Winston Ashford, not exactly Prince Charming.
Arrogant. ✅
Bastard. ✅
Gorgeous. ✅
I’d mistaken him for a ten when he turned out to be a minus five. He was so beautiful but damaged beyond repair. There was no amount of understanding or love that could save a man who didn’t want to be saved. So, after one night together, I gladly washed my hands of him.
Until everything went south.
My father was dead, my sister needed help, and it was time I behaved like a responsible older sister with a plan.
Unfortunately, my plan was slightly… lacking.
When I was caught red-handed stealing from my less-than-wonderful one-night stand, Winston Ashford became intent on bending me to his will.
It turned out that he was as ruthless as he was gorgeous and as cruel as he was tender.
Forced into an unwanted arrangement with the arrogant bastard—the kind that required rings—my last name became his. I became his reluctant yet, thankfully, secret wife. Unfortunately, he became the man who unknowingly held all the cards. At least we went our separate ways even if legally we were still bound together.
Six lonely years later, our paths crossed again.
There was still a darkness inside of him that scared me down to my very core.
He claimed he wanted a real marriage. That he was a changed man. But deep down, he was still the same—damaged from battling invisible scars and habits that were hard to break.
He saved me once upon a time. It was time for me to save him.
But what would happen when I wasn’t enough?
This isn’t one of those stories where they meet and fall in love and live happily ever after. No, this is more boy wants girl, girl hates boy and walks out of his life. Winston is damaged and very dark, so Billie isn’t a fan when they meet. Despite his revolting persona, she’s incredibly attracted to this god of a man, against her better judgment. Billie forces herself to walk away but when fate improbably throws them together again the same night, she’s not strong enough to resist. They spend an incredible night together, the best night of her life, but his darkness ruins everything so she walks away. Winston is disappointed but not surprised, telling himself it’s for the best anyway because it’s not like he wants a relationship.
His father suddenly announces Winston’s arranged marriage, planned to secure the Senator an alliance with a powerful family. Winston isn’t marrying that woman and he’s certainly not going to be doing any favors for her father but when the man refuses to take no for an answer, Winston tells him he’s already married. It’s a lie and one he isn’t sure he can hide for long, so he needs a plan. When he catches Billie in his home, stealing priceless antique jewelry, he decides to give her a choice: become Mrs. Winston Ashford or go to prison. Billie is livid, but she’s not going to prison, so she marries him. The first few days are married bliss, until she overhears a conversation not meant for her ears, one cuts to the quick. Outraged, Billie decides to cut Winston from her life completely and walks out. She spends the next six years struggling to survive her own bad decisions and begging him for a divorce, to no avail.
After all this time, she expects to be free of him soon, eventually, when fate brings him into her life again. Winston Ashford is a changed man, and he misses his wife, so he’s not letting her go again. She’s been gone too long and keeping too many secrets, like the one with his eyes that’s holding her hand right now. Billie is not happy to see Winston and has never told a soul about their marriage, so she’s not going to welcome him into her life. She still wants a divorce, then intends to forget that Winston Ashford even exists. But he’s not giving in, and the clash of wills was great to see. He’s determined but she’s far too stubborn for her own good. Winston was a bit tough to like at first, but he won me over pretty quickly, while I loved Billie from the first page. She’s fearless and speaks her mind and her temper sometimes gets her in trouble, all things I love. I really liked these characters and their story and never get enough of this world. I’d like to thank the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
One word of caution. This can be read as a standalone but has huge spoilers for earlier books in the series, so you probably want to read those first.
