Chapter 2

Ireland, UK

When Miah Baker spotted her twin sister, Mirabella, emerging from a strikingly unfamiliar fire-engine-red sports car, she was flooded with a mix of exasperation, bewilderment, and impatience. But underlying these emotions was a strong sense of relief that tied them all together. “Thank God, she’s back,” she murmured to herself.

Miah dashed downstairs, a petite, slender blonde with a cascade of silvery pale hair and clear aquamarine eyes. Swinging open the cottage door, Miah unleashed a torrent of questions in a breathless rush. "Where the hell have you been all this time, Mira? I was worried.”

“Come on, sissy,” Mirabella just rolled her eyes.

“You promised to call, and you didn't! I've been worried sick about you! And where did that fancy car come from?"

With amusement twinkling in her eyes, Mirabella sauntered forward. "Hey, sis, good to see you too. And that car? Yeah, right, it's mine."

“Whatever,” Miah said, embracing her sister. "I've been going out of my mind with worry," she confessed ruefully. "Why didn't you call? And what happened to your phone? You can't just ignore me. I was—"

"It broke, and I got a new number, stop mothering me!" Mirabella wrinkled her nose. "Things got complicated, and I kept waiting until I had something concrete to tell you. Then, when I finally did, I thought it would be easier to come home and talk face-to-face."

“Seriously?” Miah stared at her twin sister, not fully comprehending and not expecting to. It had always been this way because, despite being born identical, it was evident from an early age that they were two distinct personalities beneath the surface. Mirabella was driven, ambitious, quick to assert herself, and more prone to making enemies than friends. Miah, on the other hand, was calmer, more thoughtful, and occasionally burdened by an overactive conscience. At twenty-three, they were less obviously twins than in childhood. Mirabella sported sleek, shoulder-length silvery blonde hair, while Miah's was longer, usually tied back in a ponytail. Mirabella embraced fashion and attention from men, while Miah preferred a conservative style and felt uncomfortable when men approached her with less overt interest.

“Where’s mother?” Mirabella asked, flinging her coat down in a heap and walking into the kitchen.

“She’s at the shop. I came home this afternoon to do the accounts,” Miah confided, putting the kettle on to boil. “I gather you have a job in London.”

Mirabella gave her a rather self-satisfied smile and leant back against the kitchen counter. “Of course I did. I’m a whizz at selling luxury cars, and I’ve earned a lot of commission. How’s mother?”

Miah pursed her lips. “As good as she’s ever going to be. At least I don’t hear her crying at night any more—”

‘She’s getting over it? About time,” Mirabella pronounced with approval.

Miah sighed. “I don’t think Mother’s ever really going to get over it—particularly not while Dad’s parading his fancy piece around the village. Or with all this debt still hanging over her, not to mention having to sell her home into the bargain…”

Mirabella gave her a big smile. "I was going to ask if you want to hear the good or bad news first. On my way here, I stopped at the lawyer's and told him to settle the money stuff for the house. I also gave him money to pay the bills. Surprise: I've got enough cash to pay off our awful dad!"

Miah's eyes widened. "Don't talk about Dad like that," she said, feeling uneasy about the bold statement. "Though I kind of agree."

"Don't be so soft!" Mirabella urged sharply. "Mom goes through a lot, and what does Dad do? Runs off with a young college girl!"

"You said you have enough money to pay Dad and settle the bills—how?" Miah asked, frowning. She wanted to believe it, but she knew Mirabella's job couldn't bring in that much.

"I got a new job with a big upfront payment. Enough to pay all of Mom's bills and Dad," Mirabella repeated, wanting to emphasise the point.

Miah was shocked. "And enough to buy that car outside and get new clothes?"

Mirabella’s smile evaporated as she gave her twin a cool, accusing scrutiny. “You’ve already noticed the label on my new coat?”

Miah raised a brow.

“That’s new,” Mirabella winked at her.

"No, it just has that look. That sophisticated look that expensive clothes always seem to have,’ Miah advanced ruefully. "What kind of job pays that much money?’

