Celine's POV;
The day of the wedding.
I was dressed up in my 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 as I walked. The make-up artist did my face with heavy make-up, and I hated to say this, but I don't like make-up.
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.
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 artists were done. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and I could not believe the stunning woman that was 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, 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 said, 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 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 geographical location to another, going on vacation with her rich boyfriend sponsoring all her trips.
We sat in an eerie silence as the driver started the car and drove us down to the wedding venue.
I was nervous as the car ride continued until we got to the big cathedral where the wedding was held.
I sucked in a deep breath as I got out of the car. The lined-up maids welcomed me by spreading flowers as I stepped down.
This was an elite wedding and my father held my left hand tenderly and escorted me into the church that was filled with top-notch guests.
My heartbeat grew louder in my chest with each step that I took into the church and nearer the altar where Clara's fiancé, Jace Augustus, stood.
Jace was a tall, refined man. Clara was so lucky to have him.
Jace was still a single and hot bachelor but 35 years old. 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 and 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? Emotional or casual? I didn't know, but I smiled widely so that Jace wouldn't think otherwise as his eyes looked at mine for a brief moment.
I grinned wider, so that he 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 were 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.
"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 lawfully wedded 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, who 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 closed as I was unable to meet Jace's face. Then the priest asked Jace the same question, "Do you, Jace Augustus, take Clara Mason to be your lawfully wedded 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 firmly 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 was 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 finger and I shut my eyes as he pulled me closer and sealed his lips on mine, not caring whether 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 screamed 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 very 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 bridesmaids 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 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." We took more wedding pictures in the church, until Jace held my hand closely 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 and I was stunned as he took me away, carrying me in that firm, mascular arms of his.
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 place?
I shut my eyes, inhaling Jace's cologne as he had a relaxing aroma.
Celine's POV:"Well, I am still in shock that you are Celine and also, you knew Jace and pretended with me. I truly fell for you, Ann, and now, I do not stand a chance to be with you. I was only just assuming that you could be Celine, given that you resembled Clara, even with the red hair," Edwin said, as I turned to look at him."It's fine. I am sorry that I fooled you too," I apologized to Edwin, and he smiled."It's fine. Now, I understand better. I never thought your sister is capable of doing something as child trafficking. Are you sure that you are telling Jace and I the truth?" Edwin asked me, his expression serious."Yeah. I am telling you the truth. I cannot lie about such a thing. It's the truth," I said, and Edwin sighed heavily."It's a good thing that you were able to overcome Clara. What would have happened to you if you hadn't escaped, or what could she have done to Kaleb? Jace, you claim that you were there when Clara welcomed her child? How was it possible? Did you ev
Celine's POV:Jace kisses my lips for a while before he parted his lips and gazed into my eyes."Please, you do not have to leave me again," he said, caressing my face, and I lowered my head in shame.I knew that I couldn't refuse Jace's kisses. I have missed him so much."How about Clara? You both are still living together, right?" I asked him, wanting to withdraw my hand, and Jace held me firmly."Yes. But I am going to leave the house for Clara since she doesn't want to go. I only tolerated her because she has a child for me. I am sorry..." Jace said, his voice choked with sobs, like he regretted getting Clara pregnant.I shook my head, not wanting to go back to my past."Clara is my twin sister. I have always wanted her to be happy. I cannot stand in her happiness. I know that I fell for you, but it was all a mistake," I said, as I turned my back on Jace.I did not want to meet his face."It was never a mistake. I know it was a mistake from the beginning, but after we became marri
Celine's POV: "You pervert! How dare you kiss me?" I smacked Jace on his left cheek as I pushed him away from me in front of my chair. I was about to sit down, before he came rushing towards me and he pulled me into a quick kiss. "I'm sorry," Jace said, but I didn't bother to look at his face. I was too embarrassed, too shocked, because I wasn't expecting Jace to kiss me. My heart was beating so loudly in my chest because Jace didn't kiss me in private. He kissed me in the presence of my son, my workers who had rushed to my office to stop him from entering, and also Edwin and his son. They all looked at us with wide eyes, but I adjusted my blue dress properly. "Madam, we tried to stop him, but he was in such a hurry," Becky said, as she wore a white top and black skirt. "It's fine. You all can return to your work, and please take Kaleb along with you. Let me settle this," I said to Becky, without raising my head to look at her face. "Mom..." Kaleb was hesitant to leave, as he
Jace's POV:Edwin made the proposal for me to accompany him to have breakfast at a restaurant which he claimed belonged to his crush, before he took me to the real estate projects that he had been helping me to manage.As Clara had gone back to Turkey Island to continue with her modeling work, since she came here for Edwin's new hotel launch alone, she had jetted back, but I didn't try to act like I knew her."Edwin, is it compulsory that we go to the restaurant first? Why not let us go to the estate to see the houses and how it is now? Then we can come back and have lunch," I said, wanting to skip breakfast, but Edwin refused."No, Jace. I want to see Ann today. Her son fell sick last weekend, and that was why she wasn't able to attend my hotel launch party. But her son is better now," he said as he drove us down to the restaurant."Are you serious about dating a single mother? Do you not worry that her child's father could return to her life and try to win her back against you?" I a
Celine's POVEdwin brought a bag of gifts for my son and apologized, "I am sorry about what happened to your son.""No, it's fine," I said, accepting the gift from his hand. It contained Milo and milk, and Edwin offered me a bright smile."I had to rush down here to come and see you both after hearing what happened to Kaleb. I had been restless wondering why you weren't answering your calls or even coming to the party. You couldn't have imagined how worried sick I was," Edwin spoke with a smile as we went to the ward to see Kaleb, after I kept Edwin's gift in my car at the hospital car park."You don't have to become worried sick about me. I am fine now and so is Kaleb," I said, leading Edwin to Kaleb's ward, and he smiled."That's fine. You are looking prettier in your casual dress and even though you didn't make up your face," Edwin said, and I raised my head and looked at him and smiled."Thanks," I said, and he smiled back."How are you doing, Justin?" I asked Justin just as we ar
Celine's POVWhen I arrived at the hospital, I went straight to the nurses' desk to register for Kaleb's treatment.After a while, he got the appointment to meet with his doctor, Doctor Jerry. He was a young man, probably in his early thirties, and he offered me a warm and reassuring smile after he was done running a series of bodily checks on my son as Kaleb lay on the bed in his office."Doctor, how is my son?" I asked Dr. Jerry anxiously after he was done examining my son."He is just having a hot temperature. Do not worry. He will be fine. I have conducted a few tests on him. He will need to be placed on admission," Dr. Jerry said, and I agreed."Alright."My phone had been buzzing with many incoming calls, and I didn't want to answer any of them at the moment.I knew that Edwin would be disappointed, but Kaleb was my topmost priority at the moment. I cannot ignore my son's health and rush to a party when it was not even a party for kids.I turned off my phone and followed the doc