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

My fingers trembled as I reached for the ties of my mask. Every instinct screamed at me to stop, to pull away, to keep this last shield between us. But Alaric's eyes held mine, steady and patient, giving me strength I didn't know I possessed.


"Take your time," he murmured, his voice gentle. "I'm not going anywhere."


I took a deep breath, my heart hammering so loudly I was certain he could hear it. The silk ties loosened under my fingers, and I felt the familiar pressure of the mask ease slightly against my skin.


"I've worn this for so long," I whispered. "It feels like part of me."


"It's not." Alaric's voice was firm but kind. "It never was."


With one final surge of courage, I untied the last knot. The mask still clung to my face, held there by habit and fear more than anything else. Time seemed to slow as I raised my hand and slowly, inch by inch, lowered the barrier that had defined me for years.


Chapter 73 - The Unveiling