THE TYCOON'S SUBSTITUTE
PROLOGUE
The room smelled of sterile air and quiet grief.
Machines beeped softly beside the hospital bed, a cruel reminder that time was running out. Cassandra lay there a fragile, fading, but still with that gentle smile that Calista had always envied. The same smile that lit up rooms, won hearts, and made people forget Calista even existed.
Cassandra Ylona Navarro
You’ve always been stronger than me **whispered, voice barely above her breath while her pale hand reached her sister**
Cassandra Ylona Navarro
That's why... I'm asking you this
Calista Ylena Navarro
**shook her head**
Calista Ylena Navarro
Please don't say things like that. You're going to---
Cassandra Ylona Navarro
No **cut in, but softly with finality**
Cassandra Ylona Navarro
We both know I won't make it
Silence filled the space between them like a heavy fog
Cassandra Ylona Navarro
When I’m gone… promise me you’ll take care of him
Cassandra Ylona Navarro
**lips trembled**
Cassandra Ylona Navarro
Promise me you’ll take my place
Calista Ylena Navarro
**froze in her seat.. heart pounded**
Calista Ylena Navarro
Cass, I-- I can't
Cassandra Ylona Navarro
**smile.. tears falling down**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**can't hold her tears anymore**
Cassandra Ylona Navarro
You're the only one I trust
And just like that, the weight of a dying wish buried itself into Calista’s soul.
Three weeks later, Cassandra Navarro was gone. The golden girl, the family’s pride, the tycoon’s beloved fiancée—gone.
She became the woman everyone blamed.
The one her family turned against.
The substitute standing in the ashes of someone else’s life.
CHAPTER 1 - FUNERAL
Mrs. Amanda Navarro
how dare you show up your face after causing your sister's death **eyes burning in fury**
Calista Ylena Navarro
(I didn't cause my sister's death mom... please at least hear me out)
Mrs. Amanda Navarro
You have no right to be here, Calista! This is your fault! You should’ve stayed away like you always do!
Her words stung more than any slap could ever, and the place seemed to fall silent as the others turned to stare.
Mrs. Amanda Navarro
What, now you want to steal her place? Is that it? Try to play the role of the perfect daughter? Don't you dare dishonor Cassandra’s memory!
Calista Ylena Navarro
**Looking down**
Mr.Matteo Navarro
honey, calm down. We're here for our daughter funeral you can deal with her afterwards.
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**staring at cassandra's grave**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
why did you leave me, my soon to be wife? Why didn't you wait till we get married... ** his voice was low**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**holding back his tears**
Luciano Moritte
**tap his back**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
I love you, Cassandra, so much ** tears stream down his cheeks**
Mrs. Amanda Navarro
I don't want to see that girl Matteo...get her out of my sight **tipsy**
Mr.Matteo Navarro
honey goodness, you...
Calista Ylena Navarro
**looking at her mom** (when are you going to notice me as your daughter mom, will I forever remain unnoticed?)
Calista Ylena Navarro
**smile faintly**
Calista Ylena Navarro
ahh... **hiss in pain**
Mrs. Amanda Navarro
**throws a glass**
Mrs. Amanda Navarro
I despise you, Calista. You killed your sister, and now you want to steal her position... that will never happen...My Cassandra
Calista Ylena Navarro
**tears falling down** (I never want to steal my sister position. I just admire her for being her..for being everyone's favourite, she's the only person who notices me)
Calista Ylena Navarro
tomorrow is your birthday, mom **smile in pain** What presents do you like?
Mr.Matteo Navarro
Calista!
Mrs. Amanda Navarro
present!?! I want you gone, you understand I want you gone like I only have one daughter and that's cassandra **burst out in tears again**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**smile and nod** ( I wish I could mom. I wish I was the one who died, not Cass.. and I know soon your wish will come true and I hope you will be happy)
Mr.Matteo Navarro
Calista get out!!
Calista Ylena Navarro
**walk out with heavy heart**
Calista Ylena Navarro
Cass, I wish you're here **cry**
Calista Ylena Navarro
mom is angry again... I wish you could calm her down *sob*
Calista Ylena Navarro
mom wants me gone as her birthday present **smile bitterly**
Calista Ylena Navarro
please come back and let me lay in your coffin
Calista Ylena Navarro
**cold wind touched her bare skin**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**chuckled sadly** I only wish to be happy, but you're gone. You take my happiness with you. I wish you could give me a hug right now. I hurting it become worse and horrible it's too much pain **sobbing loudly**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**lay on the grass** I wish I could follow you soon **smile**
Calista Ylena Navarro
I want you gone, you understand I want you gone **her mother's word echoed in her mind**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**chest tightened**
Calista Ylena Navarro
** gasped for air, but it felt like it was being stolen away by the weight of her mother's words**
She closed her eyes, but the suffocating ache never let up, even as the rain poured harder, as though it, too, was grieving for her
Calista Ylena Navarro
....
Calista Ylena Navarro
....
Calista Ylena Navarro
....
