Camilla's POV
“Why are you not saying anything Ariana?” the lady asked, scrutinizing me with her eyes, and I bit my lips anxiously hearing her words.
What am I to say? Do I say no, I am not Ariana but her substitute, and that's why I don't remember you. I wondered, and I hoped that Blaine was going to arrive and save me from the trouble.
“I…I..” I was trying to find the best lie to save myself from the trouble but I heard a cold voice behind me.
“What is going on here?” I heard Blaine's cold voice behind me, and I felt relieved to hear his voice, and I have never longed for someone as I longed for him that much.
I noticed the girl disturbing me looked flustered seeing Blaine, and she rearranged her hair and tried to look presentable.
What was that?
“Oh, Mr. Sanders, you are here? I am only trying to make Ariana comfortable..” she was saying but Blaine cut her off coldly. “Ariana? Don't you think you are too comfortable with your future madame? You guys are not even friends,” Blaine says, and he grabbed my hands but I was perplexed.
So the girl earlier wasn't even one of Ariana's friends but she was so friendly, why was that? This is going to be more tiring than I thought.
Blaine walked me out of the company, and immediately we got into the car. I noticed he was angry but why? Shouldn't I be the angry one?
“Even though you are clueless, don't you think you can find an excuse to leave the place?” he asked with his icy voice, and my palms got sweaty hearing that.
“I…I couldn't possibly run away from the man, and your fiance..I mean Ariana looked close so I don't think that I can be rude to her,” I mumbled gently even though I felt like screaming at the suffocating situation.
“You are in a pickle, did you think you have the time to be polite?” he asked, and I shook my head. “But you can at least tell me what I need to know, who I need to know..” I was saying but the man stopped my words as he shoved an iPad into my hand, and I took it wondering what I should do with it.
“I ask someone to prepare it for you so you can learn all the information on that iPad, and then do your best to fit in,” he emphasized, and I nodded my head gently switching on the iPad.
I found some information about the family, and I was surprised to find out how rich, and influential Ariana's family was that I got jealous.
We had the same face that we could be each other's substitute but our fate was so different.
“We are here,” I heard the man announce, and I looked around to see the magnificent building, and my mouth was left hanging at the sight. That kind of house I only saw in movies.
“Where are we?” I asked turning around to look at the man. “Your parent's house,” he mumbled, and my growth ceased hearing his words.
What? Ariana's parent's house? Is the man crazy or what?
“What are you doing, sir? Are you trying to make me lose my mind? Why will you bring me here?” I asked, and he shrugged his shoulders.
“To drop you off of course,” he says, getting off, and my face gets reddened hearing his words.
What does he mean by saying that?
“But you can't…” I was saying but he got down from the car not minding my words. I also got down from the car, and I watched as workers trooped out of the room to receive me, and that was when it dawned on me.
I looked like Ariana, but I didn't know how Ariana acted. I don't know her relationship with these people who lined up to receive her, and most importantly I don't know this life, I thought, and my gaze landed on the man with a cold look in front of me.
“Welcome back ma'am, let's escort you to the house, while you wait for your parents because they are not home presently,” a man said walking towards us, and he bowed.
Her parents are not home? That's better I could quickly persuade this cold man, and escape from the place.
“Where did they go?” I heard Blaine's magnetic voice ask, and my finger shook in anxiety. “They went to an exhibition," the man I suspected to be the mansion's butler replied.
“Then I will take my leave, I am only here to drop…” Blaine was saying but I tugged his arm angrily, not letting him say a word. “Don't mind this man, he is going to stay for tea, you can prepare that," I said hurriedly, not minding my flaws as I dragged Blaine into the house.
I was able to locate Ariana's room on the second floor seeing that the maid was going to that room with the packed suitcases.
“What is your problem?” he asked grumpily, seeing that the maids went out of the room, and I glared at him.
“That should be my problem, what are you doing Mr. Sanders? You don't even care about my mental health, and you decided to shove me into this misery, what if I got caught by her parents? Did you think just because we have the same face means our temperament is the same?” I roared, not minding how loud my voice was, and I could tell that the man was angry.
“Don't you dare…” he was saying, and the door to the room was pushed open gently, and a woman who looked like the older version of me was revealed, and I could tell that she was Ariana's mother.
The resemblance was alarming.
“What are you two talking about?” I heard Ariana's mother ask, and my back stiffened hearing her words.
Does she hear all that I just said? We are busted, aren't we?
CAMILA's POV:I froze, my heart racing as I stared at the beautiful woman who looked exactly like me, exactly like Arianna, staring at us with wide questioning eyes."I-I……." I stammered, thinking of the best way to escape this situation but my mind was blank. "W-we were…."I stopped talking immediately. Blaine's eyes locked onto mine, a warning sign to keep quiet which I so desperately wanted to do but it was already too late.The woman whom I suspected to as Arainna's mother was looking at us and I wouldn't be surprised if she had already heard our conversations.No one answered the woman but my mind reeled with numerous possibilities and actions of escape. I knew I had to do something or else, I would be in prison for impersonating and pretending to be a wealthy heiress when I was only a singer in a local bar.Who's to say Blaine wouldn't forsake me when my cover is blown?"Nothing, Mother," I tried to cover up, forcing a wide smile onto my face. "Just a little controversy with Mr.
