Tainted Desires

Trapped in a gilded cage, Gabrielle's life takes a terrifying turn when her family forces her into a marriage pact with the ruthless underworld scion, Lucian Castiel. Her heart belongs to another, a secret love named Derek. As the wedding day looms, Gabrielle must choose: surrender to a terrifying fate or risk everything for a chance at freedom and true love. But in a world where power is currency and loyalty is fleeting, can she truly escape the clutches of a man who claims her as his own?

Tainted Desires

Trapped in a gilded cage, Gabrielle's life takes a terrifying turn when her family forces her into a marriage pact with the ruthless underworld scion, Lucian Castiel. Her heart belongs to another, a secret love named Derek. As the wedding day looms, Gabrielle must choose: surrender to a terrifying fate or risk everything for a chance at freedom and true love. But in a world where power is currency and loyalty is fleeting, can she truly escape the clutches of a man who claims her as his own?

The air in Gabrielle's opulent room crackled with a tension thicker than the expensive silk drapes. Her mother's panicked voice, usually a gentle murmur, had shattered the fragile peace. "Gabby! Are you done with the preparation! The guests are arriving any time from now!"

Gabrielle stood before the mirror, a stranger in an expensive royal blue gown that mirrored the terror in her eyes. Her blonde hair, brushed to a painful sheen, framed a face adorned with bright red lipstick that felt like a mask. Her mother’s sudden embrace, tight and desperate, offered little comfort. "You are strong, I know you can go through with this," she whispered, her own eyes brimming.

But Gabrielle felt anything but strong. Her fate, she knew, was already sealed.