The Don's Stand-In Isn't Playing Pretend Anymore

After I, Rosalie Ricci, was stood up 17 times, the mafia don, Daniel Marino, finally holds the perfect engagement banquet for me.

In our second year together, we are ready to get married. But every single time, he has an excuse to hold our engagement off. He says he's busy with work, the timing isn't right yet, or that he isn't quite ready.

I never blame him because I love him. I have loved him since our school days. In fact, I have loved him for seven whole years.

This is the 18th time. I stand in the banquet hall wearing the gown he personally chose for me and watch as he slips the ring onto my finger. He kisses me with a passionate intensity he has never shown me before.

At that moment, I believe that I have finally secured my perfect happiness after waiting seven long years.

My happiness only lasts until the guests leave. As I step into the back garden, I see Daniel holding my twin sister, Leah Ricci, in his arms.

He says in a hushed voice, "I announced my engagement to Rosalie 18 times. This time, you're finally back."

That's when I realize that the engagement banquet that I have longed for is nothing more than a ploy by Daniel to draw Leah back to him.

But when I decided to let them be together, Daniel panics.

The guests' blessings still echoed in my ears, but I could no longer feel happiness.

My fiance, Daniel Marino, had drunk quite a bit that night. He said he needed some air, but he never came back. He wasn't back even after the engagement banquet ended.

I searched everywhere until I finally saw his silhouette from the shadows in the back garden. I was just about to call out to him when my voice caught in my throat.

The woman he was holding tightly lifted her head, revealing a face identical to mine.

It was my twin sister, Leah Ricci. But I hadn't invited her.

"You finally came back," Daniel said in a clear voice. It was nothing like his tipsy tone from earlier.

He went on, "I arranged to get engaged to Rosalie 18 times. I sent you every single invitation to our engagement banquet... Finally, you decided to show up."

My breath caught in my throat.

Leah leaned pitifully against Daniel's chest. Her tears and smeared eyeliner dirtied the front of his pristine white suit jacket.

Daniel, who was usually a clean freak, didn't even bat an eye or frown at the mess.

Leah said tearfully, "That night at the graduation party, I wanted to confess to you… But then, I saw you walk into a hotel room with Rosalie… I was so heartbroken, so I left."

As always, Leah could lie through her teeth effortlessly. She hadn't left because she was heartbroken. In truth, she had left because she got pregnant by accident and fled abroad overnight to get an abortion.

Daniel said with a bitter smile, "I was drunk that night… I thought she was you. It was an unintentional and terrible mistake."

I stood frozen because Daniel's words stabbed straight into my heart like a knife.

I had thought that fateful night five years ago, when I gave myself away for the first time, was the beautiful culmination of years of secret love.

But the truth was that Daniel had only slept with me because he needed a stand-in for Leah.

Leah lightly tapped his lips with her fingertip and said, "It's alright. You don't need to explain anything. I know you still love me. The flowers you used at the engagement banquet were my favorite pink roses. And the gown Rosalie wore was my favorite style. You were thinking of me, weren't you?"

Daniel paused for a moment before answering, "I chose them without thinking—"

Leah cut him off. "It's okay. I know. I know you've been waiting for me. And now that I'm back, we can finally be together."

"Leah…"

Before Daniel could finish, Leah wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

My eyes stung as I watched the scene. My hand that was wearing the engagement ring clenched into a tight fist.

Heartbroken, I yanked it off with all my strength. The diamond sliced my finger, but I didn't feel a thing.

Seven years' worth of love came crumbling down. The weight of it crushed my heart, making it hard for me to even breathe.

Daniel and Leah were still kissing passionately, as if trying to make up for all the lost years.

I couldn't bear to watch any longer. I turned away and pulled out my phone. Then, I dialed a number I hadn't called in years.

"Mom, please help me. I want to get away from here."