Evan Jacob Morrison, the Marquess Granfell, arrives one night at the doorstep of his old acquaintance and the village midwife, Maria Ross. Evan asks Maria to assist his cousin, Diana Thorne, who, after fleeing her home due to flooding, is in labor at his Granfell estate. After arriving just in time for the birth, Maria is inclined to stay several days at the remote country estate in order to ensure the wellbeing of the premature baby. Maria and Evan are forced to confront their past together, as well as consider what it is they both truly want for the future. A story of loss and the love we must allow ourselves to feel, even if it might hurt us.
This story is for mature (18+) audiences. I will be covering a number of unpleasant topics. For the full list of content warnings, see list at the bottom of the description. Please take care!
This is my first written work and therefore a bit of a "test waffle" project. I hope to share a story that has been rummaging around in my head for nearly a year now and discover what this setting and these characters have to offer. I encourage readers to comment and share constructive criticism!
Cover Art:
"Alphonse Mucha - P43 Bruyere De Falaise/Heather, c.1901." by K.G.23 is marked with CC0 1.0.
I edited it to have a black background.
Content warning for: consenual sexual activity, physical violence, infant and maternal mortality, death, illness, prostitution, (list to be further updated)
He never believed in love, but she captured his heart the moment he saw her.
She didn't understand love, but he gained her trust instantly.
He is consumed by a desire for revenge. She is as serene as water.
He's the mafia king of all Asia, hardened by the world's cruelty from a young age.
She spent her entire life in captivity, completely oblivious to the outside world.
This is the story of Rudraksha Malhotra and Ruhanika Rajpurohit, two people who couldn't be more different, bound together by the ties of marriage. Can they conquer their inner demons and find peace together?
Will Rudraksha allow Ruhanika to rule his heart?
Will Ruhanika let Rudraksha love her?
Let's find out together.
Tropes:
Age gap
Mafia king × Caged princess
Forced marriage
Cunning × Innocent
Two broken Souls