Chapter 6 - I hate George

London's POV,

I sat there, feeling numb and exhausted, eager for the wedding reception to be over. I hadn't seen George since he'd disappeared, and Alfred's news of Paris's return only made me more anxious.

I was eager to see Paris and give her a piece of my mind for not showing up on time for her wedding. But something about the way Alfred had looked at me with tears in his eyes, had left me feeling uneasy about Paris's return. He had rushed off without telling me more when he saw George's mom approaching, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong but I quickly remembered that we had to keep up the charade of me being Paris. The last thing we needed was for anyone to find out the truth.

"Where's my son?" George's mother asked as she approached me.

"I don't know," I said, trying to sound calm. "I haven't seen him."

"You look stressed," she said, her voice full of concern. "Why don't you go inside and rest? I'll take care of the guests."

I nodded, relieved to have an excuse to leave. I quickly made my way out of the boisterous noisy hall.

A few moments later, I rushed back home, anxious to find out what was going on. As I opened the door, I was shocked to see my mother sobbing on the floor, while my father sat on the couch, staring blankly into space.

"Mom, what's wrong?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

"It's...it's Paris," she sobbed, pointing towards the bedroom.

I ran to the bedroom and was horrified to see my twin sister, Paris, lying on the bed, her body cold and still.

My heart sank as I realized the terrible truth. My sister was dead.

In a daze, I turned to my mother, who was still weeping on the floor.

"What happened?" I managed to ask, my voice shaking.

"I... I don't know," she stammered. "I came home from the reception and found her like this. I tried to wake her up, but she wouldn't respond."

My mind was reeling, trying to process what had happened. I felt numb with shock and grief.

"Did you call the police?" I asked, my voice sounding far away.

"We can't let anyone know about this," my father said angrily. "George and his family would never forgive us if we disgraced them. The death of Paris must remain a secret, just as her disappearance was."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My father was suggesting that we hide the truth about my sister's death. But I knew he was right - the consequences of letting the truth out would be devastating.

My mind was spinning, trying to process everything that had happened. George and his mother had pressured Paris to marry because they wanted to keep their family name and legacy intact. If they found out about her sudden death, it would ruin my family's reputation, since their family was powerful and wealthy.

"How are we supposed to keep up this charade if we don't tell them the truth?" my mother asked, tears streaming down her face.

My father's expression was cold and unreadable. "We'll give them the bride they know," he said, his voice devoid of emotion.

"You can't be serious!" I protested, anger and disbelief coursing through me. I couldn't believe that my father wanted me to take my sister's place, to marry the man I didn't love.

"We don't have a choice," he replied, his tone harsh.

"If we don't do this," my father continued, "They'll make us pay for what we've done. You have no idea the kind of power they have. They could destroy us, take everything we have. I won't let that happen."

My father's words were like a slap in the face. I felt like I couldn't breathe. Everything was spiraling out of control, and I didn't know how to make it stop.

"But what about my dreams?" I asked, my voice breaking. "What about the life I wanted to live?"

"If you become George's bride, you'll have the power and influence you need to pursue your dreams and find out what happened to your sister," my father said, his voice rising in volume. "You'll have the resources and connections to get justice for her."

No one could tell the difference between Paris and me. We looked exactly alike, and we even sounded the same. If I took her place, no one would know the difference. But the thought of living a lie, pretending to be someone I wasn't, made my stomach churn.

The more I thought about it, the more trapped I felt. It seemed like I was being forced into a corner, with no way out. I felt like I was losing control of my own life, and I didn't know how to take it back. Unlike Paris, I was never one to tolerate mean treatment. I had always been fiercely independent, and I had never felt comfortable living in a bubble of conformity. I was used to speaking my mind and living a life of freedom. Now, my father was asking me to become someone else entirely, to give up everything that made me who I was.

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George's POV,

"You can excuse us now and make sure no one comes close to the premises," I instructed James.

I walked into my secret chamber and met Charlotte half dressed and lying on my bed.

"Hello, Mr. Groom," She said with a seductive voice.

"What are you doing here Charlotte," I questioned. "It's my wedding day and you know my mom won't.... "

She pressed a finger to my lips, silencing me.

"It doesn't matter what your mother thinks," she said, her voice full of desire. "I'm here for you."

I let out a nervous laugh, unsure how to respond. Though she was my ex, she had always known how to get a rise out of me. But I didn't have time for games.

"You don't really expect me to leave, do you?" she said, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "After all, I know you better than anyone else."

"You need to go," I said.

"But what if I don't want to go?" she said, her voice low and seductive. "What if I want to stay and see what happens next?"

"You know what the consequences would be," I said, my voice low and dangerous.

"It seems James didn't pass on my message," she said, her voice steady. "I'm pregnant, and the baby is yours."

"You have to get rid of it," I said, my voice cold and hard. "I can't have a child with you."

She looked at me, her eyes wide and fearful. "Please, don't do this," she begged. "I'll do anything,"

"You're not in a position to bargain," I said, my voice hard.