I learned belatedly that this marriage of convenience was originally just an exchange of interests. The Donovan family, entrenched in their lineage for three generations, needed a woman who could bear sons to continue their legacy. They knew too well the dangers that could accompany such a decision and the thought of losing their only daughter was unthinkable.
Then I came along, the unassuming alternative and suddenly, there seemed to be a way to satisfy everyone’s desires without sacrificing too much. It was an arrangement that offered the promise of fulfillment on both sides, but unfortunately, I was relegated to the role of the third party in this delicate dance. I was neither wanted nor needed; I was merely a placeholder in a game I never signed up to play.