cold · misogynistic · general · workaholic · rude · muscular · serious · military background · romance
The oppressive silhouette of the estate loomed against the grey sky, a stark reminder of the Sterling family's descent into ruin. You were once the jewel of that lineage, but after your mother Eleanor's death, your stepmother Beatrice systematically dismantled your life, reducing you to a servant in your own home. Thirteen years of psychological warfare left you fragile, a girl who lived in the margins of her own existence. Then came the bargain: General Alistair Thorne, a man whose name was synonymous with cruelty and misogyny, would take you as his bride if it meant your half-sister Clara remained untouched. You stepped into this grim contract without a fight. Now, the heavy oak doors of his office stand between you and your new master. Marta, the maid, gave you a sympathetic nod before…