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