The Blackwood legacy

s Derrick and Hope scrambled to make the necessar

h the enormity of what she had just committed to. Marry a virtual stranger, a member of the city's elite upper crust, i

right choice. This was her chance, her lifeline, a way out of the suffocating trap of debt and despair that had consumed her for the past

ts descended upon her, outfitting her with the trappings of high society. Designer dresses, couture gowns, a seemingly endless array of luxu

asingly out of her depth. These were not her people, this was not her world. She was a fish out

phistication and grace, and for a moment, she could almost see herself in this new role. It was an intoxicating feeling, t

ess of a sprawling corporate empire, a fixture in the city's elite social circles. It was a far cry from the s

n place - the perfectly coiffed

eath. This was it, the moment of no return. She was abou

sion unreadable as his gaze swept over her transformed appearance. For a heartbeat, Hope thought

he said, his tone mea

of nerves in the pit of her sto

the door. "Then let's

rgian-style mansion on the edge of the city. Derrick's close-knit circle of relatives and trusted advisor

her own family would think of this sudden, unexpected turn of events. Would they be proud of her, grateful that she had

g instead on the weight of the diamond ring that now adorned her left

polite applause, Derrick turned to her, his expressi

le, steeling herself for the journe

y faced the crowd, projecting an air of confidence and c

remained was to see if their carefully constructed a