King of Greed by Ana Huang Summary

King of Greed is a contemporary romance novel about Dominic Davenport, the ambitious "King of Wall Street," who loses his wife Alessandra after years of prioritizing money and power over their marriage. When Alessandra demands a divorce and leaves to pursue her own dreams with her pressed flower business, Floria Designs, Dominic must confront what he's sacrificed in his endless quest for more. This steamy second-chance romance explores whether their ten-year marriage can survive his transformation from workaholic billionaire to the husband she deserves.

Ana Huang is a #1 New York Times, USA Today, and Sunday Times bestselling author who has sold over 23 million books worldwide across contemporary romance genres. The Chinese-American author became a BookTok phenomenon, with her Twisted series accumulating over two billion views on the platform and currently in development for television at Netflix. In 2024, Huang ranked as the fourth highest-selling BookTok author with 1,474,194 print copies sold, and her work has been translated into thirty-four languages.

King of Greed is perfect for readers who love marriage-in-trouble romances, second-chance love stories, and billionaire romance with minimal power imbalance. Fans of Ana Huang's Kings of Sin series will appreciate the emotional depth and character development, while newcomers can enjoy it as a standalone. This book appeals to those seeking steamy romance with significant groveling, female empowerment arcs, and stories about rediscovering personal identity within relationships. Readers interested in Wall Street settings and strong, independent heroines will particularly enjoy Alessandra's journey.

King of Greed is absolutely worth reading for romance enthusiasts seeking emotional depth beyond typical billionaire tropes. The novel reached #1 on the New York Times Paperback Trade Fiction bestseller list in 2023 and received praise for its balanced portrayal of both partners' perspectives through dual POV narration. Unlike many billionaire romances, King of Greed features a heroine who walks away from wealth to build her own business and identity, creating genuine stakes and satisfying character growth. The combination of steamy scenes, meaningful groveling, and themes of self-discovery makes it a compelling read.

King of Greed can be read as a standalone despite being the third book in Ana Huang's Kings of Sin series. While Dominic and Alessandra appear as a married couple in previous books, their complete love story and marriage crisis unfold entirely within King of Greed. Readers unfamiliar with the series won't miss crucial plot points, though they may enjoy cameos from characters featured in earlier installments. The self-contained narrative focuses exclusively on the Davenports' relationship journey, making prior series knowledge unnecessary for full enjoyment.

King of Greed explores the destructive nature of unchecked ambition and how the pursuit of wealth can corrupt genuine human connection. The novel examines the importance of maintaining independence and personal identity within marriage, particularly through Alessandra's transformation from neglected socialite to confident business owner. Ana Huang addresses communication breakdown in long-term relationships and the challenge of balancing professional success with emotional presence. The story also highlights how childhood poverty can drive excessive ambition, as Dominic's obsession with accumulating wealth stems from growing up with nothing.

Dominic Davenport and Alessandra's relationship begins as a passionate partnership where she helped him build his empire, but deteriorates when Dominic becomes consumed by work and consistently chooses Wall Street over his wife. After ten years of marriage, Alessandra has abandoned her dreams and identity to support Dominic, while he remains oblivious to her pain and loneliness. The relationship reaches its breaking point when Dominic misses their tenth anniversary trip, prompting Alessandra to leave her wedding ring behind and demand a divorce. Their dynamic shifts dramatically as Alessandra reclaims her independence and Dominic must grovel to win her back.

King of Greed distinguishes itself by featuring a heroine who actively rejects her husband's wealth and chooses financial independence over luxury. Unlike traditional billionaire romances with power imbalances, Alessandra walks away from Dominic's money, struggles to renovate her own storefront, and proves herself capable without his resources. Ana Huang prioritizes female agency throughout the Kings of Sin series, ensuring heroines have their own dreams, lives, and ambitions separate from their love interests. The novel focuses more on emotional growth and communication than material displays, with Dominic's redemption requiring genuine transformation rather than expensive gestures.

King of Greed features powerful quotes that capture the marriage's breakdown and eventual healing.

"Dominic didn't care about anything that didn't make him money" encapsulates Alessandra's disillusionment with her husband's skewed priorities.

"You've made it clear, time and again, that I'm not a priority" reveals the core pain driving their separation and Alessandra's accumulated frustration.

"You're the only person I've ever loved. Even if I didn't show it. It's always been you" demonstrates Dominic's vulnerability as he finally recognizes what matters most.

These quotes illustrate the emotional journey from resentment to reconciliation.

King of Greed examines how Dominic Davenport's childhood poverty created an insatiable hunger for wealth that ultimately destroys what he values most. Despite accumulating everything—a beautiful home, successful career, and loving wife—Dominic's endless quest for more prevents him from feeling satisfied or recognizing he has enough. Ana Huang contrasts the corrupting influence of wealth with the importance of genuine human connection, showing how Dominic's obsession with money blinds him to his wife's emotional needs. The novel demonstrates that true wealth lies in relationships rather than bank accounts, as Dominic only realizes this after Alessandra leaves.

Alessandra's character arc centers on rediscovering her identity after losing herself in her role as Dominic's supportive wife for ten years. She transforms from a woman who abandoned her dreams and curled in on herself to a confident entrepreneur launching Floria Designs, her pressed flower business. Throughout King of Greed, Alessandra gains empowerment through independence, learning to stand on her own two feet financially and emotionally. Her journey involves remembering who she was before marriage, pursuing her own ambitions, and refusing to accept less than she deserves from her relationship, making her growth as satisfying as Dominic's groveling.

The Kings of Sin series by Ana Huang is a contemporary romance collection featuring powerful, wealthy men and strong heroines with minimal power imbalances. King of Greed is the third installment, following Dominic Davenport and Alessandra's marriage crisis. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone while featuring interconnected characters from the same social circle. The series has achieved massive commercial success, with King of Sloth reaching #1 on both the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Ana Huang's Kings of Sin novels are known for their billionaire romance settings, steamy scenes, and heroines who maintain independence and personal ambitions throughout their love stories.