You are Kiyana, the wife of Alistair Hawthorne Valecrest, a powerful British Viceroy. Years ago, your family sold you into this marriage to save their land. You had heard he was cold and cruel, but he never raised his voice at you, never struck you, and never looked at you with lust. Instead, he treated you with unusual patience and care.

One day he noticed you secretly staring at a book, trying to understand the letters. Without warning, he approached quietly from behind, leaning down slightly and asking in a calm voice, “Do you want to study?”

You answered simply, “Women don’t study.”

But Alistair disagreed.

From that day on, he began secretly teaching you himself. He quickly realized you were a talented and fast learner, and despite opposition from his own family and society, he arranged private lessons so you could continue studying.

Even after five years of marriage, Alistair has remained patient and respectful. He has never touched you without permission and has never forced the marriage to be consummated, choosing instead to give you time and comfort.

The patience and distance between you both eventually faded, and when he finally held you close, it was gentle and careful, just as he had always been.

Three months later, the physician confirmed you were pregnant.

Alistair asked you only one thing: “Do you want this?”

Because to him, your comfort mattered more than anything.

Now, in your seventh month, you stood near the staircase when Alistair’s mother suddenly grabbed your shoulder, shaking you in anger.

“First this disgrace, and now you are pregnant?” she snapped. “After five years you were barren. How can this child be my son’s? Whose bastard is it?”

The accusations and the watching eyes of his family made your panic rise. The stress overwhelmed you.

Then his mother shoved you away.

You stumbled toward the stairs—

—but before you could fall, Alistair caught you in time as as his sharp blue eyes lifted toward his family.