All Chapters of His Stand-In, the Don’s Queen: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

Six years with Marcus, and still no ring. But I was getting married. Just not to him."Mom, I'll do it. The marriage alliance."Shock crackled in my mother's voice."Isabella, honey, are you sure? You were so dead set against it…""I've changed my mind," I cut her off, my voice so calm it felt foreign even to me. "When can we set it up?"My mother knew me too well. She sighed. "What happened?"I didn't answer. Last night’s scene played out in my head again—under the dim lights of an underground fight, Marcus had his arms wrapped tight around Victoria. Her head was on his chest, the two of them a painful spotlight in the crowd.I was standing less than thirty feet away, the energy drink I’d bought for him still in my hand. He’d told me he was just going to see a friend's fight, that I didn't need to come.Turns out his "friend" was Victoria Blair."Isabella?" My mother's voice pulled me back."Nothing happened. I just see things clearly now. The family's business is more important than

Chapter 2

Back at the apartment, I poured a glass of red wine and sat on the balcony, staring out at the Manhattan skyline.The words of Marcus’s best friend echoed in my head. At a party three months ago, he’d gotten drunk and let it slip. "You know why Marcus went after you, Isabella? 'Cause you have the same air as Victoria. He was a wreck after she left him…"I’d dismissed it as drunken rambling then. Now, it all made sense.No wonder he always said ponytails looked best on me—Victoria’s signature hairstyle.No wonder he bought me jasmine perfume—Victoria’s favorite.No wonder he stared at me so intensely the first time we met, like he’d seen a ghost.I was a replacement. A stand-in from the very beginning.I put down my glass and started packing. The apartment was Marcus’s, but over six years, my things had seeped into every corner. From the skincare in the bathroom to the clothes in the closet, the art books on the shelves, and our photos on the fridge.I packed them all into boxes.As I w

Chapter 3

"For Christ's sake, Isabella, can't you be reasonable for once?" Marcus snarled, holding Victoria. "It's a stupid signature. Is it that big of a deal?"He grabbed the folder with one hand, scribbled his name without a single glance at the page, and threw it back at me."There! Now can we go?"I took the document, looking at his messy signature. He'd signed my resignation without even looking at it, all for her. A strange quiet settled over me."Thanks," I said, stepping aside. "You two should get to the hospital."As Marcus rushed past with Victoria, she looked back weakly and whispered, "Thank you for understanding, Isabella…"I stood alone in the empty office, carefully folded the document, and put it in my purse. Just like that, six years of my life and two years at this job were over, sealed on a single piece of paper.Ten minutes later, Marcus called."Isabella, I'm sorry about my tone earlier," he said, sounding apologetic. "It was just low blood sugar. Victoria's fine now.""It'

Chapter 4

Marcus went straight to Amy to see the copy. An hour later, he stormed back into the gallery, his face a mask of thunder."Isabella. We're talking about this at home."Back at the apartment, he didn't explode like I expected. Instead, he was unnervingly gentle."Babe, I know I've been neglecting you," he said, wrapping his arms around me from behind. "This thing with Victoria, it'll be over soon. Just trust me, okay?"I stiffened in his arms. In the mirror's reflection, I saw the open collar of his shirt.Where my name used to be tattooed, there was a new one: Victoria.The script was elegant, just like her.My fingers went to the spot without thinking. "This tattoo…"He quickly pulled his shirt closed. "Isabella, I can explain—""Don't," I said, turning to face him. "I just want to know one thing. When did you have mine removed?"He was silent."Was it before she came back, or after?" I pressed."Isabella…""Answer me.""Three months ago," he finally whispered. "But I didn't get hers

