The Trap

The morning light spilled through the tall windows, piercing straight into my face. I groaned, rolling over only to freeze.

I was still in my wedding dress.

My hair was a tangled mess, my makeup smudged, and my throat dry. Panic filled me instantly. Oh no... what time is it?

I scrambled for my phone on the nightstand, squinting at the screen.

9:30 a.m.

“Shit,” I hissed, flinging it onto the bed. Aria and I were supposed to meet last night, to switch back before anyone noticed. But she never showed up. Or maybe I fell asleep. Either way, I'm still stuck here.

My heart pounded harder.

The door creaked open.

Edric stepped inside, looking effortlessly composed in a dark shirt and tailored slacks. His gaze slid over me, calm but unreadable.

“Why aren’t you ready?” he asked.

My eyes widened. “Ready for what?”

He raised a brow. “Did you forget what I told you last night? Be ready by morning.”

I blinked. My mind raced, trying to recal. He did say something, but i didn't care to pisten because i assumedAria and i would have switched places by now. “I—uh... I didn’t realize you meant this early.”

“Get dressed,” he said simply, then turned and left.

I let out a shaky breath, pressing my palm to my chest. Great. Just great. I was still trapped in this mess.

After a quick shower, I threw on a simple cream dress and tied my hair into a loose bun. When I walked into his study, Edric was already there, leaning against the desk, scrolling through something on his tablet. He looked like the picture of control.

“Sit,” he said without looking up.

I sat, trying not to fidget. My phone buzzed on my lap. I glanced down, no new messages. I’d called Aria five times already. Nothing.

She really wasn’t going to show.

My jaw tightened, anger and fear mixing in my chest.

“What are we doing here?” I asked. It's not surprise a man like him would be working a day after his wedding, but why does he need me dressed up, sitting with him.

“Waiting for someone.” Was his vague answer.

My heart dropped. Has he realized the truth? Maybe he caught Aria last night and now, is ready to unleash wrath on us.

Before I could spiral further, the door opened again.

“Sir,” a voice said.

I turned, and froze.

Jason.

My ex-boyfriend. The one I’d sworn never to see again. Images of him kissing Becca immediately flashed through my head. He stood there in a crisp suit, holding a file, eyes widening slightly when he saw me.

My stomach dropped. Is he here to rip off my disguise? Because if anyone could differentiate between Aria and I, its Jason.

No. No, no, no.

Maybe He just works for Edric.

Jason froze by the door, his hand still gripping the file. His gaze lingered on me longer than it should have, as if he was trying to place something he couldn’t quite name.

“Sir,” he said finally, turning his attention to Edric, but not for long. His eyes flicked back to me again, this time slower, sharper.

My palms went clammy. I forced a tight smile and looked away, pretending to be engrossed in the vase on the desk. Please don’t recognize me. Please don’t.

“Leave the documents on the table,” Edric said, eyes still on his tablet.

Jason did as told, but his steps hesitated. I could feel his gaze burning on me again, curious, almost suspicious.

I wanted so badly to read what was going on in his head. Did he know which of us he was staring at right now?

My throat went dry.

When I finally glanced up, our eyes met. His brows furrowed slightly, lips parting as if he was about to say something.

“Is there a problem?” Edric’s calm voice cut through the silence.

Jason blinked and quickly looked away. “No, sir.”

I exhaled softly, forcing my heartbeat to slow down. I kept my head down, my fingers gripping the edge of my dress.

But I could feel it. His confusion, his suspicion.

He knew something wasn’t right.

The air between us was thick, heavy. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to run or vanish.

Jason straightened his shoulders, cleared his throat, and turned toward Edric again. “Should I proceed with the merger documents, sir?”

“Yes,” Edric replied. “We’ll review them after the meeting.”

Jason nodded, but before leaving, he glanced at me one last time, longer this time, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to read me, to strip away whatever mask I was wearing.

And in that moment, I knew.

He suspected.

The door clicked shut behind him, and I let out the breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. My hands trembled slightly as I rubbed them together.

This couldn’t be happening. Not him. Not here.

If Jason figured out who I really was… everything would fall apart.

The moment Jason left, silence fell heavy again. Edric didn’t even look up from his laptop. He simply said, “Our things are already loaded into the jet. We leave in an 30 minutes.”

My head snapped up. “W–what?”

He finally looked at me, his expression calm, unreadable as ever. “For our honeymoon. Did you forget already?” he looked annoyed. As if I was some stupid unreliable fool.

My lips parted, but no words came out. Honeymoon? As in leaving the country with him?

My heart dropped.

Before I could find my voice, he was already walking past me, giving quiet instructions to someone on his phone. I just stood there frozen until the sound of his footsteps faded down the hall.

Then panic hit.

I rushed back to the guest room, my dress catching on the carpet as I stumbled inside. I grabbed my phone and dialed Aria again. Straight to voicemail. I tried again. Nothing.

“Come on, Aria. Pick up. Please.” My voice cracked as I whispered to myself.

I called our mom next. She picked up after two rings.

“Mom!”

“Alina?” she yawned. No doubt she was still in bed, leaving me to deal with this havoc on my own.

“Aria needs to come back now! Edric is planning to leave the country with me, well, uhm, her, in a few minutes for our, ugh, their honeymoon!” I caught a deep breath after updating her.

“No, no, no, you cant possibly go on honeymoon with her husband.” Mom said. I rolled my eyes, as if this isnt their fault.

“Hang on, let me call her.” She ended the call abruptly.

A few minutes later, her call came in.

Her voice sounded just as frantic. “I’ve been trying to reach her. Her phone’s off. I thought you guys spoke about switching back?”

“She was supposed to come back last night,she promised!” My voice was trembling now. “Mom, he thinks I’m her. He’s taking me on a honeymoon. I can’t—” I was panicking.

“Calm down, baby,” she tried to say, but her voice wavered. “Just stay put. I’ll try to get through to her again. Don’t do anything rash.”

“Mom—”

The knock on the door made me jump.

I froze.

“Mrs. Vale,” a deep voice called from the other side. Jason. “Mr. Vale says it’s time to go.” Why is my God dammed ex still here! I thought he left.

My stomach twisted. I looked around helplessly, at the untouched bed, at the dress hanging off my shoulders, at the phone still clutched in my shaking hand.

There was no way out.

The knock came again, firmer this time.

“Mrs. Vale?”

I swallowed hard, forcing air into my lungs. “Coming,” I whispered, my voice barely holding steady.

And as I turned toward the door, a cold realization hit me.

I wasn’t just stuck in Aria’s lie anymore.

I was living it.

Till we got to the private jet, I still had hope Aria would pull through. I took a seat on the sofas, my eyes clinging at the window.

I was literally trembling and I feared they noticed it.

My worry tripped when Jason walked into the private jet alongside Edric.

Confused, with a furrowed brow, I walked to Edric and whispered to him. “Why is he coming with us?”

Edric looked annoyed, but still, he answered. “We have a business deal to seal, and he is needed.”

I gulped hard as I sat back in my seat.

Could this day get any worse?

Posing as my sister while on a honeymoon woth my suspicious ex.

Great heavens.