The Scapegoat Fiancée: I Am No Substitute

ssi

was a directive delivered by two

swings, but now they carried Glocks to ensu

s gathered," o

to the drawing room where the air smell

re. And Giuliana, my cousin, sat in

r "suicide attempt," which I knew was just her standing on

father c

ss my ankles. I sat with the sprawling indiff

voice trembling with rage. "Washing dishes? Liv

dead to you," I

t a spot on the carpet as if it contained the secrets of the universe. "Chiara's

y," I said. "I'

e Falcones are sniffing around. They sense w

ante. "Let's get married. That's what yo

ightened visi

tched, thin and

" I wh

ke a hammer striking an anvil. "Publicly. You will say you ar

knew. I felt the knife twisting in m

r finished. "It is the only way. She needs h

ad sworn he loved me. The man wh

to this?"

It's a political necessity, Alessia. It's t

r taste of the lie. "But you will marry her. You wi

ng his hand on the table. "Som

s felt shaky, but

," I

r blinke

r you want. I will b

ought they had won. They thought I w

aid, raisi

id quickly, too eag

Chiara h

minute later, Chiara drifted in, wearing

e whispered.

rap, Chiar

ess this union. I will step asid

" Chiara's

nd thank me. Thank me for the seven years I sat in a cell for y

ara scoffed. "Dan

esolve in my eyes. He knew I would bu

ra," Dante s

gasped.

!" he

wered herself to her knees. She looked up at me

you," s

ything,"

ything,"

othing. No triumph. No vindica

welcome,

nt, Chiara reached into her robe

olding the blade to her perfect, unb

haos. My mother screame

ara,

ove. I did

nd her, cooing, comfortin

g them to their madness. I climbed the stairs to t

as