Tycoon's Pretend Wife

Chapter 1

Lorielle's shriek made me jump. "Omg, he's so handsome!" My sister, battling Autoimmune Thyroiditis, had fallen for Mr. Ellison, a wealthy tycoon and a friend of mine.

A wave of sadness washed over me; we even had the same taste in men. "He's my ultimate crush, Lorna!" she gushed.

"Hmmm, you're beautiful, I'm sure he'll like you," I said, trying to hide the pang in my heart. Suddenly, it made sense why Mr. Ellison knew Dad.

"Mom and Dad are taking me to Mr. Ellison's birthday party!" Lorielle announced. I was surprised.

Mom and Dad walked in, and Mom looked shocked to see me. "Lorna, I thought you weren't coming back until next month?" she asked.

Mom knew about my feelings for Mr. Ellison. With Lorielle's illness, I knew she would ask me to step aside again.

Mom and Dad had witnessed how close Mr. Ellison and I were. "I missed you guys, so I came back early, Mom," I said, forcing a smile.

Mom hugged me, but Dad pulled me aside. "Lorna, can I talk to you?" he asked.

"I know what you're thinking, Dad. Is this about Mr. Ellison?" I said, my voice tinged with bitterness.

"Yes, sweetheart," Dad confirmed.

"For my sister, you know I'd give up anything," I said.

"Thank you, sweetie," he said. "Can you please stay away from Mr. Ellison for now?" he asked.

"Okay, Dad," I said.

I knew what this meant: Lorielle would pretend to be me.

"So, you want Lorielle to pretend to be me?" I asked.

"Yes, sweetheart. We want to see your sister happy, especially considering her situation."

Sometimes, I just wanted to scream. Do they ever want to see me happy? I'm their daughter, too! Why is it always Lorielle? I understood her situation, but was I really supposed to give up the man I secretly loved?

I forced a smile, trying to hide my pain. "I want to see Lorielle happy, too, Dad," I said.

"Thank you, sweetie," he said.

"No problem, Dad."

My sister's weight loss was a constant reminder of her illness, and it broke my heart. Maybe this was my fate, to live in her shadow.

We returned to Mom and Lorielle, and my sister hugged me. "Thank you for everything you're doing for me, Lorna," she said. "I'll never forget it. I know I don't have much time left, and I know this is hard for you, especially Mom, and Dad."

"Don't worry, and kindly please don't cry it will ruin your makeup," I said, trying to sound cheerful. "Just be yourself, we act the same way. You're going to see your best friend, Mr. John Rex Ellison."

She hugged me back, and I tried to smile, but my heart felt like it was breaking. "I love you, Lorna," she said.

"I love you, too," I replied. "Good luck at the party."

"Thank you!" she said.

As they walked away, I watched them, my heart full of a mix of love, sadness, and a sense of sacrifice.

My chest felt like it was going to burst with sadness, so I decided to escape the house and head to Gera's place. I needed to talk to someone, to release all the heavy emotions building inside me.

Just as I was leaving, my phone buzzed. It was Mr. Ellison calling. A bitter smile played on my lips. He probably thought he was calling me, but in reality, he was going to see my sister, Lorielle. I couldn't answer; I couldn't face the idea of him seeing her, knowing that he thought he was seeing me.

I drove to Gera's, ignoring the call. Lorielle knew what to say, how to handle the situation. She was a master at spinning stories and weaving excuses. I felt a sense of guilt, knowing that I was allowing her to take my place, but it felt like the only choice I had.

As I drove, I put on my earphones and called Gera. "What's up, Lorna? Did something happen?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. I couldn't help but smile at the sound of her voice.

"Just thinking about things," I mumbled, trying to sound casual. But my mind was filled with images of Mr. Ellison's smile, the way he made my heart flutter.

"Don't even try to deny it, Lorna," Gera teased. "You're thinking about Mr. Ellison, aren't you? You sighed so deeply just now."

I confessed everything to her, tears welling up in my eyes. I knew Lorielle needed our support, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. She seemed to have everything I wanted, and I let her. It was like I was living in her shadow, always giving up things for her. The worst part was, I couldn't understand why I was so miserable. I thought I was okay with this, so why did it feel like my heart was breaking?

"I'm at home if you want to come over," Gera offered.

"That's where I'm going anyway," I said. "You're the only one who truly understands how I feel."

In my head, I could see Lorielle and Mr. Ellison together, laughing, talking, and my heart would twist in my chest. It was agonizing, but I had to endure it for my sister.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed again. It was a text message from Mr. Ellison. My heart pounded as I read the message, dread settling in my stomach. "Oh no!" I cried.

"What's wrong, Lorna?" Gera asked, her voice laced with concern.

"Lorielle is back in the hospital."

"What?!" Gera exclaimed. "Be careful, you can't go there. Remember, everyone thinks the Jones family only has one daughter."

Thank goodness Gera reminded me, because the first thing I wanted to do was rush to the hospital. The guilt overwhelmed me. Just moments ago, I had been consumed with jealousy, and now my heart was filled with worry and sadness.

My hands shook uncontrollably, a mix of fear and love for my twin surging through me. "Dear God, please have mercy on my sister," I prayed, my voice trembling. "I love her so much."