They married for duty. Neither expected love to follow. Graham Astor, Duke of Kensington, has buried his heart beneath loss. His days are lived in silence, his nights in solitude. What he needs is a mother for his daughter—not a companion. Not a love story. So he chooses Rosabel: quiet, obedient, forgettable. Or so he thinks.

She entered the marriage knowing nothing of love—least of all her own. Rosabel was never asked what she wanted. Her uncle made the match. Society whispered. And she obeyed. At the altar, she met her husband for the first time—and feared him instantly. But behind Graham's cold stare is a man fighting ghosts. And behind Rosabel's timid façade is a woman with more strength than anyone ever noticed.

Together, they learn that love doesn't arrive loudly—but sometimes, it stays quietly. As Rosabel draws close to Graham's daughter, her warmth begins to chip away at the stone around his heart. And Graham sees not a wallflower—but a woman he didn't know he was waiting for. Yet love asks for risk. And trusting again isn't easy when you've both decided it isn't for you.

He never thought he'd love again. She never thought she'd be loved at all.

🕊️ If you've ever made peace with a life that felt like less—and slowly dared to hope for more... this story is yours.