The Devil's Canary: The Heir Who Carried His Father's Crimes
The Blackwood Legacy and White Rose Balls
Victor Blackwood maintains a saintly public image through charity work while using the exclusive White Rose Balls as hunting grounds. For twenty years he has targeted young attendees to satisfy personal desires and secure his bloodline, pinning every resulting crime on his son Lucien. The family's wealth and status in Raven's Perch shield them from scrutiny, allowing the cycle to continue unchecked.
Chloe's Marriage and Lucien's Secret
Chloe agrees to marry Lucien solely to protect her brother Jonah from becoming Victor's next target. She enters the union expecting a monster but finds Lucien has never harmed her and has quietly shielded her from danger. The rumors painting him as a libertine who killed five fiancées collapse as she realizes he has borne the blame for his father's atrocities year after year.
Alliance Against the True Monster
Unable to father children himself, Victor's obsession with preserving his lineage drives the predation at the balls. Chloe and Lucien recognize the true threat and combine forces to dismantle Victor's operation. Their partnership shifts from a transactional arrangement into a united front, aiming to end the decades-long cycle of abuse and build a future free from the patriarch's shadow.