A forbidden pact, a hidden past, and a love that could ruin everything. Juliana Ashbourne, the last of a once-illustrious lineage, has no dowry and no future to speak of—until she crosses paths with the ruthless Duke of Blackthorn. Cold and calculating, Gideon Leclair is a man driven by necessity rather than affection. When Juliana offers him her name, they enter into a marriage built on a contract, not love. But beneath the icy facade, dangerous secrets unravel, and the very truth they both seek could destroy them. In a world where rumors spread faster than the truth, Juliana must decide: will she fight for survival, or will love emerge from the ashes of their cold bargain?