Sweet Oblivion Summary: A Protective Fake Marriage Romance
Introduction
“Sweet Oblivion” by Bella Matthews is the fourth book in the Love & Legacy series.
The story centers on a high-stakes legal crisis that forces two guarded people into a marriage of convenience. Ryker Beneventi, a deaf NFL star, saves Delaney Rousseau from a violent assault.
To protect him from prosecution, they must convince the world their sudden engagement is real.
The book focuses on the emotional fallout of trauma and the healing power of unconditional support.
It is written for readers who enjoy passionate romance with darker suspense elements and a strong focus on found family.
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TL;DR: The Setup
Ryker Beneventi, a defensive end for the Philadelphia Kings, has been pursuing Delaney Rousseau for months.
When he saves her from an attempted rape by a rival player, he beats the attacker into a coma.
Facing potential murder charges, his lawyer devises a plan: Ryker and Delaney must marry so she cannot testify against him.
Delaney, a survivor of lifelong abuse, agrees to the fake relationship to save the man who protected her.
Story Snapshot
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Genre & Subgenre | Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Sports Romance, Romantic Suspense |
| Core Narrative Tropes | Fake Marriage, Marriage of Convenience, Hurt/Comfort, Deaf Hero |
| Tone & Atmosphere | Passionate, Protective, Emotional, Intense |
| Primary Conflict | Legal prosecution for a violent defense and overcoming trauma |
| Pacing Style | Dual POV, medium-to-fast with slow-burn romance |
| ISBN | 979-8257335099 |
| Pages | 308 |
Sweet Oblivion Summary: The Deep Dive
SPOILER WARNING: The following summary details the entire plot, including the ending.
The story begins with Delaney Rousseau living a quiet life in Kroydon Hills, working at a flower shop. She carries deep scars from a childhood spent under the control of her abusive, criminal father.
Months earlier, she rejected Ryker Beneventi’s advances to protect him from her father’s schemes. Now, their paths cross again at a bar after one of Ryker’s games.
A rival player, Roger Dennings, corners Delaney. Ryker intervenes, but the confrontation escalates. While Ryker is delayed, Dennings ambushes Delaney in the parking lot.
He chokes, beats, and attempts to rape her. Ryker finds them and beats Dennings so severely that the man is left in a medically induced coma.
At the hospital, Ryker lies to EMTs, claiming to be Delaney’s husband so he can stay with her. His cousin and lawyer, Olivia St. James, delivers bad news.
The District Attorney wants to make an example of a famous athlete. To avoid a trial where Delaney could be forced to testify, Olivia suggests an immediate marriage.
Delaney, feeling immense gratitude and a sense of debt, agrees to the plan. Bella Matthews then shifts the narrative inward. Ryker moves into Delaney’s small apartment above the flower shop.
They share a bed out of necessity due to her injuries. The book details their daily life as they post on social media to sell the engagement.
Their proximity breaks down walls. Delaney reveals she is a virgin, having never trusted anyone enough for physical intimacy. Ryker offers to help her explore this at her own pace. Their fake relationship quickly becomes a real emotional and physical connection. The legal threat worsens when Dennings dies from a brain bleed.
As the investigation peaks, Ryker is cleared. Delaney offers him an annulment, believing she is finally setting him free. Ryker refuses. He declares his love and insists their marriage is permanent.
They have a lavish wedding and move into a farmhouse.
The climax occurs when Detective Brooks, who hounded them during the case, corners Delaney. He reveals he was on her father’s payroll.
Angry over lost money, he attacks her and sets the flower shop on fire. Ryker runs into the burning building. He finds Delaney unconscious and not breathing. With help from his friend Hendrix, he performs CPR and revives her.
Brooks is arrested. A year later, Delaney is thriving.
She has been accepted into a psychology program and has mastered ASL. The book ends with her telling Ryker she is pregnant.
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Summary by Chapter
SPOILER WARNING: This section provides a brief summary of each chapter. The book contains a Prologue, 29 chapters, and an Epilogue.
Prologue (Delaney)
Delaney introduces her cynical worldview, rejecting fairytales. Her abusive childhood taught her that no one is coming to save her. She believes monsters hide in plain sight. She states she must always protect herself. She admits these beliefs were shattered an hour ago.
