In the heart of 18th century European colonization, young Gabbriette finds herself torn from her beloved family and homeland of Maztlan, Mexico, and thrust into the unfamiliar lands of Portugal. Sold into servitude, her fate is sealed under the roof of Lady Eleanor Winstead, a wealthy Englishwoman whose daughters, Lady Georgina and Lady Stephanie, embody entitlement. Gabbriette's innate beauty becomes both a blessing and a curse, as envy simmers among the English elite. Witnessing the rising tension, Lady Eleanor decides to dispatch Gabbriette to the opulent estate of the Sterlings. A Royal family of esteemed stature in England. As a simple housemaid, Gabbriette's radiant allure captivates all who cross her path, including the distinguished the King Ronan and his brother Prince Reginald Sterling. Amidst the backdrop of aristocratic grandeur and societal intrigue, Gabbriette's journey unfolds, weaving a tale of resilience, love, and the enduring struggle for acceptance in a world divided by class and culture.
As Claire aims to leave her oppressive stepfamily behind, she befriends Zion. Will he be her ticket to freedom or a distraction in achieving her dreams?
*****
Claire Olsen has had a crush on Zion Petrakis since the first time she laid eyes on him, but he never noticed, instead only having eyes on the school's it girl, Maddie Jennings. Knowing she couldn't compete with Maddie, Claire hid her feelings for Zion, satisfied with admiring him from afar. However, when a series of events led Claire closer to Zion, her feelings for him grew from infatuation to love. And despite fighting hard to keep her feelings contained by distancing herself from Zion, he was determined to show her that he's earned a spot in her life.
[[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]