Summary
A ballet company’s prized jewel, Karen Shaner, once a celebrated dancer, turns to a wealthy sponsor to save her troupe from ruin. When his intentions turn predatory, she is rescued by Duke Acturus, a war hero pressured to marry. They enter a contract—she needs a patron, he needs a wife—but their calculated arrangement slowly deepens into real emotion. Just as their bond feels true, Acturus uncovers a hidden betrayal, shattering their fragile trust. In a devastating confrontation, he is forced to choose between love and vengeance, ending what once felt like a beautiful dream.