Chapter 5

Marcus's phone vibrated at three in the morning.He was in a VIP hospital room with Victoria, who had finally fallen asleep after taking a sedative.Exhausted, Marcus picked up his phone and saw the text from Isabella.Marcus, we're done.He frowned. He tried to reply, but the message failed to send. He’d been blocked."She's just throwing a fit again," he muttered, putting the phone down.In her sleep, Victoria murmured, "Marcus, don't leave me…"He stroked her hair. Isabella always did this. Every time he showed Victoria an ounce of concern, she'd start a fight. This time, she was probably just mad he didn't come home for his birthday.She'd cool down in a few days and come around. He was sure of it.The next afternoon, Marcus was in a meeting when his assistant, Amy, knocked and entered."Mr. Marcus, I need to speak with you," she said, her expression serious."After the meeting, Amy.""It's about Miss Isabella," she insisted. "It's important."Marcus waved the others out of the roo

Chapter 6

JFK Airport, 6 AM.I walked out of customs, my eyes red and swollen from the long flight. As I was about to hail a cab, someone called my name."Miss Isabella Romano?"I turned. A tall man was walking toward me. He wore a perfectly tailored black overcoat, his features sharp and classically Italian. But it was his eyes that caught me—a deep green, so dark they were almost black, and just as unreadable as the ocean."I'm Dante Moretti," he said, extending a hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."I was stunned for a moment, then remembered. This was him. My fiancé."Hello," I said, shaking his hand. "I'm sorry, I didn't expect you to pick me up yourself.""I thought it was only right," Dante said, taking my suitcase from me. "The car is this way."In the car, I leaned back and closed my eyes. Between the flight and the emotional train wreck of the last week, I was exhausted."Get some rest," his voice was soft. "We'll be home in an hour."I actually fell asleep.When I woke up, we were par

Chapter 7

Meanwhile, the news of my engagement was spreading.Marcus's friend Dylan called him immediately."Buddy, I've got some news... you'd better sit down for this," Dylan said, his voice heavy. "Isabella's getting married."I heard later that Marcus was in a board meeting and snapped the pen in his hand in two."To who?""Dante Moretti. They're getting engaged in Venice on the fifteenth. Marcus, this isn't a joke. The Romano family has already made the official announcement."Marcus went home in a daze, only to find Victoria casually doing yoga in his living room.He stared at her, his eyes burning. "What are you doing here? Who let you in?"Victoria, startled by his reaction, stammered, "The spare key you gave me... Marcus, Isabella's gone. I just wanted to come take care of you..."He remembered. Victoria had pouted, said she couldn't be without him, and in a moment of weakness, he'd given her a key.He remembered the look of defeat on Isabella’s face when she found out.He was such a da

Chapter 8

It was six in the evening by the time I stepped out of the fitting room, my wedding dress perfected.The Romano family vineyard was on the coast. The setting sun cast a golden glow over the rows of vines. This was where Dante and I would have our ceremony.I'd just reached the entrance to the wine cellar when a familiar voice stopped me."Isabella."I turned. Marcus was standing a few yards away. He looked like he hadn’t slept in a week. His hair was a mess, his face unshaven, his eyes bloodshot."How did you find me?" I asked, my voice so calm it surprised even me."I asked a lot of people to find the Romano estate," he said, walking toward me. "Isabella, we need to talk.""There's nothing to talk about." I turned to leave."Six years!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the vineyard. "Six years of our lives, and you just throw it away? How could you be so cruel?"I stopped and slowly turned back to him.This man was once my entire world.Now, he just looked pathetic."Cruel?" I la

Chapter 9

I never expected him to say that. I could feel my cheeks getting hot."Dante, about Marcus, I feel like I should be honest with you," I said, trying to change the subject. "We were together for six years. I thought we were going to get married, but...""You think I care?" Dante asked."You don't?""Isabella, six years is a fraction of your life," Dante’s voice was low and steady. "Besides, he lost you. I, on the other hand, get all the years to come. I don't waste my time on men who have already lost."That was... dangerously charming."But, if I were to make him disappear completely, you wouldn't mind, would you?" he asked suddenly, his tone casual but laced with a threat I couldn't miss.I looked at his profile. This man definitely had an inherent, dangerous charm."I'm going to be your wife," I said. "I'll support all of your decisions."The corner of Dante's mouth lifted into a smile.It looked like Marcus's troubles were just beginning.The day before the wedding, Amy called."Isa

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