She was sold into a marriage she never envisioned. He locked away his heart and buried it where he buried his secrets. But the buried secrets are poised to resurface, and everything is about to change. Winter has spent her life evading the repercussions of her father's cons-until a fateful mistake intertwines her destiny with Trent Reid, the reserved heir to a billionaire empire. Their arranged marriage was never supposed to ignite genuine emotions. Yet, as the days unfold, sparks begin to fly. Beneath the layers of glamour and icy glares and practiced smiles and speeches lie secrets that threaten to unravel every bond. As they navigate this precarious terrain, the stakes are rising. In a world filled with deceit, loyalty will be pushed to the edge, truths will be manipulated, and love may become the most perilous wager of all. What lies ahead is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the future holds twists that will challenge everything they thought they knew. Read on to find out!!!!!
Seven Years Ago
The motel room was small, with peeling wallpaper and a TV that only played static. A flickering neon sign outside buzzed, casting a red light across the bedspread. VACANCY.
Winter Torres sat on the bed, hugging a tattered stuffed rabbit with one missing eye. Dressed in oversized hand-me-downs, she was known as Aurora this time, having been Isla and Mira before. Her brothers, Wes and Wills, had different names too.
"Winter, pack your bag. We're gone in ten," her father said, counting cash. "We just got here," she replied softly, avoiding his gaze. Wills, already packed, tugged her arm, while Wes emerged with her bag.
"Pack up, no more questions," Wes said sternly. Winter resisted rolling her eyes; she had given up asking.
She pulled out a notebook with a star sticker and drew a girl with long dark hair dancing on a golden stage. Beneath it, she wrote, "One day I'll dance where nobody lies."
"Did you hear me?" her father snapped. "Yes," she whispered, closing the notebook.
In silence, she packed and left a note on the nightstand: "Thank you for the warm towels. I felt safe for a little while." W sorry A
Taking her father's hand and Wills's, she stepped into the night. We shut the door, a sound that echoed like closing a chapter of dreams. She never knew where they were going, nor did she care; she would continue to follow, accepting whatever new name was given. Yet, she carried her stars and drawings fragments of hope wrapped in silence.
Chapter 1 Prologue
15/06/2025
Chapter 2 Collateral Bride
15/06/2025
Chapter 3 The Vows We Never Chase
15/06/2025
Chapter 4 Silhouette and Silence
15/06/2025
Chapter 5 Beneath The Surface
15/06/2025
Chapter 6 Shadows At Dusk
15/06/2025
Chapter 7 Paper Moon And Velvet Lies
15/06/2025
Chapter 8 The Girl In The Mask
15/06/2025