Chapter 3

CELINE:

When we got to the black car waiting, Jace carefully put me in the back seat, and I didn't even have time to see what car brand it was. But it was a beautiful luxury car, and he told the driver, "Roy, take us to the reception venue."

"Alright, boss," came the calm response from the driver. But I sat there nervously as Jace and I sat in the rear.

I shifted away from him, but I remembered that I had to pretend I was my sister.

Jace didn't say anything as he looked at me and held my hand in his.

"How do you feel about this day, my love?" he asked me, and I opened my mouth to speak, thinking of what Clara would have said if she were the one.

I was still overwhelmed, so I told him the truth. "I am just overwhelmed."

"Why is that? You didn't believe me when I told you that I would marry you and no one else. I love you, Clara, and I meant every word I used to confess my feelings to you. So you don't have to be afraid thinking that this marriage is a trap. And I will always support your modelling career. How about your twin sister? I didn't see her at the wedding?"

Jace looked at my face lovingly, and I knew that this was the right time for me to tell him that I am not Clara, his woman. But I recalled my father's warning that Jace would deal with all of us if he found out that Clara fled before her wedding day with him.

"Clara," he called my sister's name, and I snapped out, reminding myself that my new name was Clara.

"Yes. Celine travelled to help me cover for my modelling shoot abroad. You know that I told you it means so much to me. So she had to travel in my replacement. And that's why she couldn't attend our wedding." I faked a smile and met Jace's gaze. His black curious eyes held my blue orbs, and he smiled.

"Alright. I know that you said your sister normally covers for you. But you should have allowed her to attend our wedding at least," Jace said, drawing closer to me at the rear as he kissed my neck.

I gulped hard and told him, "It doesn't change anything. So long as I am here with you."

"I know, but a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime day. You shouldn't have sent Celine away. Maybe she could have travelled after our wedding. You never let me meet your sister, you know," Jace spoke to me once more, and my jaw dropped as I looked at his handsome face in shock.

I recalled that each time Clara asked me to accompany her to see her boyfriend at his house, I normally refused.

"Yes. You don't have to worry about Celine. She will get to meet you once she is back," I lied.

"How about her bakery shop? I haven't gone there, but you said she has a shop. Wouldn't her bakery goods get spoilt or experience momentary losses now that she travelled for your modelling?" Jace looked concerned. And I felt bad that I had spoken so badly about him before, when he was a gentleman despite his wealth. I had thought of him as an arrogant billionaire, and I was angry because my parents rejected me from getting married to Martin Enzo, my boyfriend.

"About Celine's shop. I will be going there for her until she is back to take over her business," I told Jace as the car pulled to a stop at the reception venue—a mighty white hotel in the city.

"Can you cook?" Jace asked me in shock, and I smiled.

"I can try," I lied, knowing that Clara hated the kitchen and didn't like to cook.

"Alright." Jace agreed and said, "We have arrived. Let's go in."

I sighed and got out of the car with him as we went into the hotel for the wedding reception.

****

The wedding reception ceremony was lit and more crowded than I had expected. Media crew were recording, and many top celebrities attended the wedding, congratulating Jace and me.

They obviously thought I was my famous sister, and I had to pretend I was her. I wondered how Clara was faring abroad and how she felt seeing me take her place as the bride.

It was not like I snatched Jace; Clara was the one who put me in a tight situation to marry her fiancé.

Jace and I were invited on stage by the MC to cut the huge white cake that had almost eight layers. I smiled, knowing I was the one who had baked this lovely white cake for my sister's wedding.

My best friend, Ava Kingsley, was present as my assistant to help me ice the cake and make it ready for the wedding reception.

"Three, two, one, go!" the MC squealed, and Jace held my right hand gently as he sliced the cake into two.

Once we cut the cake, the audience erupted in a round of applause for us, and I wanted to step away from Jace as I was still overwhelmed.

At a point, it felt like I was the one getting married. But then, I was not the real bride; Clara was.

Jace wrapped his arms around my waist as the DJ changed the music to a love song for us. The MC invited Jace and me on stage once more to dance while the guests cheered and brought numerous gifts and checks for us.

I was so nervous as I hadn't expected such an elaborate wedding.

How could Clara give up her wedding day for work? I shut my eyes, but I felt Jace bring his face closer to mine and whisper in my left ear.

"Open your eyes, Clara." He looked at me once my blue eyes fluttered open. I hadn't expected the ceremony to go this way.

I wasn't the media type of person; I mostly lay low and was not a public figure. The lavish wedding made me sick because I knew it was fake. I felt quite emotional, and Jace pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead tenderly.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and Jace whispered in my ear again, "What's wrong, babe? Should we go home? If you're tired of the wedding reception, you should let me know."

"No. I am okay." I smiled at him sadly, knowing this was supposed to be him and Clara's happy day. I tried not to think of what the future held for us, as I didn't even know when Clara would be back.

I promised myself not to fall in love with my sister's fiancé. He was her husband now, so I tried to dance and walk like I was Clara. Besides, the wedding was Clara weds Jace, and not Celine weds Jace. But he was so kind that I don't think my sister deserves him. An honest woman does, not me or her.

The wedding ceremony came to an end, and Jace took me back to the black limousine and said, "We are going for our honeymoon, babe. Happy marriage to us!"

He brought out a bottle of champagne from the car's fridge and popped it open.

"Oh no! I don't drink champagne," I thought. Well, for my sister's sake, I had to sacrifice and do what she wanted