Chapter 2

The next morning, Victor sent over a diamond necklace.

Paolo, his second-in-command, stood at the door with a polite smile.

"Ms. Rowan, the Don says this is to make up for leaving so suddenly last night."

I opened the box and looked inside.

The center stone was a large blue diamond.

The auction house conservatively valued it at $8 million.

Just enough to fill the orphanage's emergency medical fund for the next ten years.

I closed the box.

"Thank him for me."

A strange look crossed Paolo's face.

In all his years with the Sicilian family, he'd probably never seen a Donna get abandoned in public, then accept jewelry the next day without a word of complaint.

But I wasn't the Donna.

I was an employee paid by the month.

My boss stood me up, then volunteered $8 million to make up for it.

An employer like that was one in a million.

At noon, I called the auction house and arranged to sell the necklace.

I'd just hung up when a sports car roared up outside the estate.

Diana walked in wearing a long white dress, and Victor followed behind her, carrying her suitcase.

She gave me a gentle smile when she saw me.

"Ivy, it's been a long time."

I'd only seen her once before.

Five years ago, Victor held up her photo and tipped up my chin, comparing us again and again.

In the end, he said, "The eyes aren't quite right."

That day, I learned that the most valuable thing about a person could be nothing more than looking like someone else.

Victor handed the luggage to Hughes, the butler.

"Diana's place is still being cleaned. She'll stay at the estate for now."

I nodded.

"I've already had the guest suite in the east wing freshened up."

But Diana looked up at the second floor.

"I'm a light sleeper. The east wing is near the guards' patrol route. Their footsteps will keep me up."

She paused and gave me an apologetic look.

"Ivy, could I stay in your room?"

My room faced south. When I opened the windows, I could see the whole bay.

Victor had picked it out for me himself five years ago.

He'd said I got cold easily, and the south side was warmer.

Those words had made me secretly happy for a long time.

I'd been so easy to please back then.

Victor looked at me.

"Move into the guest room."

It wasn't a question. It was an order.

I was silent for a few seconds, then smiled.

"Okay."

Diana looked surprised.

Maybe she'd come ready for a fight and was waiting for me to make a scene.

Too bad she'd come too late.

I was already getting ready to leave.

That afternoon, I started packing.

Very little of it was actually mine.

A few old clothes, a computer I'd used for seven years, and the drawings the kids back home had mailed me.

One of them was of a sturdy red-brick house.

Beside it, in crooked letters, were the words, "Ivy, when we grow up, we want to be as amazing as you."

When Diana pushed the door open, I was putting the drawing into my suitcase.

She leaned against the doorframe and asked softly, "Do you hate me?"

"Not really."

"Because you know Victor doesn't love you?"

My hands stilled.

She walked in, running her fingertips over my vanity.

"For five years, he was good to you only because I wasn't here.

"I'd barely gotten back, and last night he ditched you.

"Ivy, a stand-in is just a stand-in. No matter how long you fill the role, you'll never become the real thing."

I looked up at her.

"Ms. Laurent, I think you've got the wrong idea."

She frowned.

I meant every word.

"I've never wanted to become you.

"After all, you can get the Don to love you for free. I can't do that.

"I'm more practical. No money, no work."

The smile on Diana's face froze.

At that moment, Victor walked in.

He'd only heard the last line.

"What's this about no money, no work?"

I closed my suitcase.

"Nothing. Just joking with Ms. Laurent."

Victor's eyes landed on the suitcase.

"Why are you packing?"

"To make room for Ms. Laurent."

His brow relaxed a little.

"Good. At least you're being sensible."

That evening, the chef served an Italian feast.

Every dish was a favorite of Diana's.

Victor cut her steak, then set the plate in front of her.

I looked down and drank my red wine as if I hadn't noticed.

Then Diana laughed. "Victor, you still remember I don't eat basil?"

"When have I ever forgotten anything about you?"

As he said it, Victor glanced at me.

As if he were waiting for me to be hurt.

I just took out my phone and saw a message from Sister Mary.

"St. Mary's medical trust is still $5.2 million short."

I texted back, "It'll be there tomorrow."

The blue diamond necklace had just sold for $6 million.

The extra $800,000 would buy the orphanage new heaters, too.

I couldn't help smiling a little.

But Victor suddenly slammed down his knife and fork.

"Ivy, what are you smiling about?"

I looked up.

"Nothing."

I just thought Diana had come back at the perfect time.

Every time she took something from me, I'd get to go home a little sooner.