Celine's POV
"Celine, you have to take up your sister's place tomorrow," my father, Mr. Morris Mason, said to me. His voice persuasive as he stormed into my room with my mother.
"Dad, I don't understand. Why will I have to take up Clara's place tomorrow? Where is she?" I asked, because I was aware that my twin sister, Clara Mason went for her bridal shower. How can she just flee on the eve of her wedding?
"Something came up, according to Clara, and she had to take care of it," My father said, his tone duplicative and I sighed, standing in my bedroom as I didn't attend the extravagant bridal shower of my twin sister, Clara Mason.
Clara and I were identical twin sisters. We are both 25 years old. And I know that many of Clara's friends were saying that I was jealous of my twin sister because she was getting married before me. But that was not the truth.
I am in a relationship with Martin Enzo, a construction worker in this state. But Martin wasn't the type of groom my father wanted, so he rejected him.
Everyone was proud of my twin sister. She was the apple of everyone's eyes, even our older brother, Luca. But I was the reverse.
I owned a bakery shop in this part of the city. And I pleaded with my parents last month to allow me to marry Martin. But my father plainly refused and said that only a rich man is allowed to marry me.
Despite my pleas, my parents refused me from getting married to Martin and chased him and his uncles away after they came for my hand in marriage. Because of this incident, I refused to attend my twin sister's engagement party or her bridal shower. Now she had disappeared and wanted me to take her place on her wedding day.
"How can Clara just disappear without explaining her reason to her manager that she is getting married to a wealthy man, the groom you all wanted?" I queried my father, my voice somber, as he stood by my room door with my mother.
My father had a dark complexion, while my mother was fair like me and my twin sister. We were her exact replica.
"Celine, I know that you are finding this hard to believe. But Clara said that she had worked so hard to be among those to be selected for the stars award, and she cannot miss the modelling contest. Please, you are her twin sister, and Jace Augustus will never find out," My mother begged me, her voice plaintive and I looked at her face in horror.
"Mom, I cannot do it. You and father need to order Clara to come back right now. Where's my phone?" I moved back to my bed drawer and went to pick up my phone and contacted my twin sister.
She owed me an explanation of this sudden disappearance.
How can she expect me to stand in for her on her wedding day? Is she crazy? I had already stood in for Clara several times, and many wouldn't know that I am not Clara.
The worst, her fans visit my shop and taking photos of me and tagging me as Clara Mason. But I am not my twin sister.
"Clara!" My angry voice boomed over the phone call, as soon as she answered my call.
"Hey, Celine. I am sorry that I took so long to call you. Please, can you stand in for me tomorrow. Please, please, sister," Clara begged me, her voice wheedling that renders me speechless.
I was ready to do anything for this crazy twin sister of mine, just to make her happy and to achieve her dream as a top model.
"Clara, I don't think that I can do this. How do you expect me to stand in for you? Wait, during the wedding ceremony, the priests will ask us to exchange vows and kiss. How can you trade your wedding day for business?" I couldn't understand my twin sister, so I needed an explanation.
"Celine, I wish I could explain this to you, but my phone battery will soon run down. Please, after this one, I won't ask you to stand in for me again. Please, please," Clara begged me, her tone coaxing, rendering me speechless.
"Are you saying that I should kiss your groom? What if he finds out that I am not you? You know that I am not as talkative as you, and I am not that close to him. Did you already tell him that I am not you?" I asked, wanting a better clarification. As I knew Jace Augustus and I aren't close.
I knew that Jace was my twin sister's fiancé. He shows her off to his friends, and other politicians. As my sister is a very popular person with more than 1 million followers online.
"No, Celine. Please, do not tell Jace that I am not you. You have to act as me and pretend that you are me. You know how I behave, so mimic me very much," Clara said, her tone gentle, and I sighed heavily.
"This is too risky. What if he finds out and locks me up? What do I tell him? You have to explain to him so that we don't kiss, or even think of me as you. I don't like your fiancé, and I cannot stand in for you. I am sorry," I wanted to end the call on my twin sister, and she begged me, "Please, Celine. I am begging you. If you don't help me out, then we are no longer sisters."
