In the opulent but stifling confines of the Mong Clan estate, 19-year-old Bhato serves as a maid, her days consumed by menial tasks that veil her aspirations for love and freedom. Though her outward beauty captivates those around her, it is her indomitable spirit and keen intelligence that truly set her apart. Amidst delicate silks and polished floors, she secretly harbors a blossoming affection for Raok, a fellow servant with dreams as vast as her own. Their moments stolen in the quiet corners of the kitchen and the shadowed halls allow them to connect on a level that transcends their social status.
However, their budding romance faces an unforeseen challenge in the form of Sonrgi, the dashing and charismatic heir to the Mong legacy. As the sole son of the clan, he represents power, privilege, and all the dreams Bhato feels she cannot attain. But Sonrgi finds himself inexplicably drawn to Bhato, enchanted by her warmth and fierce independence. When he approaches her with undeniable charm, Bhato is thrust into a perilous triangle of desire and duty-the potential for heartbreak looming large.
Caught between the two men who represent diverging paths for her future, Bhato must navigate her feelings stealthily, knowing that each choice echoes through the fabric of the Mong Clan's traditions. As her relationships deepen, the trio wrestles with their own desires and societal constraints, revealing hidden truths and testing the bonds of loyalty and love.
Just when she's decided to leave the Town, Lady Cressida Belverst is forced to marry Lord Calan Haverston, the man who coincidentally knows a way out. Agreeing to marry for all the wrong reasons, can Cressida and Calan find out where their hearts truly belong?
***
It is impossible to leave the Town, but one woman is determined to escape with the help of her betrothed.
Lady Cressida Belverst has always been judged as a walking scandal. Oh, how she tries (on some rare occasions) to be proper! When her parents arrange for her to marry a rich lord, Cressida has had enough. She has to leave the Town because she will not be forced to live with a man she doesn't love. But what happens if the very man she's betrothed to is the only one who can help her get out?
Calan Haverston, the Lord of Easton, takes the risk and helps his betrothed by using his knowledge of the Town's secrets because he is as willing as she to stay free of marriage for reasons completely different. He has dark secrets he cannot share with her, and his life is not one he can likewise open to anyone. But what happens when she leaves after awakening desires he thought he has under control? And what happens when he finds himself longing for her?
Cressida goes to a completely different place, one she has only heard in stories and read in books, with hopes of finding what her heart has always longed for. But love, mystery and secrets will chase her and it will only be a matter of time before she realizes what her heart truly desires.
*This story is a standalone title in the Haverston Family series.