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

I was still soaking in the bath, lost in thoughts about confronting Juliette, when the door swung open without warning. My heart leaped into my throat as Alaric strode in, his expression concerned.


"Isabella? Are you alright in here?" His eyes swept over me, taking in my startled expression.


"Alaric!" I quickly sank deeper into the water, grateful for the thick layer of soap bubbles covering me. "What are you doing?"


He stopped a few feet from the tub, his brow furrowed. "I heard no one was assisting you with your bath. I wanted to make sure you were okay."


Heat rushed to my cheeks that had nothing to do with the warm water. "I'm fine, really. The bubbles are... covering everything."


"I can see that," he replied, his lips quirking slightly. "I apologize for barging in. I instructed the servants to ensure you had proper assistance."


Chapter 42 - Whispers of a Scheming Mother