"What!" I gasped. This was her usual threat—to disown me.
"I don't think that I can do this, Clara," I said, and she threatened, already sobbing over the phone call. Her voice loud and stern. "Then do not call me again!" She declared.
The phone call ended, and I looked at my parents' worried faces, most especially my father's face that was filled with dread.
"Celine, you have to stand in for Clara. If the Augustus finds out that your sister is missing, then we are doomed," My father begged me, his tone laced with desperation even went as far as kneeling down.
I guessed this was the price I had to pay for being born as a twin. My twin sister used me for most of her silly business and sending me to cover up for her with the threat of disowning me. Now it was her wedding.
"Fine. I will try and do this. But I hope Jace Augustus doesn't find out. If not, I won't go down alone," I warned my parents, my gaze sharp and they shivered.
"No one will know, Celine. You will learn to smile and act like Clara until she is back. Besides, this isn't your first time of taking her place," My mother's imploring voice reached my ears, making me sigh heavily.
"Fine. I will give it a try. You guys should excuse me. Let me have some sleep. This is past midnight," I told my parents, and they smiled and wished me goodnight before leaving my door.
I shut the door and muttered, "I hope I can do this." I later went to my bed to sleep, but dread filled my heart.
Celine's POVThe day of the wedding.I was dressed up by the maids in my sister's room, for the guests to believe that I am Clara. I hadn't thought of this day to arrive.Me, helping my famous twin sister to cover up for her wedding.I donned a long wedding dress that swept the ground as I walked.The makeup artist made my face with heavy makeup, and I hated to say this, but I don't like makeup.I sat there and allowed them to transform me up into my twin sister's preferred choice of wedding dress that had my bare back exposed and my breasts on full display.This is not the wedding day that I had dreamt of.Me, taking my twin sister's place as the bride, when she is actually alive and modeling in another state."Mmm," I sighed, my eyes fixated on the mirror once the makeup artists were done. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, and I cannot believe the woman that was staring back at me.Soon, my father arrived in a black suit and asked me, "Are you ready, Clara? You look so beautif
Celine's POVOnce Jace got to the black car waiting, he carefully put me in the back seat, before entering inside the car and sitting beside me. I didn't even have the time to see what car it was. But it was a beautiful car, and he told the driver, "to the reception venue, Roy.""Alright, boss," came the calm response from the car driver. But I sat there nervously as Jace and I sat in the rear.I shifted away from him, my buttocks shifting to the armrest of the car to create a distance between us. But I remembered that I had to pretend that I was my twin sister.Jace didn't say anything. He looked at me and held my left hand in his right hand."How do you feel about this day, my love?" He asked me, his voice smooth, and I opened my mouth to speak, thinking of what Clara would have said if she was the one.I was still overwhelmed, so I told him the truth, "I am just overwhelmed," my voice trembled."Why is that? You didn't believe me when I told you that I will marry you and no one els
Celine's POVJace and I arrived at the hotel room as we had drunk about two bottles in the car.I was intoxicated, and I kept mumbling words that I didn't understand.Jace wasn't drunk, so he carried me in his arms, and I heard him whisper in my ear, "This is so unlike you, babe. You got drunk just by drinking two bottles, and you normally finish up to five bottles in a day without getting drunk.""What?!" I gasped in his arms, laughing, and I reminded myself that I had the pretend like Clara, not knowing that I said it out loud."I have to be my sister, you know, trying to mimic her now that she is not around. I miss her so much," I said, my voice hoarse, and Jace looked at my face.He brought me into the hotel room, gently opening the door, that he wanted us to use for our honeymoon."Why not take me home?" I asked him, my voice voice drunk, and he smiled."We are at home already, babe. Seems like you are too drunk. We are in our house. Your room, which is now our matrimonial bedroom
