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The Masquerade Bride

Penulis: Domi_writes
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-09-28 21:36:54

The mirror didn’t lie.

I looked at the woman staring back at me and almost didn’t recognize her. The veil framed my face in a soft blur, the gown clung to me in ways that felt both heavy and suffocating, and the red lipstick Zoe insisted on painted my lips into a stranger’s smile. My reflection whispered the truth I was trying to bury.

This wasn’t me.

This was Zoe Rodriguez.

My twin sister’s identity wrapped around me like a mask, a disguise stitched together with silk and lies.

Behind me, Zoe clapped her hands together, grinning wide. “Perfect. Absolutely perfect. No one will know the difference. Not Dad, not Jake, not anyone. You look exactly like me.”

My stomach twisted. I pressed a hand against my gown, the fabric cool beneath my trembling fingers. “Zoe… I can’t breathe.”

She rolled her eyes, stepping closer to fix a strand of hair out of my face. “Don’t start now, Chloe. You agreed to this. You said yes. And besides, you’re not allowed to back out. Not when we’ve come this far.”

I swallowed hard, the weight of the vow I hadn’t made yet already choking me. “It’s different now. I can’t keep pretending. What if he notices? What if Jake…”

Zoe smirked, her voice dripping with certainty. “He won’t. Jake wants Zoe Rodriguez, the bold one, the confident one, the one who knows how to smile like the world belongs to her. You just need to act like me. Play the role, Chloe. That’s all.”

Her words pressed into me, heavy, suffocating. I wanted to argue, to run, to scream that this wasn’t fair, that I was carrying secrets too big for a white dress and vows to hide. But instead, I sat still as she fixed my veil, her hands sure, her smile almost cruel.

There was a knock at the door.

“Girls.” Father’s voice carried through, deep and commanding. “It’s time.”

Zoe straightened my veil one last time, her eyes glinting with triumph. “Remember what I told you. Smile. Don’t look nervous. You’re me now. The world is your stage.”

I nodded stiffly, my heart thudding so loudly I was certain everyone in the house could hear it.

The ceremony hall was drenched in gold and white. Flowers spilled down the aisle, violins hummed softly in the background, and the air smelled faintly of roses and candle wax. People turned to watch as I walked in, their eyes warm, their smiles wide. To them, I wasn’t Chloe. I was Zoe Rodriguez, the bride of Jake Williams Martinez.

Alejandro Rodriguez, our father, looked at me with something I hadn’t seen in a long time, pride. His hand gripped mine as he led me down the aisle, his chest puffed out, his voice low as he whispered, “You’re saving us today, Zoe. You’re doing the right thing.”

My throat tightened. He didn’t even know. He couldn’t see. He had no idea that it was Chloe, not Zoe, beneath the veil.

Each step forward felt heavier. My gown pulled at me like chains, dragging me deeper into the lie I had agreed to carry.

And then I saw him.

Jake Williams Martinez.

Tall, sharp, with eyes that cut through the crowd and landed on me like a blade. His gaze didn’t waver as I walked closer, his expression unreadable, but something in those eyes made my stomach flip. He looked at me as if he was trying to peel back my skin, as if he already knew there was something hidden beneath the surface.

My fingers trembled against the bouquet.

The vows were recited, the words spilling from my lips like water I couldn’t stop. I do. The lie sealed itself with a kiss that burned more like fire than love. His lips were firm, claiming, the kind of kiss that tasted of ownership, not tenderness.

When the crowd erupted in applause, my chest caved in. I was trapped.

At the reception, laughter and chatter filled the air. Zoe danced among the guests, smiling as though none of this concerned her. She winked at me from across the room, raising her glass in a mocking toast before slipping away into the shadows of the hall.

Jake never took his eyes off me.

Every time I looked up, he was there, watching, silent. His smile was polite, his words courteous, but his eyes, they searched me, studied me, like he was trying to solve a puzzle he couldn’t quite piece together.

When he finally leaned down, his breath brushed my ear. “You’re quieter than I imagined.”

My heart stopped.

I forced a laugh, tilting my head the way Zoe would. “Maybe I’m just saving my voice for tonight.”

His lips curved slightly, but his eyes didn’t soften. He clinked his glass against mine, the sound sharp and final. “Tonight, then.”

The weight of his words sank into me. Tonight, the masquerade wouldn’t just be about smiles and names. Tonight, I would have to give him everything. Tonight, the lie would reach its breaking point.

I smiled back at him, though my insides twisted with dread.

The mirror hadn’t lied. I was no longer Chloe Rodriguez. I was Zoe. The masquerade bride.

And I had no idea how long I could keep this mask from shattering.

