Chapter 2

"How is that even possible!"

Her mother said as she dropped the note.

"This can't be my Char! Why would she do such a thing??"

Claire snatched the note from her mother while her mother stormed out of the room.

"Mum, Dad, if you're reading this, I've left the country. I don't want to marry Henry, I'm sorry it took me this long to realise it. I love Rhys and we're going to try and start a family here. I promise to be in touch when you have both cooled off."

Love Char.

Wow!

Claire thought as she stared at the note in disbelief. Who would have ever thought? That the perfect Charlotte Branson would elope? And with none other than her parent's Chauffeur.

Claire couldn't hold in her laughter anymore, oh it was hilarious!

The humiliation her parents would face after throwing such a huge ass wedding only for her sister not to show up!

Her father would be furious.

Speaking of the devil, her father stormed in and snatched the note from her hands, not even caring for his other daughter's presence.

"Let me see that! Let me see that for myself!"

He shouted as he read through it angrily.

He squeezed the note after a few seconds.

"Grayson!"

He called for the butler who was already next to him.

"Yes sir. Pull up the footage from last night till this morning. I want to know what exactly happened."

He said as he stormed out again.

Claire rolled her eyes.

"Hello to you too Dad."

She muttered as she walked out of the room.

She was hungry, she thought as her stomachs growled. Everyone was apparently too worried sick to eat anything but not her.

She walked into the kitchen and found a feast. The chef had been working on breakfast all morning, before even knowing what was going on.

Their cousins, Charlotte's bridesmaids and countless others would be coming to their house very early to see the bride and start to leave for the church, but there was no bride.

Not a bride in sight.

"Oooh! What are these? They look divine!"

Claire exclaimed as she rubbed her hands with glee.

"Red velvet waffles with a cream cheese glaze Ms Claire."

"Oh I'd taste that."

Claire said as she picked up a plate.

"It's good to see you again Ms Claire."

He said and Claire nodded, mouth full of waffles.

"Good to be back."

She said after she swallowed, this was the exact same time Mia walked in.

"I somehow knew I'd find you here."

She said as she scoffed.

Claire rolled her eyes, it was Mia. She turned as she titled her head to the side, smiling mischievously, she wouldn't mind poking Mia a little.

"Tell me Mia, how is it that you claim to be my sister's best friend and yet she didn't tell you she was going to run away?"

Claire asks and Mia's frown deepened.

She seemed to be half ready for the wedding already. With her hair in an elaborate twist of curls, her makeup done and what seemed to be her dress in a hanger.

"I had no idea. I'm sure she didn't tell me because I would have convinced her otherwise."

"Oh I'm sure you would."

Claire scoffed.

"Shouldn't you be upstairs consoling your parents?"

Claire sighed.

"I just got back from a long trip, what I need is sleep."

"Sleep? How can you sleep peacefully knowing your sister has eloped and the wedding is today?"

"If my sister thinks running away is what's best for her, I support her fully. There's nothing we can do but cancel the wedding."

Mia raised her eyebrow.

"Cancel the wedding of the year? Just like that?!"

Claire shrugged.

"They have no other choice do they?"

She said as she walked out of the room. It was sad, her parents would be devastated and luckily for her they would be too busy crying about it to pry into her own life and the very thought of that gave her relief.

Much relief.

She walked into the living room to find even more people.

Her younger brother Nicholas was seated between his parents while talking to their Dad.

He was a younger version of their father and even though he was just three years younger than Charlotte and Claire, he liked to act like he was older. Their mother coddled him, being her only son, there was rarely anything that she denied him.

Her uncle and aunt and two of her cousins were also there, all equally clueless on the next line of action.

"Claire?"

Her uncle asked and Claire nodded her head.

"Hello Uncle Richard. Aunt May."

She said as she waved a little.

Her Uncle smiled a little, he looked worried, they all were.

"I still find it a bit recognising the two of you. I thought I got the hang of it before, but clearly not."

Her mother's ears perked up at that.

"That's it!"

"What is it?"

Her father said as he turned to look at her mother, everyone else did to.

Her mother turned to her, her piercing grey eyes on Claire.

Claire felt uncomfortable underneath her gaze, shifting a bit.

"You will take your sister's place."

Her mother said.

Nobody expected the deafening silence that followed, or the laughter that erupted from Claire's mouth.

Everyone else didn't seem to find it funny.

"Mum! That's a really good one."

"I don't think she's joking Claire."

Her brother Nick said and Claire shrugged

"You have to be joking Mum! That's not an option. Charlotte was the one who's supposed to marry Henry whatever his name is. Not me."

"You can't just make me take her place like that. It's not easy."

"It is as a matter of fact very easy. The two of you are identical. No one would notice or even care as long as the wedding's still on. You would be acting in place of your sister. Everyone else would think you are her, except that won't be the truth."

Claire shook her head, the seriousness in her mother's face was scary.

"No! No!"

"I'm afraid your mother is right Claire."

Her father said grimly as he stood up.

"We cannot cancel the wedding, I have talked to Henry's parents and they don't want it cancelled either."

"Think of how much humiliation and disgrace you'd be saving your family from."

"At the expense of what? At the expense of my life! Can you just hear yourself speak for a second! Is everyone here actually agreeing to this?"

As Claire looked around in disbelief, everyone looked as if they were silently agreeing.

Everyone.

They were all mad!

Claire thought as she shook her head.

Her Aunt May moved closer.

"I know this is hard Claire, but this is a sacrifice you must make. The Laurents have been our friends and your father's business partners for years! This is supposed to be the societal wedding of the year! Millions have been spent on this wedding already! We cannot just cancel!"

"I am sorry Claire. Henry is a good man. The Laurents are also good people too. If you don't do this, our family name would be dragged in the mud."

Her father added solemnly.

Claire scoffed.

As if she gave two fucks about the 'family name'

"I don't care! This is my life and you can't just wake up and decide to switch it up! I don't want to get married!"

"You have no choice Claire. I'm sorry about that but we must do what we have to do. Please, I beg of you, at least go through the wedding first and then you can be free to do whatever you want after a few months."

Her mother pleaded and Claire raised her eyebrows. Now they were trying to bribe her.

"That's not the tempting offer you think it is Mum. I know you too well..."

A phone vibrates and her father looks at it and sighs.

"It's the Laurents again. I'll tell them to proceed with the church and that you're taking your sister's place."

Claire's jaw dropped.

"What! I never agreed to any of that!"

Her father shrugged as he starts walking out of the room.

"We're having a wedding today no matter what you say Claire!"

"You're getting married today! It is your duty to your family! You must!"

Claire's mother said as she held her wrist tightly, Claire tried to wiggle away but her mother's grip was surprisingly strong.

"Married?! You must be joking mother! I'd rather fall off a cliff!"

"Everyone is waiting Claire, you have no choice!"

Her mother snapped at her and Claire snatched her hand away from hers in annoyance.

"Why must I be forced to suffer for Charlotte's mistakes?!"

"Because she'd do the same for you."

Her mother seethed. There was heavy silence in the room

"Charlotte would do the same for you and you know it!"

Claire swallowed hard.

That was it, that was why Charlotte would always be the better sister. To her, to everybody else and especially their parents.