel. When she becomes pregnant, she escapes to protect her child.

Samuel – A textbook abuser: manipulative, cruel, controlling. He refused to show Jade any love but also wouldn’t let her go. Divorce? Not on his terms.

The Good Guy (Who Deserved Better)

James – Always supportive of Jade, kind and patient. I really wish she had chosen him, but alas, love doesn’t always go to the right person. A classic friend-zoned hero.

Jade’s Two Families

Her adoptive parents – This one’s complicated. They weren’t abusive, but they also didn’t stand up for Jade. Once their “real” daughter Olivia returned, Jade was cast aside like she never mattered. That hurt more than overt cruelty.

The Careys (her biological parents) – Genuine and caring, but Jade, scarred from years of mistreatment, pushes them away. It’s heartbreaking to see her reject the love she always deserved. She still go back to them at some point, and Jade’s life become better, finally!

The Meanies (and They’re NASTY)

Olivia – The new heiress and a master manipulator. She falsely accuses Jade of bullying and even orchestrates an assault that costs Jade a financial opportunity. Cassidy nailed the role—I hated Olivia, which is a testament to her acting!

Mary (Samuel’s mom) – At first, another cold figure. But once Samuel gets sick, she softens and even apologizes. Growth? Yes. Forgiveness? Still debatable.

Lily – Samuel’s new fiancée. A spoiled celebrity who reveals her true colors quickly. She crashes Jade and James’s engagement party just because she can. Too bad for her, Jade didn’t let her ruin the day!

The storyline

Five years after she initially left Samuel, Jade returns with her son, just wanting peace. But of course, Samuel is still around, still toxic, and still acting like a victim. Dude, please. You’ve done nothing but hurt this woman. And don’t even get me started on his line, “I can’t be soft-hearted anymore.” You were NEVER soft-hearted, sir.

Still, as the series wraps, both Mary and Samuel start to show real remorse. That’s rare in Vertical dramas and deserves credit. Samuel’s self-awareness (“I don’t know why I treated her like that”) is long overdue.

Yet I’m disappointed Jade didn’t end up with James. He truly deserved her love.

Final Thoughts

This was a difficult story to watch, mostly due to the heavy abuse themes. But the cast? Chef’s kiss.

• Mariah delivers beautifully—yes, I’m biased, and yes, I’m right.
• Myles is chillingly perfect as Samuel.
• Teig is charming and grounded, as always.
• Tina was surprisingly more neutral here—less “Worst Mom of the Year” than usual!
• Cassidy and Alona? Brilliant villains. Can’t wait to see Cassidy in a good role next!

Overall, I’m tired of seeing this type of abusive dynamic romanticized. The production quality was high, but I hope platforms start prioritizing fresh stories with empowering messages. That shift is beginning—I just hope it continues.

Also, now that we’ve had a taste of Mariah and Teig together, I NEED a drama where they are the leads! That duo would be everything.