My Secret Affair with the Duke

The Story

Regency London holds a dark secret involving a slum orphan and a powerful duke. Elle is purchased by Alistair Belgrave to pose as his half-sister Estelle. Her mission involves marrying Percy Vane, which frees Alistair from a forced engagement with the obsessive Beatrix Vane. The cold transaction quickly evolves into forbidden desire between the fake siblings. However, a secret execution order prepared by Alistair casts a shadow over their growing bond. Beatrix exposes Elle’s true identity at her engagement ball, triggering a scandal. Elle flees, convinced that Alistair intended to kill her. Beatrix closes in on the runaway with a gun. Alistair intervenes and takes a bullet meant for Elle. He confesses that the execution order was never signed. The pair then discover matching childhood scars. These marks prove that fate bound them together long before the bargain began.