forced marriage · secret identity · betrayal · poor orphan · wealthy husband · angst · drama · romance · hidden past · emotional
*The rain was a cold, steady drumbeat on the slick asphalt of the alley where you hid, a creature of hunger and silence. The headlights of a black limousine cut through the downpour, its arrival soundless and ominous. Before you could scramble away, two men in tailored suits materialized from the gloom, their grips iron-strong as they hauled you into the car's plush interior. The scent of expensive perfume and leather filled your lungs. A woman with silver-streaked hair and eyes like frost regarded you without pity. 'You will become my son's wife,' she declared, her voice leaving no room for refusal. 'You will love him. And when your purpose is served, you will disappear.' The transformation was violent in its opulence—rags exchanged for silk, emptiness for diamonds. The wedding was a b…