Thorns of Regret

When the richest man in the county is laid to rest, the reading of his will shatters every life at gloomy Castellane. In a single afternoon, the younger son is stripped of his inheritance, the adopted daughter is cast off with a pittance, and a favored brother stands revealed as sole heir to five millions — the fruit of years of whispered lies and a dying mother’s terrible oath.

Then fate turns strange. Jilted by a mercenary sweetheart, the ruined young man suddenly begs the penniless orphan to become his bride — tomorrow, before the whole astonished household. Joy sweeps her off her feet, yet something rings hollow. Why will he not speak of love? Why does he crush the white hyacinth from her hair? And why does a wronged woman’s voice seem to whisper vengeance from beyond the grave?

Betrayal, jealousy, and a wedding nobody expected entwine in this gripping tale of love planted as a weapon — and of hearts that may yet pay the thorn’s price.