The Emperor's Secret Son

Kathleen, the daughter of the Marquis, was betrayed by her fiancé and half-sister, Lucinda, who conspired to drug her to ruin her reputation and force her into marriage. In an unexpected turn of events, she had a brief romantic encounter with Gavin, the heirless Emperor. Her fiancé's plan to catch her failed, leading him to threaten her brother Samuel's life to pressure Kathleen into requesting royal permission for Lucinda's marriage. Her father favoured Lucinda because she was carrying a child meant to be adopted by the Emperor. Filled with resentment, Kathleen reluctantly wrote the petition and was subsequently banished with her brother. Three months later, she discovered she was pregnant. While on the streets, she encountered Gavin again, who rescued her from danger, and she realised that the child she carried was the Emperor's heir.