
The Gilded Cage
By Alex Chen
Synopsis
In the opulent but ruthless world of the Vanderlyn Dynasty, secrets are currency and survival is a gilded cage. When the ruthless and enigmatic Lord Vanderlyn, heir to a vast industrial empire, announces his betrothal to the celebrated heiress, Clara Ainsworth, a desperate gamble unfolds. Thomas Ashton, a stablehand with haunting eyes and a hidden past, takes Clara's place, driven by a desperate need to save his ailing sister from the crushing debt owed to the Vanderlyns. Masquerading as a delicate debutante, Thomas enters a world of lavish parties, treacherous alliances, and Lord Vanderlyn's unnervingly perceptive gaze. As Thomas struggles to maintain his facade, he finds himself drawn into the vortex of Vanderlyn's dark charisma, while simultaneously uncovering a conspiracy that threatens to shatter the very foundations of the Vanderlyn empire. But the greatest danger lies in the growing, undeniable attraction between the 'bride' and the groom.