Chapter 1 - The Contract

Lara's POV

"The moment you sign that contract, your mother's life will be saved."

I couldn't count how many times I swallowed hard as I looked at the paper in front of me. The sound of the music in the restaurant where we were now seemed to add to my feelings. I drank another glass of water and placed it on the round table between us.

My finger was shaking as the tip of the pen I was holding touched the white paper. I just need to put my signature, and my problems will be over. But what this woman is asking for isn't that easy.

"Hey! What happened? Are you still having a second thought? It's a matter of life and death, Lara."

Those words came from Claire were like echoes that repeated in my ears. I don't want to do this, but I have to.

I closed my eyes and signed the contract in front of me, while my tears streamed down my face.

As I write my name on that paper, Claire quickly took it and signed it.

"Okay! That's settled," she said. Her lips had a beautiful smile, a smile that seems to say that she finally found a way to escape the responsibility given to her.

Claire stood up gently and moved her chair away. She grabbed her shoulder bag and was about to leave.

"W-When will I start the job you gave me?" I asked Claire hesitantly.

Claire looked back at me again, then the corners of her lips curved upwards.

"After a month. You need to learn every detail of my life and hobbies. The way I talk, and the way I walk, everything! Because all you have to do is pretend to be me."

I swallowed hard as I looked directly at this woman's face. Until now, I still couldn't believe it. I feel like I'm looking at a mirror while facing her. We're like one, and I don't see any difference between the two of us. Are we twins?

Why does this woman look like me? Her lips, her voice, her height, her body. Everything is the same as mine. Ever since our paths crossed, I couldn't get out of my mind how much we looked alike.

"Are you done staring at me? I know what you're thinking, and believe me, we're the same. But I guess fate brought us together because you became the key so I can be with the man I love."

Those words from Claire seemed to make my heart pound.

She has a husband, and he's a rich man. But she wants to be with her other man. I am the key to fulfilling that wish, and in return, she will pay for my mother's hospital bill who needs to undergo an operation due to his brain aneurysm.

I must pretend to be Claire and face her husband for a few months. Because of our similar faces, I entered a contract that will completely change my life.

The days passed quickly. It wasn't easy imitating Claire's actions because she was raised differently, but even so, I still got it right.

I sighed as I looked at myself in a full-body mirror in front of me.

‘Is that me? I can't believe it.’

I'm wearing an elegant red dress that hugs my body, emphasizing the curves of my hourglass figure. The red shade of lipstick on my lips emphasizes screams passion and intimacy, while my hair was deliberately cut short like an apple, making it very similar to Claire.

I couldn't count how many times this woman walked around me in circles, making sure that nothing was missing and that nothing was wrong.

"Very good!" Claire said, clapping her hands together. "You're now all set. I can't wait for you to meet my husband. I only have a few pointers. First, never sleep in the same bed as him," Claire explained in a series of sentences. I frowned in confusion.

She smirked in front of me as if reading my mind. After that, she walked to the bed and sat next to it while looking directly at me.

"I guessed you're thinking why?" She crossed her arms, then looked directly into my eyes. "Ever since we got married, we never had s*x. We never slept in the same bed. I don't know, he refuses to make love with me, and he said that he has an underlying condition or behavior. Also, make sure you take your contraceptive pills, just in case, because I can never conceive a child," she explained, her eyes trembling.

I was surprised at her confession and couldn't believe the revelation I heard.

"Don't look at me with those pitiful eyes, I don't need that. For now, I want you to focus on your job because I'll pay you right," she continued.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, but it was loud enough for her to hear.

"Don't be. It's better this way because I know my boyfriend can't get me pregnant."

Claire stood up gently and walked back towards me. She extended her hand in front of me. I looked at it for a moment before shaking my hand nervously.

"Congratulations! You are now a Watson, and don't forget your position. I've already sent money to the hospital where your mother is, and they're doing an operation now."

My eyes widened at what I heard. I don't know how I should feel because my emotions are mixed.

"C-Can I see my mom first before going to the mansion?" I asked her, holding back the tears from falling from my eyes.

"No. The car that will take you to the mansion is outside this hotel. You don't have time to visit your mother anymore," she insisted.

My heart started to tighten, but I knew that this was a part of the contract we signed.

"I-I understand," I said to her, stuttering.

As our hands separated, Claire walked to the door and looked back at me again, as if telling me to follow her, which I did.

I swallowed hard as I saw a luxury car parked in front of the hotel we were in.

"This is the car that will take you to the mansion. From now on, you will be Claire Watson. Make sure you do it right," she reminded me again.

"I-I will!" I answered her with confidence.

A man in black came out of the car. He opened the door and gently guided me inside. As I sat down, my heart started to beat faster, and I couldn't control my nervousness. My hands are trembling and my body felt so weird.

‘What if we get caught? What if I do it wrong?’ I shook my head and tried to remove those things lingering in my mind. I need to do this for my mom.

I looked out the window and saw Claire's lips curving up as the car drove away. I chose this path, so I have to deal with it.

After a few minutes, a huge and spacious mansion came into view. It looked like a palace because of the old-fashioned design that seemed to have a sad presence. My shoulders started to feel heavy and I felt sad.

"Madame, we're here," the driver announced, barely looking at me directly.

"T-Thank–" I was about to say thank you when I remembered that Claire doesn't know how to give gratitude.

I raised my eyebrow, then grabbed the handbag beside me. An assistant opened the door where I was, and I carefully got out of it.

Using my snapping fingers with long nails and red polish, I grabbed my sunglasses and put them on. I looked around and didn't let the people know that I was mesmerized by the classical beauty of this mansion.

This is the first time I've seen a place that I've only seen in movies before.

"Where's Liam?" I asked the butler who was standing and bowing in front of me.

"He's in his study room, madame. By the way, he's been looking for you," the man in front of me said.

I raised my eyebrow again and handed him the bag I was holding.

"That's very unusual. Did he say why?" I answered him.

"He didn't mention, madame," he briefly replied.

I shrugged then sighed. I started to step my foot inside the mansion. My forehead was raised and my eyes were looking down at the people in front of me. The maids were lined up at the entrance of the door, as if giving their respects to me.

I ignored them, instead, I went inside, followed by the sway of my hips as I walked. These are the things I learned from Claire.

I almost bit my lip when I saw many doors as I reached the second floor. It's a good thing that I've also studied the inside of the mansion.

I walked to the left and went to Liam's study room, Claire's husband. This is the first time I'll see him and I have no idea what he looks like.

I gently turned the doorknob and opened it. I saw a man staring at his laptop screen, his forehead creased.

"Liam," I said hesitantly.

This felt so weird because when I saw his face, I felt like I was in front of a celebrity.

He's so handsome, it's as if every corner of his face was perfectly sculpted by God.

Liam's eyes met mine. He was silent for a moment and looked at me from head to toe, then his forehead started to crease.

"Who are you?" he said, using his low and dark tone of voice that made my heartbeat faster.

‘D-Did he figure it out that easily?’