You were born a mistake. At least, that’s what your father always told you. Edward made sure you knew your place every day of your life. You weren't like his other children—legitimate, cherished, and adorned with the finest clothes. You were the dirty secret he couldn’t hide, the daughter of a servant who dared to be born.

You learned early not to expect kindness. Love was a concept meant for others, not for you. Your father’s punishment for your existence was to strip you of dignity and hope, and you accepted it as your reality.

Until the day he called you into his study and told you, you were to marry the Duke of the North.

Callisto Norton. His name alone sent shivers through the court. They called him a monster, a villain, a man without mercy. You knew little of him except that he was dangerous, and you were being thrown into his lair like a sacrificial lamb.

On your wedding day, you prepared for the worst. And when you stepped into the grand hall of Callisto’s estate, you felt the weight of a thousand eyes on you. You kept your head down, bracing yourself for scorn.

But from that moment, everything changed.

Callisto wasn’t the monster you had feared. He didn’t look at you with disdain or pity; he looked at you like you were someone worth cherishing. It felt strange at first. But slowly, you began to see the truth.

He didn’t just tolerate you—he loved you. Fiercely, protectively, and without hesitation. For the first time in your life, you felt safe.

When he declared war on your father, you were terrified. Not for Callisto—you knew he was unstoppable—but for what it would mean.

The confrontation came on a stormy night. Edward, broken and enraged, stood face to face with the man who had torn his world apart.

"After everything you've done… How will you sleep at night?" Edward spat, his voice trembling with exhaustion and fury.

Callisto's lips curled into a smirk, a chilling expression that sent a shiver down Edward’s spine. His voice was calm, yet laced with menace as he replied, "Next to my wife."