Chapter 3

Celine's POV

Once 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 else. I love you, Clara, and I meant every word that I used to confess my feelings to you. So you don't have to be afraid, thinking that this marriage is a trap. And I will always support your modeling career. How about your twin sister? I didn't see her in the wedding?"

Jace looked at my face lovingly, and I knew that this was the right time for me to tell him the truth that I am not Clara Mason, his woman. But I recalled my father's warning that Jace would deal with all of us if he found out that Clara fled before her wedding day with him.

"Clara," he called me by my twin sister's name.

I snapped out of my trance, reminding myself that my new name was Clara Mason.

"Yes. Celine travelled to help me cover for my modeling shoot abroad. You know that I told you that it means so much to me. So she had to travel in my replacement. And that's why she couldn't attend our wedding," I faked a smile, my voice soothing,  and my eyes met Jace's gaze on me. 

His black, curious eyes held my blue orbs for a moment, and he grinned.

"Alright. I know that you said so that your sister normally covers up for you, but you should have allowed her to attend our wedding at least," Jace said, his voice melancholic and drawing me closer to his chest. He kissed my neck, and I gulped hard.

"It doesn't change anything. So long as I am here with you," I said, my voice laced with anxiety.

"I know, but a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime day. You shouldn't have sent Celine away. Maybe after our wedding, she could have travelled. You never let me meet your sister, you know," Jace spoke to me once more, his tone filled with cynical and my jaw dropped, as I looked at his handsome face in shock.

I recalled that each time that Clara would ask me to accompany her to go and see her rich boyfriend at his house, I normally refused.

"Yes. You don't have to worry about Celine. Once she is back, she will get to meet you," I lied, my voice laced with distrust.

"How about her bakery shop? I haven't gone there, but you said that she has a shop. Wouldn't her bakery items get spoilt or experience momentary losses, now that she traveled for your modeling?" Jace asked, looking concerned about me. And I felt guilty that I had spoken so badly about him before, when he was a gentleman despite his wealth. 

I had thought of him as an arrogant billionaire, and I was similarly angry because my parents rejected me from getting married to Martin Emzo, my boyfriend.

"About Celine's shop," I glanced away from Jace's face, so that he doesn't read in between my mood. 

"I will be going there for her until she is back to take over her business," I told him, my voice emphatic, as the car pulled to a stop at the reception venue, a mighty white hotel in the city.

"Can you cook?" Jace asked me, a look of shock washing over him, and I smiled.

"Yes, I can try," I lied, knowing that Clara hated the kitchen and doesn't like to cook.

"Alright." Jace agreed, his voice warm while he said, "We have arrived. Let's go in."

I sighed out and got out of the car with him, as we went into the Hotel for the wedding reception.

****

The wedding reception ceremony was lively and more crowded than I had expected. Media crews were recording us, many top celebrities attended the wedding and congratulating Jace and me.

They obviously thought that I was my famous twin sister, Clara Mason, and I had to pretend that I was her, wondering how Clara was faring abroad.

How does she feel, seeing that I am taking her place as the bride?

It was not like I snatched Jace; Clara was the one who put me into a tight situation to marry her fiancé.

Jace and I were invited on the stage by the MC to cut the huge white cake that had almost 8 layers. I smiled, knowing that I was the one who had baked this lovely, huge white cake for my twin sister's wedding.

My best friend, Ava Kingsley, was present as my assistant to help me ice the cake, and make it ready for the wedding reception.

"Three, two, one, go!" The MC squealed, his voice high pitched and Jace held my right hand gently and placed it on the knife, as he sliced the cake into two.

Once we cut the cake, the audience erupted in a round of applause for us, and I wanted to step away from Jace. As I was still overwhelmed.

At some point, it felt like I was the one getting married. But then, I am not the real bride, and Clara was.

Jace wrapped his arms around my waist, his body pressed against mine. My heart beat quickened as the DJ changed the music to a cool love song for us to dance. 

The MC invited Jace and me on the stage once more to dance, while the guests cheered us, and brought numerous gifts and checks for us.

I felt so anxious, as I hadn't expected this kind of elaborate wedding.

How can Clara give up her wedding day for work? I shut my eyes closed, but I felt Jace brought his face closer to mine and whispered in my left ear.

"Open your eyes, Clara," his soothing voice snapped me back to reality. 

My eyes fluttered to looked at him, as hadn't expected this ceremony to be this way.

I wasn't the media type of person. I mostly lay low and now a public figure. The lavish wedding made me sick, because I knew it was fake. I felt quite emotional, and Jace pulled me into a warm hug and kissed my forehead tenderly.

Tears welled up in my blue eyes, and Jace whispered once more in my ear, "What's wrong, babe? Should we go home? If you're tired of the wedding reception, you should let me know."

"No. I am okay," I quickly replied, sniffing and smiling at him. Tears filled my eyes, knowing that this was supposed to be him and Clara's happy day. 

I tried not to think of what the future holds for us. As I didn't even know when Clara will be back.

I promised myself not to fall in love with my twin sister's fiancé. He was her husband now, so I tried to dance and act like I am Clara. Besides, the wedding was Clara weds Jace, and now Celine weds Jace. But he was so kind to me that I don't think my twin. sister deserves him.

An honest woman does, not me or Clara.

Once the wedding ceremony came to an end, Jace lifted me in his arms and took me back to the car again.

"We are going for our honeymoon, babe. Happy marriage to us!" He squealed, his tone blatant and I smiled.

Jace brought out a champagne bottle from the car's fridge and popped it open.

'Oh no! I don't drink wines,' I thought, my eyes widened in shock. Well, for my twin sister's sake, I had to sacrifice and do what she wanted for her husband on her supposed wedding.