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

The crassness of Lady Rowena's question hung in the air. She stood before us, eyes narrowed and challenging, waiting for me to cower as I once might have.


"Well, girl? Did you manage to secure your position, or was my son merely amusing himself?"


I felt Alaric tense beside me, ready to defend my honor, but something shifted inside me. This was my battle. I straightened my spine, meeting her gaze without flinching.


"My relationship with my husband is private," I said, my voice steady and clear. "I don't owe you details of our intimate life, Lady Rowena."


Her eyebrows shot up, clearly not expecting resistance from me. "How dare you speak to me that way? I am the mother of the Duke!"


"And I am the Duchess," I replied simply. "Your son's wife."


Alaric's hand found mine, squeezing gently in silent support. "Mother, your questions are inappropriate. You're overstepping."


Chapter 76 - A Duchess's Stand, A Mother's Defeat (Again)