Chapter 1 (Ryker)
Two hours prior, Ryker is celebrating a football win at a bar called West End. He is staring at Delaney. He has been drawn to her since seeing her work at a bar in Sugar Hill. She rejected him all offseason before vanishing. Now he is determined not to lose her again.
Chapter 2 (Delaney)
Delaney is cornered by Roger Dennings. Ryker steps in to protect her. Dennings mocks Ryker’s hearing aids. Delaney fires back with sarcastic insults about Dennings’ poor play. Ryker demands Dennings leave the bar.
Chapter 3 (Ryker)
Ryker checks on Delaney to ensure she is unharmed. He offers her a ride home and she accepts. Ryker is repeatedly stopped by fans and friends. Delaney slips away to use the restroom.
Chapter 4 (Ryker)
Ryker notices Delaney has been gone too long. He searches the bar and checks the women’s restroom. He looks out the back exit. He sees Dennings assaulting Delaney in the alley. He charges out to intervene.
Chapter 5 (Delaney)
Delaney is grabbed from behind as she leaves the restroom. She is dragged into the dark parking lot. Dennings slams her against a wall, chokes her, and attempts to rape her. She blacks out from the pain.
Chapter 6 (Delaney)
Delaney drifts in and out of consciousness. She relives painful memories of her abusive childhood. The trauma of the past merges with the physical pain of the present. She struggles to feel safe.
Chapter 7 (Delaney)
Delaney wakes in an ambulance. Ryker is holding her hand. He calls her “Bambi” and tells her to keep her eyes on him. She begs him not to leave her side.
Chapter 8 (Delaney)
At the hospital, Delaney undergoes tests. The staff documents her injuries: bruised ribs, black eyes, and a split lip. She feels exposed and raw. She sits silently in the hospital bed.
Chapter 9 (Delaney)
Delaney refuses to call her pregnant sister Ashton. She argues Ashton cannot help in the middle of the night. Ryker promises to keep her safe. Delaney notes he makes her feel protected.
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Chapter 10 (Ryker)
Ryker refuses to leave Delaney’s side. Detective Brooks and his partner arrive, but Olivia St. James intervenes. Olivia reveals Dennings is in a medically induced coma. She proposes the fake marriage plan, and Delaney agrees.
Chapter 11 (Delaney)
Ryker brings Delaney home. He meets her potbellied pig, Tori. Delaney showers, desperate to wash the feeling of the attack away. She begs Ryker to stay.
Chapter 12 (Delaney)
Ryker soothes Delaney in her bed. She explains Tori’s name. She insists she will marry him to save him. Ryker worries about trapping her, but they fall asleep together.
Chapter 13 (Delaney)
Ashton and Jamie Murphy arrive with baby Kyrie. Ashton is devastated by Delaney’s injuries. Delaney shares the assault details and her plan to marry Ryker. Ashton supports her decision.
Chapter 14 (Delaney)
Ryker’s phone is flooded with texts from his family. They have seen videos of the fight. His mother demands answers about the engagement. Olivia warns them to lie low.
Chapter 15 (Delaney)
Ryker’s parents and Olivia arrive at the apartment. Delaney feels out of place. Olivia notices the handprint bruises on Delaney’s neck. Ryker pulls Delaney close to sit beside him.
Chapter 16 (Ryker)
Lenny Beneventi objects to a fake marriage. Olivia argues the DA wants to make an example of Ryker. Ryker insists he cannot lose his career. Lenny accepts the situation and starts planning a grand wedding.
Chapter 17 (Ryker)
Delaney meets with her friends Lexie, Dillan, Kaleigh, and Ashton. She tries to fake enthusiasm about the wedding. Her friends refuse to let her push them away. Lexie agrees to bake the cake.
Chapter 18 (Ryker)
Ryker meets with the Kings’ front office. He dismisses his interpreter, Bob. The team executives promise a public statement of support. The NFL is launching its own investigation.
Chapter 19 (Delaney)
Delaney works at the flower shop. Her boss, Genevieve, encourages her to heal. Ryker picks her up for police interviews. Delaney tries to use ASL with him, and he is touched by her effort.
Chapter 20 (Delaney)
Ryker and Delaney are separated for questioning. Detective Brooks questions Delaney without her attorney. Olivia storms in and threatens his badge. Afterward, Delaney seeks comfort from Ryker.
