Violet_167

Isabella Beaumont figured she was making a smart, if desperate, trade: her freedom in exchange for marrying the dreaded Duke Alaric Thorne. 
Sure, the guy had a reputation darker than a moonless night, whispered about in every corner of the kingdom, but it was just a contract, right? A way to escape a brutal past that had literally left its mark on her face. 
She wasn’t expecting warmth, and definitely not passion. But then Alaric, this formidable, feared man, starts acting… protective. His unexpected kindness will make her want to throw away her protective mask and actually fall for the man who was supposed to be just her ticket to freedom. 
Just as Isabella starts believing she might actually deserve happiness, everything begins falling apart around them.
With the villains on the loose, old wounds being ripped open, and everyone’s true colors showing, is this sudden, fierce love strong enough to survive the storm? Or will the darkness from their pasts and the deadly games shatter everything they’re starting to build?

The Masked Duchess

Lady Beatrix's icy glare pierced through me as Kate and Baron Reginald left the dining table. Her fingers drummed against the polished wood, her jaw clenched tight enough to crack walnuts.


"You've ruined everything," she hissed. "Are you satisfied now, Isabella? You've torn this family apart with your accusations."


I took a slow sip of water, savoring her discomfort. For once, I wasn't cowering or apologizing.


"I didn't ruin anything," I replied calmly. "This family needs to learn accountability. My father stole my inheritance. Clara scarred my face. These aren't accusations—they're facts."


Lady Beatrix's nostrils flared. "Always blaming others for your misfortunes. Your face is not Clara's fault. It was an accident."


"An accident?" I laughed without humor. "She pushed me into that fireplace because I received a compliment she thought should be hers. That wasn't an accident."


"You were always competing for attention—"


Chapter 26 - A Summons in the Night