"Didn’t you hear what I told you?" Mirabella demanded thinly. "I’ve saved our home—I have enough money to sort out all mother’s problems and give her back her self-respect and security."

She sighed before saying, "That would take a miracle." Miah was convinced that her sister was wildly exaggerating the case.

"In today’s world, you have to compete, work very hard, and make sacrifices to bring about a miracle.”

When Mirabella mentioned making sacrifices, something completely out of character for her, Miah glanced at her sister, troubled. "I don't get it."

"It's complicated. I had to use your identity," Mirabella confessed, lifting her chin defiantly despite her twin's shocked stare. "You have the university degree I needed to meet the criteria for my application."

Miah froze at the revelation. "You used my identity? How?"

"You have the degree, so I used your name to make myself appear educated," Mirabella explained. "If I applied under my own name, they would have found out I was lying."

"What?" Miah was shocked at her sister's nonchalant attitude towards what she had done. "That's fraud, cheating."

Mirabella brushed it off, showing little concern. "Eh, whatever. It was worth a try. But then I started dating someone."

"What! You're dating again?" Miah gasped in surprise and excitement. After Mirabella's boyfriend, Patrick, died in the same car crash that killed their brother, followed by their father's defection, Mirabella had sworn off men. Miah understood her sister's heartbreak, as Patrick had been like family.

"Did you miss this while admiring the coat?" Mirabella asked, extending her hand to reveal an opulent ruby and diamond engagement ring on her finger.

Miah gaped. "You're engaged... already?"

"And pregnant," Mirabella confided.

"Pregnant too?" Miah stared as her sister turned sideways, but her stomach was still flat. "You never mentioned any of this until now?"

Mirabella grimaced. "I said things got complicated. I was in the running for a job, and I didn't want to tell Henry about it. Yes, that's his name. He's well off, a gentleman farmer. His family is thrilled about me and the baby, but they wouldn't understand what I signed up for before we met... or that I could have accepted money for the right reasons."

Frowning, Miah asked, "Mirabella, what job? What money did you accept?"

Mirabella rolled her eyes and said, “Please stop thinking stupid, I know what you are thinking.”

“Well, I can't help it. Did you—”

With annoyance, she replied, “For heaven’s sake, Miah, I didn't kidnap or kill someone, Jesus, stop watching those silly CSI series and those horror movies.”

Miah frowned. “Well, it's so sudden, and the money? What job?”

Mirabella sat down at the kitchen table, sipping her tea before speaking. "I never thought I'd actually get it. I went through the whole application process out of curiosity. Technically, it's not really a job," she admitted quietly.

Miah took a seat opposite her. "Then what is it? It's not anything immoral, is it?"

"Before I tell you, think about what that money will do for Mom," Mirabella urged sharply. "It's her only hope, and I've already used most of it to help her. All I had to do was agree to marry a wealthy Italian and act like his wife."

"Why would any man pay you for that? Aren't most rich Italians wary of gold-diggers these days?" Miah asked dryly.

"This guy wanted a business arrangement, with upfront payment, contracts, and a settlement for divorce at the end. He wanted an educated, attractive Englishwoman, and I fit the bill. I almost told his lawyers he could have two of us for the price of one!" Mirabella said, attempting a tasteless joke. “And he is an Alpha... Jesus, one of the most powerful Alphas in Europe. Can you imagine that?”

Miah wasn't amused. "Alpha of the werewolf? As in the massive dogs? Are you out of your mind?”

“Miah—”

“So, you decided to marry him just for the money? An alpha who would sever your head if you looked at him the wrong way?"

“You are overacting, Miah.”

“No, Mirabella, I'm not. Alpha’s were known to have a temper. I know, I've seen the news. Articles about—”

"Miah, I don't care. This is for Mom!" Mirabella contradicted loudly. "I did it for her sake."

Miah sat there, tense, considering her sister's explanation. Everything she had done recently, from leaving her job in London to helping at home, had been for their mother's sake. Both sisters loved their mom, who was currently stressed and depressed, a far cry from her former cheerful self.