What ties connect her past to her wedding night of a forced marriage with this stranger?
" You will be wed to the Earl of Valthems in a fortnight"
The announcement caused Blair's face to go pale. Horrified, she sat still, at loss for words. If it had been any other person, she would have accused him of jesting, but her father, the Earl of Winrook, never jested, talk more of such a matter. He would grin, yes, but those grins were even more frightening than his frowns, like a wolf flashing its teeth before and attack.
" The wedding will take place in the countryside", he went on. " I've asked..
" I don't want to", Blair said, finally finding her voice though still trembling.
Her father paused but then continued as if she hadn't uttered a word. " I've asked your Aunt, Lady Monique, and your sister, Beryl to see to the preparations. I'll be dropping by at..."
" Father, I don't want to be wed, I don't even know the Earl of Valthems", she spoke louder this time getting on her feet.
" Well you seemed to have enjoyed his company last night ", he pointed out stone faced. Blair frowned.
Indeed she had enjoyed dancing with the Earl last night at Lord Edward's ball. He was a good dancer after all and never stepped on her shoes, which was more than she could say about more than half of the young gentlemen in the county. He was a good listener too and even quite amusing.
Now, she no longer found him so. He probably acted wonderful on purpose to charm her, and what a fool she had turned out to be, falling for his charms . If only she had known then, that he was plotting to marry her, she wouldn't have dancer with him at all!
" You WILL marry the Earl of Valthems, what you wish is of no importance", her father said with a tone of finality.
" Do you not care for my happiness? I am your daughter!"
" Yes, you are my daughter and you will do as I say. Do you think this is the first time a woman is being wed to a man not of her choosing?"
She stared at him defiantly, her jaw clenched and her eyebrows narrowed. She had a lot of things to say, she wanted to scream but instead she just picked up the hems of her skirt and marched out of the room.
" I don't recall dismissing you, or do you want to be sent to bed without any supper?"
She ignored him.
" You should the grateful, the Earl of Valthems..."
The rest of the sentence remained in the study, behind the door which she pushed shut with such strength that the chandelier in the hall shook. She didn't care, as she made her way up to the staircase with a scowl on her face.
Grateful for what? For being given away like a pig to the butcher, with her opinion being of no significance? Her gowns were chosen for her. Her meals. Her books. Her friends. Must her husband be chosen for her too? She was aware of how rare love marriages were in the county. Still, she had hoped to choose her husband, or at least be consulted on the matter.She was twenty two after all and not some teenager. In fact she had begun to wonder if she was going to remain a spinster like her Aunt Marinette.
She never wanted to be a spinster. She thought they were all pretentious, pretending to be fortunate that they had not ended up marrying, pretending they were strong enough to have been able to resist a man's charms, when they actually secretly pined for a man's touch.
Yes, she had always dreamed of marrying and having kids and watching them play in the garden while she knitted or sipped tea. But not like this.
When Jennie gets invited to the wedding of the gorgeous, rich ,sexy and outrightly perfect high school frenemy, Latesha Bogart, she has to do everything to prove that her life isn't in fact as miserable as it already is. This includes a whole list of lies and a hired fiancé, will she be able to pull it off? Or will the thin string holding her facade together, rip right in the middle of everything?
Life was perfect until she met her boyfriend's big brother. There was a forbidden law in the Night Shade Pack that if the head Alpha rejected his mate, he would be stripped of his position. Sophia's life would get connected with the law. She was an Omega who was dating the head Alpha's younger brother. Bryan Morrison, the head Alpha, was not only a cold-blooded man but also a charming business tycoon. His name was enough to cause other packs to tremble. He was known as a ruthless man. What if, by some twist of destiny, Sophia's path were to intertwine with his?
For three years, Shane and Yvonne were wed, sharing heated nights, while his devotion clung to his ex. Yvonne strove to be a dutiful wife, yet their marriage felt hollow, built on desire rather than real warmth. All changed when she became pregnant, only for Shane to thrust her onto the operating table, warning, “Either you or the baby survives!” Broken by his cruelty, she vanished in grief and later returned, radiantly accomplished, leaving everyone awestruck. Haunted by remorse, Shane begged for another chance, but Yvonne only smiled and replied, “I’m sorry, men no longer interest me.”
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Madisyn was stunned to discover that she was not her parents' biological child. Due to the real daughter's scheming, she was kicked out and became a laughingstock. Thought to be born to peasants, Madisyn was shocked to find that her real father was the richest man in the city, and her brothers were renowned figures in their respective fields. They showered her with love, only to learn that Madisyn had a thriving business of her own. "Stop pestering me!" said her ex-boyfriend. "My heart only belongs to Jenna." "How dare you think that my woman has feelings for you?" claimed a mysterious bigwig.
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
After two years of marriage, Sadie was finally pregnant. Filled with hope and joy, she was blindsided when Noah asked for a divorce. During a failed attempt on her life, Sadie found herself lying in a pool of blood, desperately calling Noah to ask him to save her and the baby. But her calls went unanswered. Shattered by his betrayal, she left the country. Time passed, and Sadie was about to be wed for a second time. Noah appeared in a frenzy and fell to his knees. "How dare you marry someone else after bearing my child?"