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 sat at my vanity, brushing my hair and watching my reflection in the mirror. The corners of my mouth turned upward as thoughts of Alaric filled my mind. Our marriage had evolved so much from the contractual arrangement I had desperately proposed all those months ago. Now, comfort and affection flowed between us like a gentle stream, growing deeper and stronger each day.


My fingers traced the edge of my mask, now a familiar part of me rather than a shameful necessity. Alaric had changed how I felt about so many things, including myself. The way he looked at me, touched me, spoke to me—it all made me feel cherished in ways I had never imagined possible.


"He's always teasing me," I whispered to my reflection. "Perhaps it's time I returned the favor."


Chapter 171 - A Playful Deception, A Husband's Desire