The final ingredient to finding true love is one teaspoon of lies. **** On her 18th birthday, Elspeth's world was shattered after a one-night stand left her pregnant. The child's father, Alan, betrayed her by revealing his alliance with her scheming half-sister, Heather, who aimed to steal Elspeth's position as heiress. To protect their family’s reputation, her parents sent her away in disgrace. Years later, Elspeth returns, determined to reclaim her place and exact revenge on those who wronged her. But her family’s pressure to marry complicates things. Desperate to dodge a blind date, she impulsively kisses Castiel Stepanov, her daughter's teacher, using him as a convenient escape. When a key investor insists on meeting her husband, Elspeth sees an opportunity and proposes a fake marriage to Castiel. Castiel, a powerful Russian business mogul and part-time elementary teacher, has his own hidden agenda. Traumatized by witnessing the murder of his family, Castiel’s life has been driven by the desire for revenge. Unbeknownst to Elspeth, her father is responsible for the tragedy that destroyed his family. Eager to destroy Elspeth's life, Castiel agrees to the sham marriage, intent on ruining her and her father. As their fake marriage progresses, hidden truths and deep-seated wounds begin to surface. Can Elspeth balance her desire for vengeance with her need to protect her heart, her daughter, and her empire? And will Castiel follow through with his plan for revenge, or will love and the weight of the past consume them both? _______ TROPES: One night stand. Pregnancy. Contract/Fake Marriage. Win her back. Betrayal x Revenge Family. First person (dual perspectives) ______ IG: @ebynamani TT: @eby.namani
Song Rec: This Is What Makes Us Girls — Lana Del Rey
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The driver dropped me off first before taking Castiel home. As I stepped out of the car, I stretched, feeling the blood finally flow down my legs after Castiel's weight had restricted circulation for the whole drive. Just as I was about to move forward, I noticed someone familiar walking out of a store.
My heart raced as flashes of mental images hit me. I could recognize that gait and posture anywhere, even if it was just the back view—Alan Coldwell.
I blinked twice, scolding myself for overworking and imagining things that weren't there. Maybe it was because I was getting married, and once, I had dreamed of marrying him. Even though I still resent him for what he did, I wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet in his head if I could.