February 17, 1798. Off the coast of Leka, Norway, two ships battle a merciless storm—the French privateer *L'Enfant de la Patrie* and the British merchant vessel *S/S Aurora*. Captain Georges Louis Morancourt, desperate for redemption, has seized five barrels of gold that could save him from ruin. But greed has a price, and the sea is collecting. On deck, 22-year-old Lawrence Elias Montgomery fights for survival as the ship splinters around him. In the darkness, he witnesses something that will haunt his family for generations—men digging on the shore, hiding secrets that the ocean refuses to reveal. That night, six men died. 224 survived. And with them, a mystery was born. Two centuries later, Aria Montgomery discovers her great-great-great-grandfather's diary and a medallion inscribed *"Pour l'amour et l'honneur"*—For love and honor. The truth has been buried long enough. But some secrets are guarded by more than time. They're protected by the sea itself. *A gripping historical prequel that sets the stage for the Secrets of the Sea Trilogy. Perfect for readers who love maritime mysteries, family sagas, and the untold stories hidden beneath the waves.* **Historical Note**: *L'Enfant de la Patrie* was a real French privateer that met its fate off Norway in 1798.