All Chapters of My Fiance's Gone, His Brother Stayed: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

"You look gorgeous, Signorina."I stared at my reflection. That black silk gown clung to me like a secret, and the diamond necklace? Blinding.This wasn't just any dress—it was a custom piece, six figures, made for one reason only: tonight's engagement party with Marco Falcone."Thanks, Maria." I fixed my earring. "Is the car out front?""It is. Your father said tonight marks a new era—De Luca and Falcone, stronger than ever."I nodded.Dad wasn't wrong—this alliance would fuse our shipping empire with the Falcone mafia's grip on the streets.But more than business, there was that old prophecy from the archbishop: "The Lady of Glory shall bring divine protection and endless prosperity to the Family she joins."People believed it was me.That's why the Falcones locked in my engagement to their second son, Marco, back when I was still playing with dolls.***Thirty minutes later, I stepped into the top-floor ballroom of a luxury hotel.Under the giant crystal chandelier, ever

Chapter 2

Everyone just stood there, stunned. Isabella went ghost-white.She rushed over and gripped my hand hard. "Giulia, dear," she begged, voice trembling. "For both families' reputations, please—let's finish the ceremony. We'll explain everything after."I stared at her, remembering how three months ago she'd looked me dead in the eye and promised, 'You'll be the only lady of this house. I'll treat you like my own daughter.'What a joke.I yanked my hand back. "Is the 'explanation' you mentioned about welcoming your son's side chick or demoting my dad to your grandson's butler?""Giulia, please try to—""Oh, I get it," I snapped, turning to the crowd. "Let me make it real simple. I'd rather blow up this entire alliance than marry that garbage. And trust me—I've got options."Marco cracked.He scooped up Lola and stormed out. Isabella screamed after him, but he didn't look back."Marco! Get back here!"Too late.Alessandro's face turned stone-cold. Clearly, even he hadn't seen thi

Chapter 3

"Absolutely."My voice cut clean through the silence.Every head turned—first to me, then to Dante as he stepped forward. His limp was there, but it didn't matter. The weight he carried had the whole room holding its breath."You sure?" he asked, stopping in front of me. His eyes locked on mine. "Will you marry me?"Then, quieter, but dead serious—"Once this starts, there's no going back.""I don't do back." I reached out. "Dante Falcone, I accept."He took my hand, turned to the crowd, and said, "Papa. Father Antonio. Start the ceremony.""Dante! Are you insane?" Isabella rushed up, pale and panicked. "You can't do this! This was Marco's—""Marco's gone." Dante's voice cut like a blade. "He gave up his claim. Now it's my call."Alessandro stood, slow and deliberate. His footsteps echoed like thunder across the dead-quiet room.Every soul held still, waiting on the word of Chicago's underworld Godfather."Father Antonio," Alessandro said, voice low and final, "begin the cere

Chapter 4

The next morning, a soft knock woke me."Signorina, breakfast is ready," a maid called through the door.I stared at the ceiling for a second, letting last night hit me all over again.I was engaged. And in a month, I'd be married to Dante Falcone.After freshening up, I made my way to the dining room.Dante was already there, papers spread in front of him."Morning," he said, standing to pull out my chair."Morning." I sat, eyeing the fancy breakfast. "You're up early.""Old habit." He slid a document toward me. "Property agreement. All your assets stay yours—I won't touch a cent."I flipped through it. Way more generous than I expected.It basically gave me full freedom."Also," Dante said, "I arranged a memorial Mass for your mother this afternoon. I know you were young when she passed."I looked up, caught off guard.That loss was buried deep—and he remembered."Thank you," I said, voice catching."We're getting married," he said softly. "It's the least I could do."

