chapter 5

Mrs Wadsley walked through the door of the private room at the wedding venue, behind Eva.

"What's this? What are you doing, Eva?" She asked immediately when the door clicked shut.

The moment she met her mother's eyes, Eva felt her heart drop. Her hands shook while her fingers trembled on a hem of her wedding dress, forcing a bright smile over the rising panic.

"Mom," Eva stuttered. Her voice was just above a whisper. "It's not what you think.”

Mrs. Wadsley's eyes slitted her face hardened. "Really? It looks exactly like what I think it is. What's going on?"

Eva opened her mouth to answer, but nothing came out of her lips. Her mother moved closer to her, lowering her voice while she looked around, conscious of whether anyone was listening in.

Eva," she spat, razor-sharp. "Come on, be honest with me. Is that really you?”

Eva's lips parted, and her breathing became shallow. "Mom, listen, I can explain -"

"Oh my God," her mother echoed, shaking.

"It's you! What have you done? Where's Ava?”

The door to the private room opened before Eva could get a word out, and in strode Mr. Wadsley with a bright face lighting up as his eyes fell upon his wife.

"There you are, darling. What's - " His eyes cut to Eva, and his smile faltered a bit. "Ava, what's going on here? Why are you guys here? He chuckled before speaking again. “Did you get in trouble on your wedding day?”

Mrs. Wadsley spun to her husband, her face whitening. "It's Eva, not Ava. She's the one who married Shawn.”

Mr. Wadsley’s jaw tightened as he stared at his daughter. “Eva, what is she talking about? Where is your sister?”

Eva stepped back, her hands wringing nervously. “Dad, please, let me explain.”

“You’d better start now,” he demanded, his voice low and full of tension.

Eva took a deep breath; her voice was shaking. "Ava … left. She didn't want to go through with the wedding. She said she couldn't do it, and she asked me to call it off. I couldn't let her run off and ruin everything.” She paused for a while. “I thought I should help by stepping in and protecting the family’s image.”

Mrs. Wadsley's eyes widened in horror. "You thought you should help? Do you have any idea what you have done? Do you understand the repercussions this will bring if it gets out to the Darlingtons?"

Tears welling in her eyes, Eva shook her head. "I didn't have a choice! I couldn't let Ava destroy our family's name. Shawn was waiting at the altar. Everyone was there. What was I supposed to do?”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, frustration lacing his tone. "So Ava ran off, and you decided to play her? Eva, this isn't a bloody game. This is marriage-a binding, legal contract!"

"I know that!" Eva snapped, shaking her voice. "I know how grave this is. But what else was I to do? Ava was gone, and I could not stand idly by while it all fell to pieces!”

For an instant, Mrs. Wadsley's face relaxed; then it composed itself anew. "Eva, I can see why you'd believe this was something that should be done, but you've just gotten yourself into a situation from which there is no recovery. How long do you think you can maintain this? Do you even know what you have signed up for?”

She shrugged her shoulders, hunching them in a way as her voice dropped to a whisper. "I really don't know, Mom. I'm trying to figure it out. I just...I didn't want to disappoint anyone."

He exhaled heavily, his voice serious in its gruffness: "You are in over your head, Eva. The Darlingtons are influential and powerful people, and if Shawn or his family finds out about this deception, both our business and us will suffer the consequences greatly.”

"I know," Eva whispered back almost inaudibly.

Mrs. Wadsley closed in; her voice was unyielding, yet not devoid of feeling. "You've made your bed, Eva. Now you sleep in it. You can't keep being that timid and shy girl you've been. From this day forward, you are Ava Wadsley, Shawn's wife. You need to act like it."

"I know," Eva said, shaking. "I will try my best."

"Your best won't be enough," Mr. Wadsley cut in sharply. "You have to be perfect. No mistakes. No slip-ups. Do you understand? If anyone suspects anything, this whole charade comes tumbling down."

Eva nodded tearfully. "I won't let you down. I promise."

Mrs. Wadsley laid an assurance touch on her daughter's shoulder. "We are going to help you, but you must listen to us. No more playing Eva. You must become Ava's life wholly."

"I will," Eva whispered.

Mr. Wadsley's face relaxed a little, but his voice was colder than steel. "And the last thing, you have to put your emotions aside. Shawn is going to expect a wife who loves and supports him, also in the business world. You must be that for him, no matter what feelings you harbour inside."

Eva wiped away her tears and nodded resolutely. "I'll do whatever it takes. I won't let anyone find out."

It was as if the weight of it all had pressed down upon them all. The only sound was the one of strained silence.

The silence stretched between them, everyone in their own thoughts, until Mrs. Wadsley spoke; her voice was no louder than a whisper. "We'll figure this out together. But for now, you need to get back out there and play your part. The guests will notice if you're gone too long."

Eva nodded, the heavy heartiness welling into her. "Ok."

They approached the door, and the sound of laughter and music from the reception faintly filled the air. It was as if they had just stepped into the hall that Eva chanced upon two guests who stood nearby talking.

"Did you notice Ava seems… different today?" One said, curiosity laced his tone.

"Yes," he said. "More quiet than usual. Almost nervous. Not like her at all."

Eva's breath caught, and her anxiety spiralled as she shot a look at her parents, with a pale face.

Mrs. Wadsley appeared to be inching closer as she hissed, "Calm down, Eva, you can't show them you're panicking."

Mr. Wadsley supplemented in a low, serious tone, "Remember, dear, no slip-ups, no mistakes.”

Eva swallowed hard, her mind racing as she thought of the unprecedented possibilities. 'What if people already noticed? What if Shawn finds out too?'

Her mother’s voice echoed in her ears as they stepped back into the crowd. “Smile, sweetie. You’re Ava now. Don’t forget that.”

Smiling brightly, Eva rejoined Shawn at the head table, all the while in a muddle with her mind. A feeling that already the walls were closing in would not go away.

She thought silently while returning a smile to Shawn. ‘I can do this. From now on, I'm Ava Darlington.’