The new Jaden

JACKSON POV

Jaden, sweetie? Are you listening to me?"

Avery’s soft voice pulled me back to the present. She moved closer to me on the sofa, her silk robe slipping off one shoulder. She was holding paper plans for the new baby room, showing off the expensive decorations she wanted.

"I’m listening, Avery," I said. I forced my voice to sound gentle and warm, just like my twin brother Jaden always sounded.

It had been four days since the car crash. Four days since I pulled Jaden's bloody body from the smashed car. I could still hear his final words: "Take my place, Jackson... just for two months... Avery will lose our baby if she finds out I'm not alive ... please save my family..."

So I agreed. I traded watches with him, gave my wedding ring to the doctors, and let everyone think Jackson Blackwood was dead.

"I need you to pick the color for the baby's room, darling," Avery said, resting her head on my shoulder. Her vanilla perfume filled the air.

A long time ago, that smell made my heart beat fast. She was my first love. I wanted to marry her, but my brother went behind my back and snatched her for me. I was angry at her for a long time. But now, sitting beside her and pretending to be her husband, I felt something else too.

Deep down, a small part of me was actually happy.

I was finally experiencing what it felt like to be married to the woman I loved so much. I could treat her the way I had always wanted to.

"Whatever you like is fine, Avery," I whispered softly. I reached out and gently moved a lock of hair behind her ear. I stroked her cheek, watching her give me a happy smile.

I was playing the perfect husband, and I enjoyed every second of it. I bought her rare flowers, ordered food from the best chefs, and held her hand whenever she felt sick. I gave Avery all the warmth and love that I had refused to give my wife, Serena, for five long years.

Avery sighed happily. "You are so sweet now, Jaden. It's like losing Jackson made you realize how important life is." She turned around and sat across my lap, placing her hands on my chest. "I missed you so much."

She leaned in, closing her eyes to kiss me.

My body instantly went stiff. I grabbed her wrists and stopped her before her lips could touch mine.

"Avery, wait," I said quickly. I tried to sound caring so she wouldn't get suspicious.

Avery looked confused and hurt. "What's wrong? Haven't you missed me?"

"I have but the doctor said you need to rest," I lied smoothly, putting on a worried look. "The car crash was scary, and losing Jackson was a big shock. You are under too much stress. We cannot put the baby in danger."

Avery's face softened. "Oh... Jaden. You always think of us first."

"Always," I said with a smile.

She smiled back, completely happy, and went back to looking at her paper plans.

I stood up and walked over to the big glass window. I picked up my glass of whiskey and drank it fast.

A heavy feeling hit my chest. Down the hall, in the east wing of the house, Serena was sitting alone in a dark room. She was wearing black clothes and crying for a husband who was not actually dead.

I had seen her tears. I knew she was hurting. A small part of me felt bad about it. It was wrong to make her feel like a widow while I was still walking around alive.

But it is only for two months, I told myself, trying to stay strong. Jaden's wife and baby need help. Serena is strong. She can handle two months of sadness.

Besides, being "dead" gave me what I always wanted. It let me stay in this house, right next to Avery, living the life Jaden stole from me. Serena always knew the truth about our marriage. It was arranged by our families. I never promised to love her.

So why did I keep thinking about her shaking hands at the breakfast table?

I shook my head to clear the thought. Serena was just my wife on paper. She would be fine. Once the two months ended, I would tell everyone the truth.

Suddenly, a light knock came at the door.

"Come in," I called out.

The butler, Arthur, stepped inside. He looked very nervous.

"Mr. Jaden... sorry to bother you," Arthur said in a low voice.

"What is it?" Avery asked, not looking up from her papers.

"It is Mrs. Serena," Arthur whispered, looking straight at me. "She has been standing outside the study for an hour. She says she must talk to you alone right now."

Avery frowned. "Serena? What does she want with you at this time? She should be resting. Jackson's funeral is in three days."

"I will go check on her," I said, making sure my voice sounded gentle. "She just lost her husband, Avery."

I walked down the quiet hallway toward my old private office, the room where I used to spend all my nights away from Serena.

Serena was standing right outside the big door.

She looked small in a big black sweater. Her eyes were red from crying, but she did not look weak. She looked angry and focused.

"Serena," I said, putting a kind smile on my face to sound like Jaden. "Are you okay? Do you need help with Jackson's things?"

"Stop it," she whispered.

I stopped moving. "What?"

Serena took a step closer to me. Her eyes locked onto mine with a cold look I had never seen on her before. She was not the quiet, helpless woman who spent five years begging for my love.

She reached out and grabbed my right hand. Before I could pull away, she turned my wrist over.

My heart stopped.

There, right on my wrist, was a small white scar from a broken glass bottle when I was twelve years old. It was a scar Jaden never had.

Serena looked up at me, a scary smile on her face.

"The funeral is in three days, Jackson," she whispered, her voice cold as ice. "Are you really going to let them bury an empty box... or are you going to tell me why my husband is standing right in front of me?"