Chapter 21 (Delaney)
Ryker reads a romance book on his tablet. He explains the team has a book club. Lenny books a wedding tour at a vineyard. Ryker creates an Instagram profile for Delaney to make the engagement official.
Chapter 22 (Delaney)
They discuss sleeping arrangements. Ryker refuses to let her take the couch. He teaches her ASL signs. Delaney admits she is starting to trust him.
Chapter 23 (Ryker)
Ryker drives Delaney to the vineyard. He officially proposes with a large diamond ring. They meet the event planner. Ryker insists the ring is his “claim” on her.
Chapter 24 (Delaney)
Delaney goes for a dress fitting. She tries on a silk and lace gown. Caitlin Beneventi helps her. Delaney posts a photo and notices her follower count has skyrocketed.
Chapter 25 (Delaney)
Delaney does a cake tasting with her friends. She admits she is a virgin. She explains she has never trusted anyone with her body. She reveals Ryker has offered to help her.
Chapter 26 (Delaney)
Ryker is away for a game. They exchange suggestive texts and FaceTime. Delaney admits she is attracted to him. Ryker promises to go at her pace.
Chapter 27 (Delaney)
Delaney wears Ryker’s jersey to a game. He takes a hard hit, and she is terrified. He gets back up. After the game, they FaceTime. Ryker tells her it is time for their first lesson.
Chapter 28 (Ryker)
Ryker returns home. Delaney asks for her first intimate lesson. He establishes that she has all the control. He guides her through exploring her desires. They spend a passionate night together.
Chapter 29 (Delaney)
Delaney is confronted by Brooks before her rehearsal dinner. Ryker gives a speech at the wedding. After the wedding, they move into a farmhouse. Brooks attacks Delaney at her old apartment and sets it on fire. Ryker rescues her and performs CPR. Delaney wakes in the hospital, learning Brooks was arrested.
Epilogue (Delaney)
One year later, Delaney has integrated into the family. She has mastered ASL and been accepted into graduate school. During a family dinner, she tells Ryker she is pregnant. He is overjoyed.
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Characters In This Book
| Character | Role |
|---|---|
| Ryker Beneventi | Star defensive end for the Philadelphia Kings who is deaf and enters a fake marriage to protect Delaney. |
| Delaney Rousseau | A flower shop worker and abuse survivor who agrees to marry Ryker to keep him out of prison. |
| Roger Dennings | The rival NFL player who assaults Delaney and is beaten into a coma by Ryker. |
| Detective Brooks | The corrupt detective investigating Ryker who is secretly on Delaney’s father’s payroll. |
| Olivia St. James | Ryker’s cousin and lawyer who devises the legal strategy for the marriage. |
| Hendrix Sinclair | Ryker’s best friend and teammate who assists in saving Delaney’s life. |
| Lenny Beneventi | Ryker’s mother who organizes the wedding and supports the family. |
| Ashton Carmichael-Murphy | Delaney’s older sister who offers support during the crisis. |
If You Liked Sweet Oblivion, Try These Books
- The Deal by Elle Kennedy: Features a star athlete and a heroine with a traumatic past who enter a fake dating arrangement.
- Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan: Centers on a heroine healing from trauma and a hero who communicates using sign language.
- The Right Move by Liz Tomforde: A sports romance with a fake relationship and a strong emphasis on a supportive family environment.
- Mile High by Liz Tomforde: Follows an NHL player and a flight attendant, sharing the themes of public image and emotional vulnerability.
- Blind Side by Kandi Steiner: A college sports romance involving a fake relationship designed to protect reputations.
- Consider Me by Becka Mack: Features a professional athlete pursuing a reluctant heroine, with a focus on found family dynamics.
Quotes from Sweet Oblivion
“Girls like me learn at a young age no one is coming to save us, and the scariest monsters aren’t just lurking in dark alleyways or hiding under bridges like trolls. They’re hiding in plain sight and around every corner. Even your own home.”
“If Ryker is your husband, you can’t be compelled to testify against him. If Ryker is your husband, I can spin it that your now-husband, then-fiancé, walked outside and found a man trying to rape his future wife.”
“I’ve been trapped before, Ryker. I’ll never let that happen again. I promise you I could spend two years married to you and those years couldn’t possibly come close to the worst in my life. Let me do this for you.”
“I protect what’s mine, and you are mine, Delaney Rousseau.”
“Till death do us part, Delaney. And we’re both still breathing.”
