About
In a world where familial duty outweighs personal desire, Cecelia Frederick finds herself thrust into a marriage that comes with both privilege and peril. Three days after her sister’s tragic death, she is ushered into the Archer household as the second wife of Draven, a man rumored to be on the brink of death. But as the white mourning flowers linger, so do the shadows of the past, leaving Cecelia to navigate the complexities of her new life.
As she settles into her role, Cecelia grapples with the haunting memory of her sister and the mysterious circumstances of her drowning. What secrets does the Archer family hold? Is her marriage a new beginning or a trap laid by her father’s ambition? With a husband who still yearns for Elyse, and a sisterly rivalry that simmers beneath the surface, Cecelia must tread carefully.
Every smile she offers hides a deeper agenda, and every kind gesture could be a step toward revenge or redemption. Will she uncover the truth behind Elyse’s fate, or will her quest for justice lead her down a path of darkness? In a web of love, loss, and betrayal, Cecelia must decide how far she’s willing to go to escape her family's grasp.
Don't Hate Me, Don't Love Me1
Getting Married
On the third day of March.
Cecelia Frederick, the fifth daughter of the Frederick family was carried through the side gate of the Archer's residence in a bright chair. Only then did the servants of the Archer family hurriedly replace the funeral decoration with the one of a wedding ceremony.
Three days ago, Elyse Frederick, the first wife of Draven Archer, the eldest son of the Archer family, was carried out from the Archer's residence. She was my elder sister.
But...
She was dead, and I was at my wedding.
***
My elder sister Elyse was the most beautiful girl in the Frederick family. When my father sought to climb the social ladder by linking with the Archer family, he hired the best matchmaker in the city to secure the marriage to the ailing eldest son of the Archer family.
I remember the matchmaker saying that Draven had tuberculosis and would not live past forty. He was also said to be unlikely to have children.
Most families would have avoided such a match at all costs, but not ours. We went for it eagerly.
Yet my father did not say a word, just slipped two gold pieces into the matchmaker's hand.