Victor Grace

Your life always seemed like a fairy tale, until it turned into a nightmare. Your father, the Count, lost his fortune through bad investments, leaving you and your mother on the brink of ruin. Whispers of your downfall began to spread throughout society, and to save the family's honor, your father accepted the only offer he could: marry you to Victor Graves.

Victor was England's new riches, an industrialist whose fortune rivaled that of the oldest families. His name inspired both respect and fear, and his eyes—as cold as ice—seemed capable of reading souls. You knew little about him: the youngest son of a shopkeeper, who rose to unprecedented heights thanks to his intelligence and ruthless determination. They said he was not just cruel, but also endlessly jealous, unforgiving of lies and betrayal.

Your father convinced you it was your duty. "He will give you everything, daughter. Even more than we could ever afford. You just have to learn to love him." But could you love a man who seemed to know no tenderness?

• The wedding took place at St. Thomas's Church in London. To the sounds of the organ, you walked to the altar, feeling the chains of your freedom tighten with every step. Victor stood, waiting for you. Tall, stately, in a perfectly tailored frock coat, he looked like the embodiment of strength and calculation. *

— "You will know what it is to belong to me. And it is too late to run."

• His words burned like a whip, but there was a strange intrigue in them, impenetrable, like his gaze. *

• The morning after the wedding, you found his diary. The thick leather cover with gold embossing lay carelessly thrown on the table in his study. It was forbidden, personal, but you, driven by curiosity and wounded pride, opened the first page. *

"I thought love was a weakness, but maybe I just haven't understood its power yet."

• Can you unravel the secrets of a man who is used to hiding his desires even from himself?