Celine's POV"Oh no! What am I going to do? I guess this was the right time to inform Jace that I am not my sister. How can I continue with this deceit when he will finally find out?""What do I do?" I pace about the room, anxiety filled me, as I wasn't even with my phone. I could have contacted Clara and asked for her help. She was a good liar and smarter than me."Dammit. Should I lie that I am on my period?" I clutched my belly, knowing that Jace wanted to have sex with me. As I was scared once he finds out that my family and I tricked him into deceiving him to marry me.My sister and I were slimmer, however as we grew into adulthood, I don't keep up much with Clara and I get tired of burning calories like her, who wants to be fit at all times."Babe," Jace got out of the bathroom, his gentle voice snapped me back to reality and seen me sitting on the bed. I stopped pacing about when I heard the shower stop, then I rushed to sit on the bed."Babe," Jace removed the towel from his
Celine's POV"Good morning, Jace," I greeted him, my face flushed as he sat up and looked at me with concern, since we had only the duvet covering us."Morning, my love. How was your night? I hope you aren't hurting much?" Jace asked, his voice gentle and field with concern, as he pulled me closer to himself and kissed me softly."Mm," I moaned, hesitating to kiss him back, and he noticed, asking me soothingly."What's wrong, babe? Don't you want to kiss me?" Jace held my right hand to his chest, as he drew me closer and kissed my neck. He tilted my head to meet his face and kissed passionately, gently biting my lower lip. I couldn't help but kiss him back, and he froze.I stopped kissing him, and peered at his face, as I met his black eyes."What's wrong?" I asked him shyly.Jace continued to look at me, then he asked, "Why are you kissing me like a learner? You are getting me confused, babe?""How?" I asked, masking my nervousness. My heart beat quicken, and I pushed him away and g
Jace's POV"Mom, Dad!" I gasped, not expecting to see my parents arrive with my younger sister, Adira Augustus to visit my wife and I.Adira was a 26-year-old finance manager. She was brown-skinned, and owned a fashion magazine, company that features several models and runway shows."Morning, Jace and my pretty Clara," My mother's sweet voice reached out ears, as she moved to give my wife and I warm hugs. My sister rushed to hug my wife excitedly too."We couldn't help but come to congratulate you both on your successful marriage," my mother, Mrs. Joy, said. Her voice filled with happiness, as she and my younger sister looked alike and so excited for us. They wore similar brown designer dresses, and black shoes. They were of average height. Although Adira wore black high heeled shoes, while Mom wore a lesser heel, but they were my family."Thank you, ma," Clara replied, smiling, and greeting my family. "We are about to have our breakfast now before you all arrived. Cone and join us
Jace's POVI stood outside in front of my house with my wife standing next to me.We watched my best friend, Edwin Hugo, drive his black Maybach into my residence and park it."Hey, Jace! My man! Happy married life, bro," my best friend, Edwin Hugo, said, his voice full of happiness as he got out of his car, wearing a black suit. Then he walked up to meet my wife and me."Welcome, man, thanks." I hugged Edwin, as we were like brothers growing up and inseparable."Good morning, sir," Clara greeted Edwin, her tone anxious as she stood next to me. I crossed my arm over her waist protectively, pulling her closer to me to ease her tension."Morning, Mrs. Augustus. Though I didn't want to stop by and disturb your honeymoon with my bosom friend. But you know that I cannot go a day without coming to see Jace," Edwin said, grinning and flashing his set of perfectly white teeth."It's fine. I understand," my wife replied, her tone neutral and Edwin told me, "Man, I got to get going now, and I
Celine's Point Of View;'Oh no! Can I really keep up with all these people that I am unfamiliar with? Wouldn't Jace find out sooner that I am not Clara?' I pondered in my mind as I excused Jace and his childhood sweetheart, Mandy Joshua. Like I couldn't stand there and pretend to know the woman, when I did not know her.As I entered the living room, I met the two maids who looked at me and smiled."Um, what are your names?" I asked them first, before I would make more mistakes. Though I could have asked Clara directly, but I didn't have the time to ask her. So I had to ask them first, before I make more mistakes and show Jace that I am not his real wife."Um, ma'am. I am Tina, and she is Esther," the two young ladies in their early twenties said to me. As they seem a bit younger than me."Alright, Tina and Esther. Thanks for the breakfast earlier. But I would like to know how the meal routine works around here, for lunch and dinner. Since my husband and I aren't going to work today," I