Blaine's POV"Ca.. Arianna we have to leave now" I called out coldly to my fiancee's doppelganger who was taking her time in the restroom. She became pressed all of a sudden but I'm not that easy to decieve. I could tell from her pale expression that she was already drained from the recent changes that had abruptly occured in her life.Having pity on the weak was never my thing. My family's business is the only thing I solely care about and I wouldn't mind using anyone at my disposal,even if it means altering their life's course. The turning of the doorknob to the restroom jolted me from my thoughts as I averted my gaze to Ariana."I'm ready, let's go" she mumbled feigning innocence at the fact that she had delayed on purpose and avoiding my gaze which made me scoff inwardly. "I have always controlled every action. She isn't the first and wouldn't be the last" I thought to myself as I took long strides to the car."Mr. Sanders,wait for me" I heard her say from a quite long distance. I
Camilla's POVThe whole scenario was beginning to take a toll on me. From Ariana's disappearance to dealing with her mother and now this narcissist of a man just won't let me be for a short while. My mother's illness was a constant reminder for me anytime the thought of backing out of the present circumstances popped up in my head.Blaine's nudge jolted me from my thoughts. " Go wait in my office, I'll send my assistant to you" that was what I heard him say. The gaze of the directors,if that's what they're called,were fixed on me. It felt like they were contemplating on whether to welcome me and when they finally did,I responded jovially.Suddenly,I realized that I made a wrong move. The real Ariana never paid heed to the greetings of any being below her status. The shocked expression on their faces proved it all.I felt a tickling breath on my ear and shivered slightly."You're in big shit"Blaine whispered to me with a piercing gaze that was strong enough to strike me down,if it was
Camilla's POV"This is my penthouse. When we get married officially, we'll move to the mansion which was meant to be the family's main house", Blaine explained as soon as the driver parked in front of a large house that was screaming luxury."What the hell???" I was flabbergasted. A house as big and expensive as this one was just temporary,there was still a main house. What guts do these rich people have to throw money away like that? My anger was at its peak. I couldn't even sort out my own mother's hospital bills and had to rely on a pompous show off to pay it."Welcome home master and milady" an old man who walked out of the building greeted with a bow and led the way into the house.As if sensing my curiousity, Blaine whispered to me "this is the house butler, Charles. He knows about your true identity so don't bother putting up an act"I raised an eyebrow at his words "how come he knows?" I asked."I don't hide anything from him. He's one of my closest person and you can always a
Camilla's POVI was surprised when I walked into yet another mansion in my few days of being Ariana. This one dazzled even more than Blaine's. I was quick to catch his warning gaze. I lowered my head instinctively. He grasped me strongly by my upper arm and pulled me thisclose but not close enough for our bodies to touch.“This is my whole extended family we'll be meeting tonight. I don't want you blowing our cover. You're a high profile business owner. Eat, drink, speak and laugh like one. Understood?"I looked up at him out of the corner of my eyes. He had made his point. When I am in the confines of my room, I still have my hearty laughter. It's just that I feel somewhat insulted by this singular act.“Have they met Ariana before?"He let go of my arm and stuffed his hands into his pockets. If only he could touch me with the amount of kindness and respect that I desired.“Yes, a couple of times, and attitude-wise, you're nothing like her. You don't know how to put up a cold front,
Blaine's POVI got out of the car before her and stomped into the mansion. I told Charles to help her out with the bags. The maid also followed him. While I was at the dinner, my phone had buzzed a bit too frequently. I rushed up to my study and checked my call logs. It was the family lawyer. Whatever had gone wrong? I dialed his number.“Hello? I'm sorry about that. I thought you were at dinner too."“I think someone wants to dig up our case again. I don't know what this person is driving at but I know you understand the consequences should this case be reopened."I rubbed my forehead frantically. Why now? Why here, at this point? Everything my family had fought for."But there weren't any documents for evidence of all charges. You know that.”"Yes, but who knows what they have up their sleeves this time. I hope it's rather an individual than the state.”"I hope so too. We can't stand another scandal at this point.”Just then, Camilla opened the door and walked in like a ghost."I've
Blaine's POV“Oh shit!"I reached for the digital clock and put it off. I had made a mental note to wake up early today. I had to go see the lawyer and make arrangements for the case to be closed. Whoever this person was that was requesting a reopening of my family's case, had to be be in need of a little money. And I will gladly offer more than a little.Mr Charles was up already but I couldn't find Rosalena in the kitchen.“No breakfast?"He turned to look at me.“Blaine. You're up already? I thought to heat up something for you from what Ms George came back with last night. Rosalena is quite disoriented this morning."“What happened?" I asked as I walked over to the kitchen counter.“She had broken two mugs this morning while trying to make coffee and she burnt the last steak."All in the space of a few minutes before I woke up.“Please, find out from her what the issue is and give me the feedback. She can take the day off. I have an appointment to catch up with."I noticed the way
Camilla's POV“Alright, Mr Charles. I'll join her in the kitchen. Thanks for the information aforehand."“Alright. I'll be off now."He closed the door and I exhaled heavily. That was a close call. I couldn't have risked being caught at that moment. I shut down the computer and looked up at the shelf again. My eyes were fixed on the file, and I suddenly understood that my view of the Sanders had changed forever. Did they use all that money for their family business? But how come they aren't as rich as the Bernados? From what I have observed, I think this marriage between Ariana and Blaine is more of a strengthening of contracts and alliances. Does Ariana's family know about this?I took my cup of ice cream and went down to the kitchen to join Ms Rosalena. I saw her by the counter.“Good morning, Ms Rosalena."She jerked back to the present. I guessed she had long dissociated from her immediate surroundings.“Ah…Ms Bernado. I'm sorry. Good morning. I was…I was carried away in my though