Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Celine's POV:

On the wedding day, I was dressed in my twin sister's room, so the guests would believe I was Clara. I hadn't expected this day to arrive—me, helping my famous sister cover up for her wedding.

I donned a long white dazzling wedding dress that swept the ground as I walked. The makeup artist applied heavy makeup to my face, and I hated to admit it, but I didn't like makeup.

I sat there and allowed them to transform me into my sister's preferred choice of wedding dress, which had my bare back exposed and my bréasts on full display.

This was not the wedding day I had dreamt of—me, taking my twin sister's place as the bride when she was actually alive and modeling in another state.

"Mmm," I sighed once the makeup artist was done. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and couldn't believe the woman staring back at me.

Soon, my father arrived, dressed in a tailored 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, stretching the smile further, and I wondered how long I could keep up this act.

"Let's go," my father said, escorting me. I saw the black Bentley car waiting to take me to the wedding.

I had not sat in a Bentley before, so I was nervous, as I was not like my sister, who traveled from one location to another, going on vacations with her rich boyfriend sponsoring all her trips.

My father and I sat in an eerie silence, as the car driver started the engine and drove us to the wedding venue.

I was anxious as the car ride continued until we arrived at the grand church where the wedding was being held.

I sucked in a deep breath as I got out of the car. The lined-up maids welcomed me by spreading flowers as I stepped down.

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

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

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

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

Seeing him standing so close to me, as my father and I arrived at the altar, Dad handed me over to Jace for the priest to join us in holy matrimony.

I was nervous and felt like I might faint at any moment. As Jace smiled and lifted my veil to reveal my face, I gulped hard and reminded myself that I was not Clara and had to act like her.

How would Clara have reacted on her own wedding day—excited, emotional, or casual? I didn't know, but I smiled widely so Jace wouldn't think otherwise as his black eyes met my blue eyes for a brief moment.

I grinned even wider so Jace wouldn't suspect I wasn't his woman. I had heard from Clara that Jace had not cheated on her, despite his influence and how many women wanted him.

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

Clara and I were of average height, and thanks to the heels she had chosen for me to wear, as this was her preferred wedding dress and shoes, not my choice.

"Can we start the union?" the priest's voice brought us back to reality, and Jace stepped backward 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 fiancé's face, the man who was about to become my husband—if only he knew I wasn't Clara, his real woman.

Jace smiled, wanting me to say "I do," as he saw that I looked hesitant. The priest continued, "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 as I was unable to meet Jace's face. Then 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. 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 said, smiling and looking at me as if I were his real bride. He seemed genuinely happy to be wedded to me, thinking I was my twin sister.

"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 exchanged the wedding rings.

I was hesitant to wear his ring, which symbolized love, trust, and commitment. I couldn't believe I was doing this, acting in a movie as my twin sister's replacement.

Jace placed the diamond ring on my finger, and I shut my eyes as he pulled me closer and sealed his lips on mine, not caring whether I wanted to kiss him or not.

His lips claimed mine, kissing me tenderly at first, as the hall erupted in a round of applause and well-wishers screamed, "Happy married life!"

Jace pulled away from the kiss after a while of kissing me fervently, and he gazed into my eyes as if he already suspected I wasn't his bride.

We took pictures with his parents, who were overjoyed about the wedding, and also with my parents. I stood there anxiously, posing for several photos with the priest, my parents, Jace's parents, the bridesmaids, and the best man.

Lily, my sister's best friend and the bridesmaid, hugged me excitedly and squealed, "Congratulations, Clara! I am so happy for you!"

"Thank you," I said. We took more wedding pictures in the church until Jace held my hand closely and kissed my lips once more.

"Come on, my wife. You don't have to act shy as if this is the first time we're kissing. Let's go to our wedding reception," Jace said, lifting me off the ground. I was stunned as he carried me away in his firm, masculine arms.

I wanted to tell him that I wasn't Clara. This had to stop. Should I tell him the truth or continue acting as my sister's replacement?

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