Calista Ylena Navarro
**open her eyes**
Luciano Moritte
**saw her** Thank God, you're awake finally
Calista Ylena Navarro
What happened? Where am I? **look around** Why am I here?
Luciano Moritte
okay, breath for a second
Luciano Moritte
I will call him first
Luciano Moritte
**went to call someone**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**sigh heavily** Did I pass out? I've caused too much trouble to someone...
Calista Ylena Navarro
**stare at the window**
Calista Ylena Navarro
(I wonder if I can ever feel happiness again)
Calista Ylena Navarro
(How are you up there Cass?)
Calista Ylena Navarro
(I hope you're doing great because I am too)
Calista Ylena Navarro
(Later, at night I will visit you again like last night)
Calista Ylena Navarro
( I am kinda hungry, Cass. How about you, did you eat already?)
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
5 minutes is enough, I guess. **cold tone**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**startled**
Calista Ylena Navarro
pardon?
Luciano Moritte
You're zoning out for 5 minutes
Calista Ylena Navarro
ohh, that I'm sorry
Calista Ylena Navarro
**stomach growling**
Calista Ylena Navarro
I'm sorry I didn't eat dinner last night, that's why **look down**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
last night?!? You've been hospitalised for fu*king 4 days. Calista ❄️
Calista Ylena Navarro
w-what do you mean?
Doctor
good morning, Miss. It's good to know that you're finally awake *smile*
Calista Ylena Navarro
what happened??
Doctor
you have dyspnea, which is cause by shortness of breath
Calista Ylena Navarro
**silent**
Doctor
if it's okay, can I have a word with you, Mr. Salvatore
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
sure, just make it quick **cold**
Doctor
to my office Mr. Salvatore
Luciano Moritte
wait for me here, Calista. I'm going to go get some food for you to eat
Calista Ylena Navarro
n-no, it's okay. I can handle it. I'm not that really hungry **smile**
Luciano Moritte
ohh, please, Calista, don't treat yourself like that. You need proper care!
Calista Ylena Navarro
I don't need it ** said in low tone**
Luciano Moritte
still, I'm getting you food!! **went out**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**sigh**
Doctor
have a sit Mr. Salvatore
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**take a seat, but he seats like he the doctors office**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
speak up ❄️
Doctor
**gulp** We still need to monitor her condition as for now, the patient can be discharged, and also, please monitor her every time. Look for a sign like panic attacks it can trigger dsypnea and bring her quick to hospital.
Doctor
If it happens again, don’t waste a single second. Bring her straight to the hospital. Her life could depend on every breath she takes… because if it’s not treated in time, she might not make it.
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
Understand, thank you **cold**
Doctor
this is the medicine she needs to take to stabilise her condition. **give him the prescribed medicines**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**take it**
Doctor
Thank you for your time
Luciano Moritte
You're here!!
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
let's go home
Calista Ylena Navarro
**stand up** **feels dizzy**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**hold her on time**
Calista Ylena Navarro
Thank you
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
Luciano, tell them to prepare car we're heading home ❄️
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**still holding her**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
we need to talk Calista ❄️
Calista Ylena Navarro
**flinches a bit**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**make her sit**
Calista Ylena Navarro
w-what do you want to talk about?
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
Cassandra, my soon to be wife **said in low tone**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
make a wish that I will take care of you she wants me to marry you. ❄️
Cassandra Ylona Navarro
I need you to promise me something... after I’m gone, take care of my sister. I know she’s always been in my shadow... marry her, Leonel. Please. She’s all alone... make her feel like she existed **said the last word in whisper which Leonel didn't heard**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
I don't know if I can...
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
Leonel... I know this sounds selfish but... love her, if you can. Not because she’s my sister, but because she deserves the kind of love I felt with you. Even just a piece of it... she’s never had that her whole life
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
I can't love her Cass **lips trembling **
Cassandra Ylona Navarro
Shh, try it, my soon to be husband, you don’t have to forget me... just don’t let her go through life thinking she’s hard to love **weak voice, tear forming in her eyes**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**crying**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
I will marry you, but don't expect me to love you the way I loved your sister she's the only sole owner of my heart ❄️
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
I won't take any answers from you. I will decide it whether you agree or not!
CHAPTER 2 - CIVIL WEDDING
BOTH OF THEME WERE EXCHANGING THEIR VOWS
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
Today, I stand here not as a man in love, but as a man bound by a promise to the woman I failed to protect. I take you not because my heart chooses you, but because hers did. This ring is not a symbol of love—but a reminder of a debt I can never repay. I cannot give you my heart, Calista, because it died with her… but I will give you my name, my silence, and whatever is left of me after grief has taken everything else. So wear this vow not with joy, but with the weight of knowing you were never meant to be the bride—I was never meant to be yours.
Calista Ylena Navarro
I didn’t choose this path, but I chose to honor her wish. I stood here today, not because I dreamed of marrying you, but because I promised someone I loved that I would take care of what she left behind. I know this isn’t love—not from you, and maybe not even from me. But I will still hold your hand in silence, walk beside you in pain, and carry the weight of a name that was never meant for me. I won’t ask you to love me, or even to see me. I just hope… that someday, when the storm in your heart finally calms, you’ll remember that I was there—quiet, steady, and breaking a little more every day for a promise I could never break.