Celine's POVI sat nervously at the rear of the car, watching Roy drive me down to my bakery. He didn't even need to ask me for directions as he drove the car to my bakery shop and parked."Have you been to this area before?" I asked him, my voice filled with anxiousness, and he smiled."Yeah. I have been to your shop once before. But you didn't know me," he replied, his voice filled with happiness, but I frowned."My shop? No, I guess it was Celine you met," I replied, feeling my heart beat skyrocket. But I placed a hand over my chest to remind myself that Jace mustn't find out.I had never seen Roy before. Or maybe I had, but I couldn't seem to remember it."Yeah. I just came to buy some donuts and some cookies when I escorted you for your wedding shopping. I just thought you must have forgotten, but I was here with you," Roy said, his tone collective, and I smiled."Alright. I get forgetful, but this is my twin sister's shop, not mine. I will call you when I close for the day, as I
Jace's POVI knew that Celine was faking it and that it was her sister's bakery shop. As she looked stunned to hear me say that it was her shop, meaning she was the owner.Celine and Clara might have looked alike, so you can hardly tell their differences, but they had different behaviors, which was easy for me to detect on the first day.They don't have the same spirit, even when their zodiac signs and skin color are the same.Celine was more free-spirited around me than Clara was. I felt suspicious of what Clara was up to when she was with me.I cannot say for sure if Clara truly loves me, but I knew that she loves my money and my dick, which was why, she traded her twin sister to be with me.I could have opened my heart to love Celine, but she was playing her part well, pretending to me that she was Clara. My only concern now, was that I need a child to take over my business, and to become my heir. So, since Celine was available to perform all the wife duties with me that Clara was
Celine's Point Of View;"Celine, what has come over you? You actually blocked me for almost a week and you turned off your phone too?" Clara yelled over the phone call, and I sighed."I needed some time to think. Was that not what I told you, that I have to think through your new request," I told her, and she calmed down."That's fine. But you shouldn't have blocked me. How do I reach out to you to know what you are up to?" Clara asked, and I sighed."I will update you about anything important. As for now, there's nothing important to know about, except that some journalists are lurking around my bakery and requesting interviews from me. And I need to grant them the interview. I will tell them that I am Celine and I am just helping you out, like we have discussed, and nothing will affect your career or winning the award," I told Clara, and she sighed with relief."Thanks, sis. But you should unblock me. It ruined my mood the previous week, seeing that you had blocked me. I was unable
Celine's Point Of View;A week later, it was a bright Monday morning. I still cannot believe that I am living with my twin sister's supposed husband, Jace Augustus.I woke up in the bed this morning in my room, which was supposed to be Clara's room if she were to be around. But you know, Clara had traveled and she was not making any attempt to return back.I had blocked her calls too, and was looking forward to the date that she will be back. The awards ceremony was to happen in the month of May, so hopefully, Clara will be back.I slept alone in this room and I recalled that I have to go to my shop, which I told Jace was my twin sister's shop.Jace also said that he was resuming his political work and he will need me to attend some event with him before I can be free to visit my shop, but Ava has been understanding and she doesn't like to poke her nose into my affairs unless I tell her. She let me know when she needed money to support her family and she doesn't steal from my shop or
