Chapter 2 Chapter 2

~ Celine ~

The next morning, I woke up in my room on the top floor of this white duplex. Then I went into my twin sister's room to prepare for her wedding.

I hadn't thought this day would arrive. I was helping my famous sister cover up for her wedding.

After my bath, I donned a long white wedding dress that swept the ground I walked on. The makeup artist made up my face with heavy makeup, and I hated to say this, but I didn'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 wasn't the wedding day I had dreamed of—I was taking my twin sister's place as the bride when she was actually alive and modeling in another state.

"Mmm," I sighed once the makeup artist finished. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and couldn't believe the attractive woman staring back at me.

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

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 blue 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 maintain this act.

"Let's go," my father said. He escorted me downstairs, and I saw the black Bentley car waiting to escort me to the wedding.

I had never sat in a Bentley before, so I was nervous. I wasn't my sister, who traveled from one location to another and went on vacations with her wealthy boyfriend sponsoring all her trips.

My father and I sat in eerie silence as the car driver started the engine and drove us to the wedding venue.

I felt nervous as the car ride continued until we arrived at the big church where the wedding was held.

I sucked in a deep breath of fresh air as I got out of the car. The lined-up bridesmaids 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 packed 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.

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

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

Seeing him standing 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 felt nervous like I would faint any moment. Jace smiled and took off my veil to reveal my face to him.

I gulped hard and recalled that I wasn't Clara and had to 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 Jace wouldn't think otherwise as his black eyes met my blue ones for a brief moment.

I grinned wider so Jace wouldn't think I wasn't his woman. Clara had told me 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 she had chosen for me to wear—as this was her preferred wedding dress and shoes—I felt taller.

"Can we start the union?" The priest's voice brought us back to reality.

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, which was about to become my husband. If only he knew I wasn't Clara, his woman.

Jace smiled, wanting me to say I do, as he saw that I looked 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 face.

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.

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 was his real bride as he looked genuinely happy to be wedded to my twin sister.

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

I felt hesitant to wear his ring, which symbolized love, trust, and commitment. I couldn't believe I was doing this—acting in a movie as 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 without checking if I desired to kiss him or not.

His lips claimed mine, kissing me tenderly at first as the hall erupted in applause for us and well-wishers screamed congratulations.

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

We took pictures with his parents, who were very happy about the wedding, as were my parents too.

I stood there anxiously, taking several photos with the priest, my parents, Jace's parents, the bridesmaid, and the best man.

Lily, my sister's best friend, was the bridesmaid. I wondered if she knew I was taking Clara's place, but I was sure Clara never told anyone about her plans.

Lily hugged me excitedly and squealed, "Congratulations, Clara! I am so happy for you!"

"Thank you," I replied. We took more wedding pictures in the church alter 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're kissing. Let's go to our wedding reception," Jace said. He lifted me off the ground, and I was stunned as he carried me away in his firm arms.

I wanted to tell him I wasn't Clara. This had to stop. Should I tell him the truth or continue acting as my sister's replacement?

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