My Don’s Mistress Got My Billions

Ten years I worked to marry Vincent. And it was all a lie.I stood outside Vincent's study, audit in hand, when I heard the words that turned my blood to ice."Boss, Isabella’s gallery is about to pass the final audit." That was Marco, Vincent’s right-hand man. "If she actually pulls it off…""She won't." Vincent cut him off. His voice was cold as ice. "I've got accounting ready to drop a tax bomb on her. They'll ‘find a problem’ first thing in the morning."My stomach dropped."But boss, this is the ninth time. You don't think she'll get suspicious?""So what if she does?" Vincent sneered. "She's obsessed with me. She'd never dare defy me. Besides, I need more time to get Ava ready."Ava. My father's bastard. Again."Boss, are you really going to…"“Marry Ava? No.” There was a strain in Vincent’s voice. “Isabella fought for me for ten years. I can’t just throw her away.”“It’s just… Ava is different. She’s innocent, fragile. She has no place in this family without me. She needs my pro

Took a bullet?My heart stopped."When?" I rushed toward Vincent. "You're hurt?"My hands went to his shirt, trying to check for a wound.Vincent flinched, trying to push me away, but the movement was stiff. He'd clearly pulled something."Three days ago," Vincent said, turning his head away. His voice was cold. "There was a situation at the docks.""The Russians were crazier than we thought," Ava said, clinging to Vincent's side, her voice laced with a practiced fear. "They just started shooting. Vincent, to protect me…"She traced a finger over his chest."The bullet almost hit my heart. But Vincent jumped in front of me, shielded me with his own body. He's my hero."I looked at Vincent, waiting for him to deny it, to explain.He said nothing. Like taking a bullet for her was the most natural thing in the world.A sharp pain shot through my chest.I remembered Mexico, three years ago. A dangerous deal.The other party was a notorious cartel, but they controlled the black market for a

I went back to my apartment. The first thing I did was walk to my vanity.A twelve-carat blue diamond ring sat there.Vincent's engagement ring from ten years ago.I picked it up and, without hesitating, threw it into the fireplace.The flames licked at the platinum band, but the diamond just sat there, sparkling.A perfect symbol for my love. Cold, hard, and dead."Miss, you're back."My butler, Andre, came in. He took one look at my face and knew."Call a meeting of all the family elders," I said, turning to him. "Tonight, eight o'clock. Emergency.""Yes, Miss. Also, Miss..." He hesitated. "Chicago called again. About the marriage proposal. It's the third time this year."The mysterious family in Chicago.For two years, they'd been asking for an alliance. I'd turned them all down, blinded by Vincent."Tell them I accept."Andre's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure."Shall I arrange a meeting?""Not a meeting. A wedding. Arrange it for three days from now.

The world went silent, the echo of the shot hanging in the air.Vincent clutched his numb hand, staring in disbelief at the scraps of his gun on the ground."Who?!" he roared, looking around wildly. "Who fired that shot?!"The only answer was the sound of marching feet.Hundreds of men in black suits poured out of the armored cars.They were armed to the teeth, carrying military-grade weapons, their faces hidden behind masks, showing only cold, hard eyes.In the middle of this terrifying force, a Rolls-Royce Phantom glided to a stop.The door opened.A man stepped out.He was tall and lean, dressed in a custom-tailored black suit. He moved with a lethal grace that radiated absolute authority. Sunglasses hid the top half of his face, but his thin lips and strong jawline radiated a suffocating power.The moment Vincent saw him, the blood drained from his face."No... impossible..." he stammered, backing away. "You... you're not..."The man took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of dee

The helicopter flew over a turquoise sea.Below us was a private island I'd never seen before."Where are we?" I asked Julian.He sat beside me, his large hand holding mine, his voice gentle."Our home."I looked at his profile, a thousand questions swirling in my mind."Julian, why now?" I turned to him. "Why did you wait until now to show up?"He was quiet for a long moment, then he spoke."Isabella, I have to tell you a story." His eyes held a deep pain. "A story about waiting."The helicopter landed on a sprawling lawn. Rose petals were still drifting through the air."Do you remember the night you were kidnapped?" he said as we walked. "Trapped in that abandoned warehouse."My mind flashed back to that terrifying night.My mother had just died. My father was busy with his mistress, paying no attention to me.A rival family had taken me to use as leverage."I remember someone saved me," I said softly. "But I could never remember his face. I always thought Vincent seemed familiar, s