Chapter 2

(Celine's POV)

**The day of the wedding.**

I was dressed up in my twin sister's room for the guests to believe that I am Clara. I hadn't thought this day would arrive—me, helping my famous sister to 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, wearing heavy jewelry on me, 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, which had my bare back exposed and my breasts on full display.

This was not the wedding day that I had dreamt of—me, 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 artist was done. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and couldn't believe the woman staring back at me.

Soon, my father arrived, dressed in a black tailored 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 Mason, his most treasured daughter, and not Celine Mason, 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 said, stretching the smile further, and I wondered how long I could keep up this act.

"Let's go," my father escorted me, and I saw the black Bentley car that was waiting to take 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 tours with her rich boyfriend sponsoring all her trips.

We sat in an eerie silence at the back seat of the car as the driver started the car and drove us down to the wedding venue.

I was nervous and anxious as the car ride continued until we got to the big cathedral where the wedding was held.

I sucked in a deep breath of fresh air as I got out of the car. The lined-up maids welcomed me by spreading flowers on the ground as I got out of the car.

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

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

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

Jace was still a single and hot bachelor at 35 years old now. He was not a man to mess with.

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

I was nervous; I felt 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? Sad? Or emotional? I didn't know, but I smiled widely so that Jace wouldn't think otherwise as his eyes met mine for a brief moment.

I grinned wider so that he wouldn't think that I am not his woman, my twin. 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 were of average height, and thanks to the black heels 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 sister's fiancé's face, which was about to become my husband. If only he knew that I wasn't Clara, his woman.

Jace smiled, wanting 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 as I was unable to meet Jace's gaze. The priest then 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, genuinely happy to be wedded to me, thinking I was my twin sister.

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

I was hesitant to wear his ring, which symbolized love, trust, and commitment. I couldn't believe I was doing this, like I was acting in a fake bride movie as my twin sister's replacement.

Jace placed the diamond ring on my ring 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, with 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 as if he already suspected that I wasn't his bride.

We took wedding pictures with his parents, who were very happy about the wedding, and also with mine. I stood there anxiously, taking several photos with the priest, our parents, the bridesmaid, and the 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 as the bride. 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, Lily," we took more wedding pictures together in the church hall, until Jace held my hand and kissed me 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 with his arms, and I was stunned as he carried me away in his firm grip.

I wanted to tell him that I am not Clara Mason. 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 perfume, which had a relaxing aroma.