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  • Kisses, Lies and Blurred Alibis    Secrets in the Shadows

    “Just a moment,” I whispered, excusing myself with a shaky smile before slipping out of Jake’s reach. My hands were clammy as I found Zoe waiting at the back corridor, her lipstick slightly smudged, her eyes sparkling with the thrill of what we had just pulled off.The moment I saw her, the mask cracked. Tears blurred my vision. I threw my arms around her.She held me tight, her perfume strong and familiar, her voice low against my ear. “Chloe… you did it. You really did it.”I pulled back, trembling. “I don’t know if I can keep doing this, Zoe. I feel like I’m drowning in a lie.”She cupped my face, her smile soft for once. “Listen to me. You have to keep going. Do you hear me? There’s no turning back now. If anyone finds out, Dad will never forgive us. The company will sink. And you…” Her voice dropped, almost a whisper, “…you have a baby to protect.”My stomach twisted. I pressed a hand over my belly, shame flooding me. “Zoe…”She cut me off with a firm shake of her head. “Don’t wa

  • Kisses, Lies and Blurred Alibis    The Masquerade Bride

    The mirror didn’t lie.I looked at the woman staring back at me and almost didn’t recognize her. The veil framed my face in a soft blur, the gown clung to me in ways that felt both heavy and suffocating, and the red lipstick Zoe insisted on painted my lips into a stranger’s smile. My reflection whispered the truth I was trying to bury.This wasn’t me.This was Zoe Rodriguez.My twin sister’s identity wrapped around me like a mask, a disguise stitched together with silk and lies.Behind me, Zoe clapped her hands together, grinning wide. “Perfect. Absolutely perfect. No one will know the difference. Not Dad, not Jake, not anyone. You look exactly like me.”My stomach twisted. I pressed a hand against my gown, the fabric cool beneath my trembling fingers. “Zoe… I can’t breathe.”She rolled her eyes, stepping closer to fix a strand of hair out of my face. “Don’t start now, Chloe. You agreed to this. You said yes. And besides, you’re not allowed to back out. Not when we’ve come this far.”

  • Kisses, Lies and Blurred Alibis    The Switch

    Zoe slammed the door behind us, her heels clicking fast across the marble floor as she pulled me down the hallway. I stumbled, still dazed from Father’s announcement.“Zoe, slow down…”“No,” she snapped, turning to face me. Her eyes were blazing, her chest rising and falling with every furious breath. “Did you hear him, Chloe? He’s marrying me off like I’m some bargaining chip. To Jake Williams Martinez of all people! That man doesn’t want a wife, he wants a trophy.”I opened my mouth but the words wouldn’t come. My hands twisted together nervously. “What are we supposed to do then? You know Dad won’t listen once he’s made up his mind.”Zoe’s eyes narrowed, her lips curving into something sharp and dangerous. “Then we won’t give him what he wants. We’ll give him what he thinks he wants.”My heart thudded in my chest. “What does that mean?”She stepped closer, lowering her voice. “It means you’re going to take my place.”I blinked, stunned. “What?”“You heard me.” Zoe grabbed my should

  • Kisses, Lies and Blurred Alibis    A Deal with the Devil

    The study was thick with silence, the kind that pressed against the walls and made the air feel heavier than stone. Father’s words still rang in my ears. Marriage. Zoe. Jake Williams Martinez.Zoe slammed her palm against the polished oak desk, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. “What? Marriage? To that man? Are you serious, Dad?”Alejandro Rodriguez’s expression didn’t flinch. His eyes were cold, steady, as if he had already prepared himself for her tantrum. “This is not up for debate, Zoe. The company is hanging by a thread. The Martinez empire is our only chance at survival. Jake has agreed to step in…”“Step in?!” Zoe cut him off, her voice rising. “You mean he wants to trap me in some golden cage just to save your failing company. Why me? Why not Chloe? She’s the boring one!”I felt my chest tighten at her words, but Father didn’t even glance my way. His voice remained firm. “Because Jake asked for you. He specifically requested you, Zoe. He wants you, and this is bigger than y

  • Kisses, Lies and Blurred Alibis    The News

    “Take it,” Zoe said, her voice low, her hand trembling as she pushed the stick into my palm.I stared down at the small plastic test. Two bold lines glared back at me, mocking me, branding me with a truth I wasn’t ready to face.I swallowed hard, my fingers shaking. “No… no, this can’t be real.”Zoe rubbed her forehead, pacing the length of the room. “It’s real, Chloe. You’re pregnant.”The word hit me like a slap. Pregnant. My chest tightened until I could barely breathe.“But… how?” My voice cracked. My knees gave way, and I sank onto the edge of the bed, clutching the test like it was proof of my downfall. “That night… I don’t even remember what happened. How could I…?”Zoe stopped pacing and spun around to face me, her eyes sharp. “That’s exactly what I’m asking. How do you get yourself pregnant from a night you barely remember? Didn’t you think? Didn’t you use anything?”I looked at her helplessly, tears rushing to my eyes. “I don’t even know who it was, Zoe. I swear… I don’t rem

  • Kisses, Lies and Blurred Alibis    How it all began

    Flashback…“Seriously?” Zoe’s voice cut through my misery, sharp and annoyed. She stood by the door, arms crossed, looking at me like I was weak. “You’re really going to keep crying over him? Over Tyler?” Zoe was the same as me, same face same height and body size everything was same except that she has a total different personality from me. She was the bold, wild and always the centre of attention.I was curled up on the bed, my face buried in a pillow, tears soaking the white sheets. My chest hurt like something sharp had been driven through it. No matter how hard I tried to breathe, it felt like I was choking on my own sobs.I sniffled, turning my face away. “You don’t understand… I loved him.”I said still sobbing.She rolled her eyes dramatically and walked over, yanking the pillow from under me. “Love? Please, Chloe. Stop humiliating yourself. You’re Chloe Rodriguez, daughter of Alejandro Rodriguez, one of the richest men in Venice. We don’t cry over boys. Boys cry over us.”Her

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