The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

MatureContentEilikaWolanskiistheeldestdaughterofoneofVaros’mostrespectedmerchants,butrespecthasneverbroughtherkindness.Achildhoodaccidentleftascaracrosshercheek,andwithit,acruellabelshecanneverescape.The“UnwantedWoman”ofVaros.Mockedinpublic,pitiedinprivate,andtreatedlikeablemishtobehidden,Eilikagrowsuplearningonepainfultruth,beautymattersmorethancharacterinhighsociety.SowhenanunexpectedmarriageproposalarrivesfromthepowerfulHouseofKingsley,noonebelievesitisreal.ThegroomisDamianVanKingsley,thewidoweddukeofVaros,fearedforhiscoldtemperamentandadmiredforhisunmatchedlooksandwealth.Rumorsfollowhimlikeshadows.Hehasasecretmistress,abrokenheartdrownedinalcohol,andworstofall…Asonhebarelyacknowledges.ForEilika,marryingDamianisn’tadream.It’stheonlyoptionleftforsurvival.Damian,oncethekingdom’smostdesirablenobleman,hasbeennothingbutahollowmansincethedeathofhisfirstwife.Hehasabandonedhisresponsibilities,pushedawayhischild,andlivedwithonevowburninginhischest.Hewillneverreplacehisfirstwife.Toforcehimbackintoduty,hismotherarrangesasecondmarriage,oneheneveraskedfor,andoneherefusestoaccept.Damianswearshewillnevertouchher,willneverlookatherandwillnevertreatherashiswife.ButEilikaisn’tthegreedynoblewomanheexpected.Shedoesn’taskforhisaffection.Shedoesn’tcravehistitle.Shedoesn’tevenwanthislove.WhatEilikawants…issomethingfarmoredangerous.Afamily.AndperhapsthatistheverythingDamianhasbeenstarvingforallalong.~~~~“Thisbedwillremaincolduntilyourlastbreath.”Damian’svoiceboomedthroughthedarkchamber.Eilikadidn’tflinchathiswords.Insteadsherepliedgracefully,“Idon’tseeklove,Duke.Youcanvisityoursecretmistresseverynight…Justdon’tcomenearme.”Thismarriagewasnevermeanttobecomereal,untiltheDuke'sheartbeginstobetrayitsownrules.