Chapter 2

Celine's POV

The 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 beautiful."

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 eyes and mimicked my twin sister's composure. The way she smiled with a wide grin on her face.

"Yes, Dad," I said, my voice gentle, my smile stretching further, and I wonder how long I can put up with this facade.

"Let's go," My father escorted me, placing his hand on mine, and I saw the black Bentley car that was waiting for me outside to escort me to the wedding.

I hadn't sat in a Bentley before. So I was nervous as I am not my twin sister who travels from one geographical location to another, going on vacation with her rich boyfriend sponsoring all her trips.

My father and I sat in an eerie silence at the rear of the car as the chauffeur started the car and drove us down to the wedding venue.

I was nervous, anxious as the car ride continued till we got to the big cathedral where the wedding was held.

I sucked in a deep breath of fresh air as I got out of the car. The lined-up maids welcomed me by spreading red flowers on the floor as I got out of the Bentley.

This was an elite wedding. My father held my left hand tenderly and escorted me into the church that was packed and filled with top-notch guests.

My heartbeat grew louder in my chest with each step that I took, into the church and nearing the altar where Clara's finance, Jace Augustus stood.

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

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

Seeing him standing up close to me as my father and I finally arrived at the altar. 

My Dad handed me over to Jace for the priest to join us in holy matrimony.

I felt nervous like I am going to faint at any moment.

Jace smiled and took off my veil to reveal my face to him.

I gulped hard, recalling that I am not Clara, and I must act like her.

I grinned, meeting his dark eyes as unveil my veil.

How would Clara have reacted on her own wedding day? Excited? Emotional or casual? I didn't know, but I smiled widely so that Jace wouldn't think otherwise, as his black eyes looked at mine for a brief moment.

I grinned wider, so that he doesn't think that I am not his woman. I heard from Clara that Jace had never cheated on her, despite his influence in this state and how many women wanted him.

Jace was very handsome and looked like a Greek god. He stood there towering above me.

Clara and I were average height, and thanks to the black heels that she had chosen for me to wear, as this was her own preferred wedding dress and shoes, not mine.

"Can we start the union?" The priest's warm voice brought us back to reality, and 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 fiancée's face, that was about to become my husband. If only he knows that I wasn't Clara Mason, his woman.

Jace smiled, wanting me to say "I do", as he saw that I looked so hesitant to say the words to him.

The priest continued, his voice loud and firm. "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 closed as I was unable to meet Jace's face. As the priest 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, his voice soothing as 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, his gaze locking with mine like I am his real bride as he looked genuinely happy to be wedded to me, thinking I was his fiancée.

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

My fingers trembled as I felt hesitant to wear his ring, that symbolizes love, trust, and commitment. I cannot believe I was doing this like I was acting in a replacement movie for my twin sister.

Jace wore the diamond ring on my trembling finger, and I shut my eyes as he pulled me closer and sealed his full lips on mine, not wanting to know if I desired to kiss him or not.

His full lips claimed mine, kissing me tenderly at first, as the hall erupted in a round of applause for us. The well-wishers screaming "Happy married life" to us.

Jace pulled away from the passionate kiss after a while of kissing me fervently. His gazed held mine for a brief moment, lookimg at me suspiciously like he already suspected that I wasn't his bride.

We took pictures with his parents, mine, as they were every happy about the wedding, and also my parents too. 

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

Lily, my twin sister's best friend, was the bridesmaid, and I wonder if she knew that I was taking Clara's place. But I was sure that Clara never told anyone of her plans. As Lily hugged me excitedly and squealed in my ear, "Congratulations, Clara! I am so happy for you!"

"Thank you, Lily," I replied, my voice rasp as we took more wedding pictures in the church, until Jace held my hand closely and kissed me once more.

"Come on, my wife. You don't have to act shy like this is the first time we are kissing. Let's go for our wedding reception," Jace lifted me off the ground. His firms arms encircling around me, and I was stunned for a moment as he carried me like the most precious thing in this world, and took me to his car. 

I felt comfortable in the way he carried me. I wanted to tell him that I am not Clara. This has to stop. Should I tell him the truth or continue to act in my twin sister's replacement?

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