Chapter 2

CELINE:

The next morning, I awoke in my room on the top floor of a standard duplex and went into my twin sister's room for the guests to believe that I am Clara. I hadn't thought of this day to arrive. I was helping my famous sister cover up for her wedding.

I donned a long white wedding dress that swept the ground I walked on. The makeup artist applied heavy makeup on my face, and I hated to say this, but I don't like makeup.

I sat there and allowed them to transform me into my sister's preferred choice of wedding dress that had my bare back exposed and my breasts on full display.

This is not the wedding day that I had dreamt of. I was taking my twin sister's place as the bride when she is actually alive and modeling in another state.

"Mmm," I sighed once the makeup artists were done. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and I could not believe the woman that was staring back at me.

Soon, my father arrived, dressed in a tailored black suit, and asked me, "Are you ready, Clara? You look so beautiful."

I saw the proud smile on my father's face. He was seeing me as Clara, his most treasured daughter, and not Celine, the one who wanted to marry a pauper.

I shut my eyes and mimicked my twin sister's composure, the way she smiled with a wide grin on her face.

"Yes, Dad," I replied, stretching the smile further, and I wondered how long I could put up with this act.

"Let's go." My father escorted me, and I saw the black Bentley car that was waiting to escort me to the wedding.

I hadn't sat in a Bentley before, so I was nervous as I am not my sister who travels from one location to another, going on various vacations with her rich boyfriend sponsoring all her trips.

We sat in eerie silence as the driver started the car and drove us down to the wedding venue.

I felt nervous as the car ride continued till we got to the big church where the wedding was held.

I sucked in a deep breath as I got out of the car. The lined-up bridesmaids welcomed me by spreading red flowers as I walked down.

This was an elite wedding, and my father held my left hand tenderly and escorted me into the church that was packed with top-notch guests.

My heartbeat grew louder in my chest with each step that I took into the church, nearing the altar where Clara's fiancé, Jace Augustus, stood.

Jace was a tall, refined, dark-skinned man. Clara was so lucky to have him.

Jace was still a single and hot bachelor in Turkey Island, but 35 years old. He was not a man to mess with.

I saw him standing close to me as my father and I finally arrived at the altar, and Dad handed me over to Jace for the priest to join us in holy matrimony.

I felt nervous like I was going to faint at any moment, as Jace smiled and took off my veil to reveal my face to him.

I gulped hard and recalled that I am not Clara, and I must act like her.

How would Clara have reacted on her own wedding day? Excited? Emotional? Casual? I didn't know, but I smiled widely so that Jace wouldn't think otherwise as his black eyes looked at blue ones for a brief moment.

I grinned wider so that Jace wouldn't think that I am not his woman. I heard from Clara that Jace had never cheated on her, despite his influence and how many women wanted him.

Jace was very handsome and looked like a Greek god as he stood there towering above me.

Clara and I are average height, and thanks to the heels that she had chosen for me to wear, as this was her own preferred wedding dress and shoes—not mine.

"Can we start the union?" The priest's voice brought us back to reality, and Jace stepped aside while the priest recited the prayers and joined us as one.

"Do you, Clara Mason, take Jace Augustus to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"

I looked at my twin sister's fiancé's face that was about to become my husband. If only he knew that I wasn't Clara, his woman.

Jace smiled, waiting for me to say I do, as he saw that I looked so hesitant to say the words to him.

The priest continued, "Do you promise to love and obey him, and to be faithful to him, as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," I replied, shutting my blue eyes closed as I was unable to meet Jace's face.

The priest asked Jace the same question, "Do you, Jace Augustus, take Clara Mason to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"

"I do," Jace replied as the priest asked him once more, "Do you promise to love and cherish her, and to be faithful to her, as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Jace smiled, looking at me like I am his real bride as he looked genuinely happy to be wedded to me, thinking I was my twin sister.

"I now pronounce you both as man and wife. You may kiss your bride," the priest concluded just as Jace and I recited our vows and wore the wedding rings.

I felt hesitant to wear his ring which symbolizes love, trust, and commitment. I cannot believe I was doing this like I was acting in a movie for my twin sister's replacement.

Jace wore the diamond ring on my left finger, and I shut my eyes as he pulled me closer and sealed his lips on mine, not wanting to know if I desired to kiss him or not.

His lips claimed mine, kissing me tenderly at first, as the hall erupted in a round of applause for us and well-wishers screaming happy married life to us.

Jace pulled away from the kiss after a while of kissing me fervently, and he gazed into my eyes like he already suspected that I wasn't his bride.

We took pictures with his parents as they were happy about the wedding, and also my parents, too. I stood there anxiously, taking several photos with the priest, my parents, Jace's parents with the bridesmaid and best man.

Lily, my twin sister's best friend, was the bridesmaid, and I wondered if she knew that I was taking Clara's place. But I was sure that Clara never told anyone of her plans, as Lily hugged me excitedly and squealed, "Congratulations, Clara! I am so happy for you!"

"Thank you," I replied, and we took more wedding pictures in the church until Jace held my hand closely and kissed my lips once more.

"Come on, my wife. You don't have to act shy like this is the first time we are kissing. Let's go for our wedding reception." Jace lifted me off the ground, and I felt stunned as he took me away, carrying me in that firm arms.

I wanted to tell him that I am not Clara. This has to stop. Should I tell him the truth or continue to act in my sister's replacement?

I shut my eyes, inhaling Jace's cologne as he had a relaxing aroma.