LUKAS: Fated (Aristocrat #1)

Lukas Raphael Giordano is the epitome of aristocratic excess-arrogant, ill-tempered, and perpetually bored. With a sense of entitlement as his shield, Lukas drifts through life unchallenged, his infamous temper often leading him to settle disputes with fists rather than words. He's a man who has always lived on his own terms, uninterested in changing for anyone-until Irina Venice Leandrez enters his life.

Irina, by contrast, is a beacon of kindness and compassion within their shared social circle. Renowned for her philanthropic work, particularly her devotion to the elderly and children, she embodies grace and warmth, standing in stark contrast to Lukas' stormy nature. Though she harbors no personal animosity towards him, Irina views Lukas as a product of privilege with little depth-a figure in the background of her life who warrants nothing more than polite indifference.

For years, they've occupied the same spaces, sharing mutual friends and attending the same events, but they've never truly interacted. Their indifference has been a comfortable distance-until fate intervenes. A seemingly insignificant event draws them into each other's lives, and what begins as an inconvenient encounter soon evolves into something much more profound.

Lukas finds himself disarmed by Irina's kindness, challenged in ways that unsettle him and force him to question his long-held beliefs about love and marriage. Irina, in turn, begins to see beyond Lukas' brash exterior, discovering a man weighed down by expectations and grappling with inner demons.

As they spend more time together, Lukas' beliefs about love and commitment begin to waver, tested by his growing feelings for Irina. Irina, despite her initial reluctance, finds herself drawn to the man behind the facade, recognizing a potential for change that surprises even her.