The Hidden Queen

Before Marcus could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from the end of the hall.

A man in a dark suit strode forward, a dozen bodyguards trailing him.

"Mr. Antonio!" Victoria stepped forward immediately, her voice laced with respect. "You're here!"

She turned to Marcus. "Sir, this is Antonio Salanto, the Saranto family's representative in New York!"

Antonio smiled and nodded, his gaze sweeping across the room before landing on me.

"Miss Aria." He approached me. "We finally meet."

I looked at him, and suddenly, everything clicked.

"So you're the one pulling Victoria's strings."

Antonio smiled, a gentle smile that hinted at calculation.

"Smart girl," he leaned closer, his voice low. "But sometimes, being too smart isn't a good thing."

"You've been waiting for this day for a long time, haven't you?" I didn't back down, meeting his gaze coldly.

"Indeed." Antonio admitted readily. "The marriage between the Castillo and Saranto families. I've been pushing for three years. A pity that old man from the Vincent family suddenly interfered and almost ruined my plans."

He sighed, a hint of regret in his tone.

"All it took was making Marcus dislike you. I didn't expect you to be so stubborn, unwilling to sign even that simple contract."

"Don't you regret losing the chance to become Mrs. Castillo?"

I laughed.

"A marriage like that is better off without it."

I looked over at Marcus. He was chatting and laughing with Isabella; they seemed to get along well.

"And I have Mr. Antonio to thank," I continued. "You've solved a big problem for me—how to explain to Don Castillo why I'm calling off the engagement. Now that you've taken my fiancé, I don't have to take the blame."

Antonio's smile vanished.

"You..." His eyes turned dangerous. "Aria Vincent, do you know who you're dealing with? If you cross the Saranto family, you and your own family will have nowhere to stand in New York."

"Is that so?" I pulled out my phone in front of him. "Then I'd like to see whose power is greater..."

I paused deliberately.

"My backer's."

Antonio froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Your backer?" He turned to everyone around. "Did you hear that? She says she has someone behind her!"

Even the servants started whispering.

"Who does she think she is?"

"Just a Vincent family foster daughter, putting on airs."

"Daring to be so arrogant after offending the Saranto family?"

Marcus scoffed. "Aria, that's enough. Stop embarrassing yourself."

I ignored them.

My finger slid down my contact list, finding that familiar number.

I pressed dial.

Almost instantly, the call connected.

"Aria." A deep male voice came from the earpiece, tinged with a gentle smile. "How's the wedding going? Are you happy with your future partner?"

I glanced at Antonio. He still wore that mocking smile.

"Grandpa," I cleared my throat, my voice tinged with a hint of grievance. "I'm calling you about this very matter."

"The fiancé you arranged for me... seems to have been snatched away!"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the line.

Then, a roar that almost shattered my eardrum.

"What?!"

It was an anger I'd never heard from him before.

The Don's voice, like thunder before a storm, echoed through the receiver. The air itself seemed to freeze.

"Who dares?!"