Jace's POV.I knew that Celine was troubled with her guilt of pretending to me that she was my real wife when she was not.I wanted to tell her that it was okay, and she doesn't have to feel that way. And I knew that she was fake.But I don't want our marriage to end yet, or for her to return to Martin.Why do I feel this way about Celine? I'm not falling in love with her, right?I shut my eyes at the memory and still my heart with the reminder that I do not love her and only Clara. But with Clara's betrayal, I will be awaiting her return to the city.I hurried with my bath. Once I finished, I got out of the bathroom and entered the room, but Celine was not there.I heard her voice, sobbing in the closet, and my fist clenched."Clara," I called her fake name, even when a part of me wanted to call her by her real name."Babe," I slowly pushed the closet door to unlock, and Celine quickly picked up a cloth to wipe her eyes as she did not want to turn to look at me."What is the matter,
Celine's POV."Oh no! What's all this news?" I continued scrolling through the news until I saw that it was captioned from what Clara had told them on her last interview on a red carpet runway show.I sighed with relief, and I could have freaked out if it were someone else with evidence. Trying not to bother myself about the news, I laid peacefully on the bed in my room and fell asleep.Later, I was awoken by the doorbell sound. Getting out of the bed, I wore my slippers, then I marched to the door and pulled it open.Jace stood there, looking at me with his desirous gaze. The night had fallen, and I made way for him to enter the room."Are you sleeping before? I hope I hadn't disturbed your peaceful sleep?" Jace asked me with a smile, but I shook my head and replied, "No, I was about to wake up, I guess. How about your best friend? Has she gone home?"Jace took a closer step to meet me. He held me by my shoulder and said, "Yeah, Mandy has. She said that she enjoyed the meal and will
Celine's POV "Yeah, I know that I didn't use to cook when we were dating, but now Jace and I are married. So it's best that I cook at home for him, so that I can take good care of him," I replied, seeing Mandy's face drop."Isn't that right, babe?" I asked Jace, as I stood next to him beside the dining table."You're right," Jace responded with a smile, and I told them, "Excuse me, I will get the food ready now."I walked away to the kitchen and served Mandy's meal. It was a plate of the delicious yam and fish sauce that I had made.Though I didn't like Mandy, I tried not to worry about her. As I stepped out of the kitchen and served the delicious meal in her presence.I could see the way Mandy looked at Jace with love in her eyes. He called her his best friend, and I didn't want to act like I was affected. There was no way I would be affected by my twin sister's husband, even though I am the one who is now married to him."Thank you, Celine," Mandy muttered as I stepped aside beside
Jace's POV "You shouldn't have recorded us without asking first," I told Mandy just as she ended the live stream."I am sorry, Jace. I didn't mean to cause you any trouble," Mandy said, as she looked sad, and I tried to be nicer to her."It's alright. Just that Clara's twin sister traveled to represent her abroad on a contest and faked it that she was truly Clara. If her fans see that her twin sister is swimming with me, they might misinterpret it and drag us online," I explained to Mandy, and her eyes lit up.Just as I stood in front of her, drying my wet body."Really?" Mandy asked, looking at me in shock. "You mean Clara is a twin?" She looked curious, just like Edwin, and I brushed it off."Yeah. But surprisingly, I haven't met her twin, that's why she didn't attend the wedding. If not, you could have gotten to meet her," I told Mandy, and she appeared thoughtful. Just as I walked away from her and went to pick up my trousers to wear them.As I didn't want to walk around the whol
Jace's POV As I pulled my study door to unlock, I was surprised to see Celine standing there and grinning."How did she get to know my password?" I wondered, but didn't ask her."What are you doing here, baby?" I asked, seeing her smiling face."I came to see you and to ask if we are still going for the swimming?" Celine inquired nervously, and I sighed."Oops. I forgot. Let's go," I walked out of my study and shut the door behind me.Celine grinned, turning to look at me, and asked, "Is everything alright, babe?""Yes, I am fine. Come on, let's go," I hugged Celine by her waist and escorted her into the elevator.As we rode down to the last floor, Celine and I got out, and we entered the living room together."Have you gotten a swimsuit?" I asked first."Um, no, I forgot. How's yours?" Celine looked at me, the way Clara normally behaves excitedly.I smiled, telling her, "I will just strip and be left in my shorts. How about that?"Celine laughed and agreed, "Alright. I will go back