Story

The story

Blurb / Synopsis

With her family drowning in debt, the beautiful twenty year old Elena accepts a marriage contract from Victor Ashbourne, a handsome fifty year old billionaire who needs a wife. He promises to clear her family's debts and give her a comfortable life, but there is one condition, she will become his wife without expecting love.

Moving into the Ashbourne mansion should have been the beginning of Elena's new life, but Victor's seventeen year old daughters, Clara and Vivienne hate her. They blame Elena for taking their mother's place and makes her feel like a stranger in her own home.

Then Adrian Ashbourne returns after six months away. Victor's nephew is the last man Elena should ever fall for. But neither of them can resist the attraction between them. Soon, stolen glances turn into secret meetings, and their forbidden relationship becomes a secret they are determined to keep from the family.

Until Elena discovers Adrian is engaged, heartbroken, she tries to walk away, but Adrian convinces her that his feelings for her are real.

Meanwhile, Victor begins falling for his own wife. The marriage that started as a contract slowly becomes something more. Victor starts taking Elena on dates, buying her gifts, and showing her a tenderness she never expected from him and although Elena's heart belongs to Adrian, she can't deny how safe and happy Victor makes her feel.

But when Elena finally discovers the truth about Adrian, her entire world collapses. The man she thought loved her has been playing her all along and his plan is far more sinister than she ever imagined.

With nowhere else to turn, Elena confesses everything to Victor, the affair, the lies, and the terrifying plan against her.

Victor already knows about her betrayal, but instead of destroying her, he forgives her, because somewhere along the way, the woman he married for a contract became the woman he couldn't bear to lose.

Together, Victor and Elena expose Adrian and Patricia and bring their dangerous plan to an end.

But once the secrets are gone, Elena must face the truth she has been avoiding. She had married Victor for money, she fell for Adrian by mistake, but somewhere between betrayal and forgiveness, she fell in love with her husband.

Now Elena must decide whether to remain trapped by the contract that brought them together or finally choose the man her heart can truly trust.