In a world of power and privilege, love is the ultimate rebellion."
In a society where arranged marriages dictate destiny, love is a dangerous game.
Aiden Baldwin has always honored his family's legacy, bound by duty and expectations-until Karlie Co...
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"Aiden woke up early on Friday morning. It was the day before Cole's wedding, and the guys had an entire night planned—drinking, partying, the whole works. He needed it. He needed to get so drunk that he forgot everything, even if just for a few hours.
Karlie was going to marry Anthony. Despite everything, despite his love, despite all the effort he had put in to fight for her—she was still choosing him.
Anger didn't even begin to explain how he felt.
He let out a deep sigh, pushing himself up from the bed. His body felt heavy, exhausted from both lack of sleep and the emotional turmoil he'd been drowning in. But none of that mattered now. He had to get through the day. He had to get through tomorrow.
Dragging himself into the bathroom, he turned on the shower and stepped under the hot water. He stood there for a long while, letting the heat ease his tension. He needed to pull himself together.
But his body had other plans.
A sudden wave of dizziness hit him, forcing him to grab onto the wall for support. Damn it. He hadn't eaten in over twenty-four hours. Again. He was doing this to himself, letting the pain consume him, and he knew it. I can't keep doing this.
Taking a deep breath, he finished washing up, ran a hand through his wet hair, and stepped out. He dried off, got dressed, and made his way downstairs.
The familiar scent of breakfast filled the kitchen. Normally, Mary would be there, humming softly as she prepared his meal. But today, someone else stood in her place.
A young woman, no older than twenty-one, turned around as he entered.
"Hi," he greeted, his voice groggy from sleep. "Who are you?"
"Hi, I'm Isabella," she answered politely. "I'll be filling in for Mary. She had a family emergency."
He nodded. "Okay, no problem."
Change was inevitable, but he didn't like it. He liked routine. He liked knowing Mary was always there.
"Would you like me to make you a plate, Master?" she asked, her voice gentle.
Aiden studied her for a moment. She looked young. Too young to be handling the estate's kitchen staff. But he wasn't in the mood to question it.
"Certainly," he replied.
Isabella moved with practiced ease, whipping up pancakes, eggs, and a fresh fruit bowl. The smell alone made his stomach twist in hunger.
As she placed the plate in front of him, he spoke up.
"Isabella, did Mary leave a list of all my allergies with you? So when you're preparing my meals, you'll be aware?" he asked, his tone firm but not unkind.