Chapter 5

"Let go of me!"Marco's voice bounced off the clinic walls, but Dante didn't move an inch."Giulia's about to be my wife. The Lady of the Falcone Family," Dante said, voice low and lethal. "You better learn respect."The staff froze, caught in the silent pressure of the moment.Marco struggled but couldn't break free. His face flushed."You think marrying her changes anything? You're still a cripple!""Is that so?"Dante let go. Marco stumbled back, rubbing his wrist."You can't even protect yourself," Marco sneered. "And you think you can protect her? That bullet made you dead weight. Papa was just too polite to say it."The room went still.I saw it—the way Dante's whole body tensed. Coiled tight. But his face? Ice."You'll never lead this family," Marco spat. "A cripple can't be Don."Dante looked ready to answer, but I stepped in, sliding naturally to his side."You're right, Marco," I said coolly. "Dante was injured."Marco smirked, thinking I'd folded."But," I sna

Chapter 6

"This will hurt. You'll need to bear it."The lab doc held up a long needle, eyes on Dante."We need to hit the damaged nerve root. It'll take about six hours."I sat next to Dante, watching him stay calm.Getting him this treatment? I'd pulled every string the De Luca Family had.Three private jets flew in the gear. Five top neurosurgeons flew in under the radar."Let's do it," Dante said, lying back on the surgical table, steady as ever.I grabbed his hand. "I'm not going anywhere."They started. Machines worth more than some mansions buzzed around us. I just kept praying.Six hours later, the lead doc peeled off his mask, looking wiped but pleased."It worked. He should get full use of his leg back in three weeks."I finally breathed.Dante crashed hard after—slept three days straight. I barely left his side.Morning of day four, his eyes opened."How do you feel?"He tested his leg, a flicker of shock crossing his face. "Feels... good. Pain's down. I can feel the str

Chapter 7

"Salvatore, there's a three-million-dollar hole in the West Dock accounts."Dante's voice cut through the room like ice.The named Capo turned pale, his hands trembling. "Don, I can explai—""No need." Dante stood, moving like his leg had never been hurt. "Angelo, take him to meet God."Two guys in black closed in."Dante! Don't! I fought beside your father!" Salvatore thrashed, panicked."Which makes it worse." Dante sat back down. "Get him out."The doors shut. Silence dropped. No one dared look up.Since getting back on his feet, Dante had wiped out six traitors and cleaned up three branches. Fast, brutal, no second chances."East Side casino's next." Dante flipped a page. "Tommy, your numbers are up forty percent. Solid work."Tommy lit up. "All thanks to Don's leadership!"Alessandro, seated at the head, watched quietly. In three months, Dante had flipped the family upside down—and earned his respect.After the meeting, Alessandro stayed behind."You handled that well

Chapter 8

The second I stepped in, all eyes locked on me.Marco and his crew looked like they wanted me gone yesterday. Dante gave a small nod—calm face, but his eyes flickered with something close to worry.But Alessandro caught me off guard. No rage, no doubt—just this calm, unreadable satisfaction."Giulia, my dear." He stood, pulled out a chair beside him. "Sit."Marco's jaw clenched. The Capos traded nervous glances."Papa, what are you doing?" Marco hissed.Alessandro sat down, eyes sweeping the room. Then locked on Marco, full of disappointment."Do you even realize what you just said?""I accused betrayal!" Marco snapped. "Dante betrayed us. He betrayed Chicago!""No." Alessandro's voice dropped cold. "You falsely accused the woman who saved this family. Giulia De Luca is a gift from God. And you—" his stare burned through Marco—"you humiliated her over some damn stripper."Rocco jumped in. "Don, what about our independence—""Independence?" Alessandro scoffed, walking to the

Chapter 9

"Are we locked on the mercenaries' location?"I stood in Dante's office, eyes locked on the map of Chicago. Red pins stabbed through it like warning signs."Confirmed," Rico said. "Dozens flew in last night on a private jet. Isabella burned through her last stash to hire them.""The target?""Salvatore's funeral. Tomorrow. Alessandro's showing up. Marco wants to take everyone out in one shot."Figures. Exile had snapped him clean. With Isabella egging him on, he was going all in."Get our people ready," Dante said, already unlocking the weapons cabinet. "If he wants war, we finish it."***By morning, Saint Mary's Cathedral was packed.Salvatore had betrayed us, yeah—but old blood still got a proper send-off.Alessandro sat front row. Dante and I were right beside him.Something felt off. A few "mourners" had weird placements—one near every exit."It's starting," Dante murmured.Right on cue, just as the priest began to pray, the back doors banged open.Marco barged in wi

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP