His Ruin, Her Coronation

An explosion of joy illuminated Julian's face.

He lifted Isabella high, spinning her around like a child.

That pure, unguarded joy was a knife twisting in my gut.

"Isabella! My love!" his voice trembled in the night. "I promise, you will have everything you want!"

I had never seen him so unguarded.

So... happy.

He wrapped his arm around Isabella's waist and kissed her deeply.

They sped off in the direction of the family headquarters.

I collapsed in the driver's seat.

The tears finally broke through.

Five years.

For five whole years, I thought I was the love of his life.

But I wasn't even worth a single, happy spin in his arms.

A tearing pain shot through my chest—the last emotional thread between us snapping.

The emptiness of losing my child and the agony of his betrayal crashed over me at the same time.

I cried until my throat was raw.

Until I had no more tears to shed.

I remembered the encrypted phone I hadn't touched in years.

They had been trying to contact me.

With a trembling hand, I dialed the number.

"Scarlett?" A familiar voice answered immediately, full of surprise and concern. "You finally called."

"Ronan," my voice was a shattered whisper. "I'll do it. That marriage contract you mentioned... with that man."

There was a moment of silence.

Then, an urgent question. "Did he hurt you? What did that bastard Julian do to you?"

I closed my eyes as fresh tears streamed down my face.

"I told you he wasn't good enough for you," Ronan snarled. "Not when you insisted on running off with that minor-league player in New York. The heiress of the O'Malley family should never be humiliated like this!"

"But I thought it was love..." I choked out.

"Love?" he scoffed. "The man destiny has chosen for you is a thousand times more powerful than that piece of garbage."

His voice softened. "I chose Cassian for you. He is the undisputed Chairman of the Council. He will never let you suffer."

I nodded through my sobs. "Okay."

"In three days," I announced, my voice trembling but firm. "I agree to fulfill the marriage contract."

After ending the call, I dragged my exhausted body back to the apartment.

I began to pack my few belongings.

In five years, I had accumulated almost nothing of my own.

Finally, I took out the custom P226 pistol.

It was the gift I had prepared for him when I found out I was pregnant, a symbol of our future.

Now it was cold and lifeless, a grim monument to my lost child.

I placed it on Julian's pillow, along with the medical report from my miscarriage.

A silent farewell.

He didn't come home all night.

The next morning, I dragged my suitcase toward the family headquarters.

I had to apply to the Elders for a formal departure from the family.

I had just reached the main hall when a sight stopped my heart cold.

Julian and Isabella stood on the raised platform, hand in hand, a picture-perfect couple.

All the core family members were whispering among themselves.

"Finally! The Don is choosing a wife?"

"She's gorgeous!"

"They're a match made in heaven!"

I stood in the corner, feeling like the whole world was mocking me.

A Capo who had once fought alongside me, Nico, strode over.

"Scarlett!" he said in a low voice. "Do you know when the Don got with her?"

My heart was pounding in my chest.

"The Don has always favored you. You were the closest to him," Nico whispered conspiratorially. "We all thought he'd choose you!"

My face turned pale.

"So it was that obvious."

"Of course!" Nico laughed. "But it looks like we were all wrong."

Yeah. Even I was wrong.

Just then, my eyes met Julian's on the platform.

He immediately looked away, his gaze evasive.

"Scarlett?"

A sweet voice sounded behind me.

I turned to see Isabella walking toward me, a triumphant smirk on her face.

"I heard there was an advisor in the family who looks a lot like me," she said, eyeing me up and down. "Seeing you today, it's really true."

Every word was like a knife.

"Thank you for taking care of Julian all these years." Her tone was sickeningly false.

Then, she deliberately touched the brooch pinned to her chest.

It was the Thorne family's heirloom emerald brooch, the one Julian had promised me.

The symbol of the family's Mamma.

"Oh!" Isabella suddenly pointed to my arm. "You have a scar there too? What a coincidence!"

I froze, staring at the spot she indicated—the very scar Julian told everyone I’d gotten taking a bullet for him. How could she know about it?

"Julian tells that story all the time. Proof of your bravery, he says," she purred with false sincerity. "Frankly, I'm sick of hearing it."

My mind raced, connecting the dots. Her scar, my scar… It wasn't bravery. It was a brand. A mark he’d insisted I get after our first firefight, saying he wanted to put his own special seal on me. He said he wanted to remember the blood I’d shed for him.

So... even that was a lie. He had marked me to match her.

He had never loved me.

I looked at Julian on the platform, my eyes burning.

He avoided my gaze and pulled Isabella into his arms.

"Alright!" his voice boomed through the hall. "Now that we've announced our upcoming marriage, you should get to know the family better."

He glanced at me, his eyes cold. "Scarlett is a capable advisor, nothing more. Pay her no mind."

Isabella's smile widened. "Of course. Anyone can tell the difference between the real Donna and a stand-in."

She tilted her head up and kissed Julian on the lips.

Claiming him in front of everyone.

After the kiss, a flushed Julian addressed the crowd.

"Everyone! I'd like to introduce you to my future wife—Isabella! We will be married soon. From now on, she will be in charge of all matters concerning the port smuggling operations."

In that moment, everyone in the room turned to look at me.