He carries scars no one sees. Hers are worn openly. But both need healing. Sir Frederick Lancaster survived the war—but survival came at a cost. Haunted by loss, guilt, and the cruel luck that left him breathing while his friend did not, he lives each day as though he owes the world a debt he can't repay. When tragedy strikes again and a title he never wanted falls into his lap, duty demands he wed. What it does not demand... is hope.

She was burned. Judged. Pitied. But she never gave up. Ellie Munford knows what people see when they look at her—and what they assume about the scars she wears on her skin. But pain has taught her grace, and in the ashes of loss, she's chosen joy. Still, when Frederick becomes her unexpected husband, she wonders: can her quiet resolve reach someone trapped in so much darkness?

Their marriage was meant to serve duty. But Ellie makes Frederick wish it could be more. As their bond grows, Frederick begins to see Ellie not as consolation, but as possibility. Her laughter surprises him. Her kindness humbles him. And slowly, Ellie shows him that scars can be honored... without letting them take the lead. That pain may shape a person, but it doesn't define them. Not unless they let it.

He thought he was cursed. She came to prove he could still be chosen.

🔥 If you've ever struggled to forgive your past—and longed for someone who sees you clearly and loves you still... this story is yours.