Dante Romero (Lawyer)
please sign this paper **hand them a pen**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**sign first**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**expressionless** **give her the pen**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**hesitate** **hands trembling**
She hesitates for a second, but she signs anyway
The officiant congratulates them, but there’s no smile, no applause, just thick, painful silence.
After they exit from City Hall
It starts to drizzle. Leonel pulls out an umbrella but doesn't offer it to her. He walks ahead.
Calista follows silently, looking down, holding back her tears.
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
From this day on, do your part as my wife. But don’t expect anything more from me **said coldly to her without showing any emotions**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**nods**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**looked away**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**single tears escape from her eye**
When they arrived at the mansion, the butler guided calista to the guest room at the far end of the second floor.
Butler of the Mansion
Sir, Leonel has instructed that you stay here ** said with a bow**
Butler of the Mansion
His room is off-limits
Calista Ylena Navarro
**nodded silently, not expecting any different**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**staring blankly at nothing**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**Suddenly hears Calista crying but chooses to ignore it**
That night, they lay in the same house but miles apart, their hearts weighed down by the ghost of the woman they both lost
The morning light seeped through the curtains, but the warmth never reached their hearts.
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**already dressed up, standing by the window with his back turned to her.**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
your things will be moved to the guest room **voice devoid of emotion**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**nod, her throat tight**
She expected this. She was never meant to stay by his side, not truly
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
Breakfast is ready downstairs **he added, but didn't wait for her response before walking out**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**saw him eating his breakfast peacefully**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
have a seat, eat up before it turns cold ❄️
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**phone rings**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
**went outside to answer his phone**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**looking at the food in front of her**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**hesitate to eat**
Calista Ylena Navarro
(I'm allergic to this)
Butler of the Mansion
Is there any problem, ma'am don't you like the food?
Calista Ylena Navarro
n-no, it's just that, umm, I'm sorry I'm allergic to egg
Butler of the Mansion
If that's the case, I will prepare another breakfast **said politely**
Calista Ylena Navarro
ohh no, please don't bother it's okay
Calista Ylena Navarro
can I prepare my own breakfast if it's okay?
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
go ahead, make your own breakfast, and make sure you finish it. **said coldly without even bothering looking at her**
Calista Ylena Navarro
thank-.... **got cut**
Leonel Valerio Salvatore
I'm going ** the only thing he said before leaving**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**nod with a heavy sigh**
Butler of the Mansion
this way, to the kitchen ma'am
Calista Ylena Navarro
**follow him**
Calista Ylena Navarro
please quit calling me ma'am just call me Calista
Butler of the Mansion
ok, Miss Calista
she started making her breakfast
Butler of the Mansion
wow!! miss your cooking skills are so good
Butler of the Mansion
and that looks so good 🤤
Calista Ylena Navarro
thank you. **said with warm smile**
Calista Ylena Navarro
You can have some, I'll give you **smile**
Calista Ylena Navarro
(This is my first time receiving complement from someone )
Butler of the Mansion
really, woah thank you, Miss Calista
Butler of the Mansion
you are really just like Miss C---
Calista Ylena Navarro
it's okay, you can say it **smile**
Butler of the Mansion
you're just like, Miss Cassandra **smile**
Butler of the Mansion
she's been so kind to us **smile**
Butler of the Mansion
but now she's gone **sad tone**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**sigh**
Butler of the Mansion
you know, Miss Calista, I just want to tell you this after Miss Cassandra's death, it is my first seeing Sir Leonel again drinking too much alcohol like there's no tomorrow
Butler of the Mansion
I can feel that his devastated because of her death he's been calling her name he didn't even sleep in his room for that moment
Calista Ylena Navarro
I'm sorry to hear that
After they talk, she eat her breakfast and also share it with the the butler
Butler of the Mansion
Umm, Miss Calista, there's someone I want you to meet
Calista Ylena Navarro
who?
Leonora (Personal Maid)
me!! **said with big grin**
Calista Ylena Navarro
**chuckle**
Butler of the Mansion
**chuckle**
Butler of the Mansion
she will be your personal maid, Miss Calista
Calista Ylena Navarro
ohh, but I don't need that
Leonora (Personal Maid)
but I need it 😫 I need a job
Calista Ylena Navarro
ohh, okay, okay
Calista Ylena Navarro
but really, you want a maid job
Leonora (Personal Maid)
**nods**
Calista Ylena Navarro
but the way you look, this job is not suitable for your looks **smile**
Leonora (Personal Maid)
ohh, come on, I want this job **puppy eye**
Leonora (Personal Maid)
please can I be your maid ** hug her**
Leonora (Personal Maid)
please
Calista Ylena Navarro
ohh **flinches because of the hug**
Calista Ylena Navarro
alright alright
Butler of the Mansion
**looking at them with a smile**
Butler of the Mansion
**leave from there**
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