CHAPTER 4

Mei’s POV

Looking at Emma–it was basically like looking right in the mirror…

And for a while, all I did was stare and be stunned at the insanely striking resemblance.

“You’re Mei.” Emma spoke first, her tone sharp and cruel and so were her eyes as she stepped foward.

She looked at me, up and down and again…like I was something she scraped off her shoe.

"So," she said. "You're the spare."

I stood up then, my legs were shaking, but I stood. "I'm your twin sistee."

"No. I don’t have a sister." She circled me slowly, her eyes lingering..

"To me?! You’re merely just a replacement, nothing more.”

The words struck hard.  

"I didn't ask for this." “You think I want this?!” I stepped towards her then, my tone louder.

“You think I want to be married to a man I’ve never seen—I don’t have a choice.”

"I also thought I didn’t…." She stopped in front of me, tilting her head. "But at least I have the sense to refuse."

"Then why don't you?" My voice was shaking, but I kept going. "Why don't you just marry him yourself? If you're so much better than me—"

Her smirk faltered for a second and I saw an expresion lit up in her eyes. Jealousy?

Maybe…but I  couldn't tell for sure.

"Because I have better things to do than play house with a Sinclair." She leaned closer.

"But you? You're perfect for it. You're desperate and you’re bedient. You’ll do anything they said..”

Her tone dropped the lowest then. “But… you have no idea what you're walking into."

I stilled at once— "What do you mean?"

Her smile returned, but it was wider and shaper. "You'll find out. And when you do, don't come crying to me."

She turned and walked away.

I stood in the garden staring at her fugure walk further and further away from me.

What did she mean?

What was I walking into?

Soon, it was night, darkness filled up the skies. I stared at my phone for hours.

No news from the hospital yet. Was the surgery successful?! It had to be, right?

It had to be.

I turned my phone and moved to the call enter. Her number. I was ready to press dial…

Then—the door opened and standing there was Vivienne.

“Asleep yet?” She asked sharply.

“No.” I shook my head.

“Good.” She stepped boldly foward, her heels clicking hard on the marble floor.

"The Sinclairs will arrive tomorrow morning. You will meet your husband then."

The words hit me hard. Tomorrow?! “So soon.”

“Time waits for no one.” She turned and moved to the door. “Be ready.”

And with that she was gone as the silence and darkness returned….

I didn't sleep all through the night.

I laid on my bed, staring at the ceiling until finally, the sun began to creep into the room again—

Then, a loud knock jolted me up. Then the maid entered without waiting for the word. "Miss Forbes. It's time."

Slowly, I stood up, then sucked in a deep breath. “Let’s go.”

The transformation took two hours.

Hair. Makeup. Nails and a gorgeous Ivy Green dress.

When they were finished, I looked at my reflection.

The woman staring back was beautiful and, looked much more expensive…

She looked exactly like Emma.

“Mei.” Margaret appeared in the doorway then, her tone sharp. "The Sinclairs will arrive within the hour.

You will stand outside with your parents.” She took a step foward and into the room, her eyes not leaving mine.

You will smile, you will not sneeze and most of all…you will not speak unless spoken to."

I hardly flinched as I asked. "And if I do?"

A cold sharp smie formed on her lips. "Then you will regret it."

The hairs at the back of my neck sprang up at once.

“Are we good?” She stepped closer, her tone low.

I didn’t respond at first, but slowly nodded. “Yes.”

“Good. Follow me.” She turned and walked out. And I followed.

The sun was warm on my face when I stepped out. There was a soft and nice breeze in the air….

Vivienne and Charles were already waiting at the front entrance.

Vivienne stood straight, with her eyes fixed only forward. She didn’t even turn when I stepped out…

Charles stood beside her as well.

His eyes found mine and held them for a moment before darting away.

Guilt. So much guilt were in them.

I stood between them. In a way, it almost a family portrait no one asked for.

And for some minutes, we just waited…five, ten and then—

The gates opened at exactly 11 AM.

A car pulled into the main yard, driving carefully, the sound of the engines filling up the entire yard.

Then it stopped right in front of the mansion.

An older man stepped out of the car, first.

He was tall with white hair already out mixed with strands of black hair left.

He had a commanding presence to him… that made the air feel heavier.

His dark red eyes swept over the estate before landing on us.

This was Augustus Sinclair I’ll guess.

The patriarch. I read about him in the news once or twice..almost everyone had.

He walked toward us with slow and gentle steps. Vivienne stepped forward to greet him.

"Augustus." Her voice was smooth. "Welcome."

"Vivienne." He nodded. Then his eyes moved to Charles. "Charles. It’s been a while! Hasn’t it?”

Charles nodded only without a word.

Then Augustus's eyes found me.

He stopped and slowly studiedme. His gaze was so intense I felt like he was peeling back layers of skin.

"And this is the bride?"

Vivienne nodded. "Yes. This is Emma."

Emma?! The name slammed into me. So I was taking her name too?!

Augustus looked at me for a long moment, having a dark expression in his eyes that I didn’t like.

“You look gorgeous Emma…”

I didn't know what to say, or if I should say anything at all—so I said nothing.

He turned back toward the cars. Raised his hand and gestured.

The car doors opened.

And one by one—three figures stepped out.  

I looked at them come out…

Gosh! They were all dashing.

The first of them had deep hazel eyes, the second bad light blue eyes like the sky and the third had brown eyes…

Adrian, Kristof and Rory. The Sinclair Heirs.

Of course I didn’t know which of them was which..but I knew thier names well enough.

They walked foward and stood beside thier father.

Why were all three of them here, though?

I looked at them again, one by one…

Then at Augustus. Then at Vivienne. Then at Charles.

My voice was barely a whisper. "Which one?"

Augustus raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"Which one am I marrying?"

He looked at me. Then at Vivienne and then back at me. "Did they not tell you?"

My heart stopped. "Tell me what?"

I turned to Vivienne. Her face was cold now. Dead cold.

Then, I turned to Charles who refused to look at me.

"Tell me what?" I repeated my tone sharp.

Silence.

Then Vivienne spoke, her voice was calm.  "You're marrying all three of them."

The world around me stopped.