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 Beaumont estate looked different now. As our carriage approached, I could feel the weight of tragedy hanging over the once-imposing manor. It wasn't just my imagination—the curtains were drawn tight, servants moved with hushed steps, and even the gardens seemed to have lost their luster in the days since Baron Reginald's death.


"Are you ready for this?" Alaric asked, his hand squeezing mine as the carriage rolled to a stop.


I nodded, though my stomach twisted with anxiety. "I never thought I'd return here willingly."


The front door swung open before we'd even reached the steps. Jasper, the family butler, stood there looking significantly older than when I'd last seen him just days ago. His normally impeccable appearance was slightly disheveled, his eyes rimmed with red.


"Your Graces," he bowed deeply. "Thank you for coming. Lady Beatrix is in the drawing room."


Chapter 84 - A Mother's Despair, A Butler's Guilt