The Forced Bride

An innocent kiss sets the stage for an unexpected destiny when Emily Blake crosses paths with the formidable Italian count, Rafael Di Salis. Unbeknownst to her, this fleeting moment of affection is bound by the final wishes of her late father, who arranged for her to become the count's bride. To honor her father's legacy, Emily agrees to a conditional marriage, pledging herself to Rafael until she reaches her twenty-first birthday. For two long years, Count Rafael has waited with unwavering patience. Though consumed by a deep and powerful desire for his young wife, he maintains absolute control over his passions. He recognizes that Emily is still maturing, and he refuses to claim her until she possesses the strength and grace to stand beside him as a true woman. His restraint is not born of indifference, but of a fierce determination to protect her until the time is right. Now, the waiting period has finally come to an end. With Emily officially coming of age, the boundaries that kept them apart dissolve. The count's iron discipline gives way to the intensity he has harbored all along, and he is fully prepared to make her his own.