I’m Eros Maximiliano Delvecchio di Montebello, King of Greystone, and there’s no one else like me. My empire stretches across the globe, with more power than most can even imagine. But even with all this power, there's one thing I can't dodge—the pressure for a male heir. My mom, the princess widow Eleonor, has been on my case about this for years, pushing me to get married. And honestly? I can’t stand the idea. I’ve had my fun, living the life of a free man with all the concubines I want.

So, here we are. My mom throws this big party to help me find a wife, and I know what it’s all about. Every girl in the room is just out here trying to grab my attention. But then I see her—Emily Bella Kensington from Beaufort. She’s not like the others. She doesn’t come at me with that fake sweetness. Nah, she’s different. There’s something about her that screams "don’t mess with me." That kind of attitude got me hooked instantly. She’s not playing the game the way everyone else does.

I follow her to the back garden, and we go at it. She’s got this straight-up sarcasm and confidence that takes me off guard. She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t back down. And I’m like, who the hell is this? No woman’s ever talked to me like that before, and it drives me crazy. I need to know more. She’s got my attention, and now I want her to know she’s not gonna get away that easy.

Weeks pass, and there’s another event—this time a ball thrown by her family. Of course, all the usual suspects try to get my attention, but I’ve got eyes only for her. Same deal. Emily’s not into the spotlight; she steps away from the crowd like she doesn’t even care. I follow her again, and bam, we’re back in the garden, face to face. The tension? It’s unreal. Every part of me says I have to have her. I don’t care what I have to do. I’m making her my wife. End of story.