Chapter 8 - The Training Begins
1281 Words
Ariana’s POV
The moment the car stopped, I knew things were about to get worse.
Not because of where we were.
But because of who I was with.
Damien stepped out first, calm as ever, adjusting his cufflinks like nothing had happened in the car.
Like he hadn’t just exposed me.
Like I wasn’t one mistake away from everything collapsing.
I followed after him, my chest tight, my mind still replaying his words—
“But not identities.”
The building in front of us was tall, sleek, intimidating—glass and steel reflecting the morning sun.
Blackwood Group.
Of course.
This was his territory.
And now… I had to walk into it pretending to be someone else.
Again.
Inside, everything moved fast.
Employees rushed past, voices low, heels clicking sharply against polished floors. The moment Damien entered, the energy shifted instantly.
People straightened.
Conversations stopped.
Eyes followed.
Power.
That was what he carried so effortlessly.
I stayed close beside him, forcing my expression into calm indifference—like this was normal, like I belonged here.
Like I was Alina.
“Mr. Blackwood.”
“Good morning, sir.”
“Congratulations, sir.”
Voices echoed around us.
Then—
“Mrs. Blackwood.”
I felt it again.
That name.
That weight.
I nodded slightly, offering small, controlled smiles.
Don’t overdo it.
Don’t underdo it.
Just enough.
We stepped into a private elevator. The doors slid shut, cutting off the noise outside.
Silence.
Just the two of us.
My heartbeat picked up.
I kept my gaze forward, refusing to look at him.
Big mistake.
“Look at me.”
My breath hitched.
Slowly… I turned.
His eyes were already on me.
Sharp.
Focused.
Unforgiving.
“You’re going to fail.”
The words were calm.
Certain.
My fingers tightened slightly at my sides. “I won’t.”
His expression didn’t change.
“If you continue like this,” he added, “you will.”
Something in my chest twisted.
“I said I won’t,” I repeated, quieter this time.
He studied me for a moment longer, then—
“We’ll fix that.”
The elevator dinged.
Doors opened.
And just like that… the conversation was over.
His office was exactly what I expected.
Large. Minimal. Cold.
Everything in its place.
Nothing unnecessary.
Just like him.
“Sit,” he said, walking past me.
I hesitated for half a second before doing as told.
He removed his jacket, placing it neatly on the chair before turning to face me.
“From now on, you don’t move without instruction.”
My chest tightened slightly.
“I understand.”
“No,” he corrected calmly. “You don’t.”
He walked closer.
Slow.
Deliberate.
“You think this is just acting?” he continued. “Smiling, nodding, saying a few lines?”
I stayed silent.
Because I knew the answer.
“No,” he said. “This is survival.”
The word hit differently.
“You’re not replacing her in a room,” he added. “You’re replacing her in a world that knows her.”
My throat went dry.
“Every habit. Every preference. Every reaction.”
Step.
Closer.
“If you get it wrong…”
Another step.
“…you don’t just embarrass yourself.”
Now he was right in front of me.
“You expose everything.”
My breathing became uneven.
“I won’t let that happen,” I said softly.
His eyes searched mine.
Then—
“We’ll see.”
He straightened slightly and pressed a button on his desk.
“Send her in.”
A few seconds later, the door opened.
The same elegant woman from the mansion walked in.
Her posture was perfect.
Her expression unreadable.
“This is Mrs. Carter,” Damien said without looking at me. “She’s been with my family for years.”
Mrs. Carter inclined her head slightly. “Madam.”
Something about the way she said it felt… different.
Less polite.
More… observant.
“From today,” Damien continued, “she will be responsible for you.”
My brows furrowed slightly. “Responsible… how?”
His gaze flicked back to me.
“To make sure you don’t fail.”
Mrs. Carter stepped forward.
“You will learn everything,” she said calmly. “Miss Alina’s routines, preferences, speech patterns, social habits.”
Her eyes locked onto mine.
“And you will learn quickly.”
A chill ran down my spine.
This wasn’t help.
This was training.
No—
This was control.
“I understand,” I said, forcing steadiness into my voice.
Mrs. Carter nodded once. “Good.”
She placed a tablet on the table in front of me.
“Let’s begin.”
I looked down.
Schedules.
Notes.
Details.
So many details.
What Alina eats.
How she speaks.
What she likes.
What she hates.
Even… how she laughs.
My chest tightened.
This is insane…
“You’ll memorize this,” Mrs. Carter said. “Every detail matters.”
I nodded slowly.
But inside?
I felt like I was drowning.
Hours passed.
And it only got worse.
“Wrong.”
“Again.”
“That’s not how she would respond.”
“Fix your posture.”
“Smile less.”
“Too stiff.”
“Too soft.”
Everything I did—
Wrong.
Everything.
By the time we stopped, my head was spinning.
My body weak.
My patience… gone.
“I’m trying,” I said quietly, frustration slipping through.
Mrs. Carter didn’t react.
“Trying is not enough.”
My hands clenched slightly.
“I’m not her,” I snapped before I could stop myself.
The room went silent.
Mrs. Carter’s gaze sharpened.
“And yet,” she said calmly, “you chose to become her.”
The words hit hard.
I froze.
Because she was right.
I didn’t have a choice…
But I still said yes.
The door opened suddenly.
Damien walked in.
His eyes moved between us.
“What happened?”
Mrs. Carter spoke first. “She’s resisting.”
I immediately shook my head. “I’m not—”
“Enough.”
His voice cut through mine.
I went silent instantly.
Of course.
He walked closer, his gaze settling on me.
Cold.
Unreadable.
“You don’t get to break,” he said.
My chest tightened.
“You don’t get to complain.”
Another step.
“You don’t get to remind anyone who you are.”
His voice dropped slightly.
“Because right now…”
His eyes locked into mine.
“You’re no one.”
That one hurt.
More than anything he had said before.
I looked down, blinking quickly, refusing to let anything show.
“Understood,” I whispered.
Silence.
Then—
“Good.”
He turned away like nothing happened.
Like I was nothing.
“Continue,” he told Mrs. Carter.
And walked out.
Just like that.
By the time everything ended, I could barely stand.
My head throbbed.
My body ached.
My vision blurred slightly at the edges.
Not now…
Please not now…
I gripped the edge of the table, steadying myself.
“Are you unwell?” Mrs. Carter asked suddenly.
I shook my head quickly. “No. I’m fine.”
Lie.
A terrible one.
But I had no choice.
“I’ll… go back to the room,” I added.
She watched me for a moment longer… then nodded.
“Rest. Tomorrow will be harder.”
Tomorrow?
My chest tightened.
There’s more?
Of course there is.
That night, as I lay in the same bed again…
I didn’t feel like a person anymore.
Not Ariana.
Not even Alina.
Just…
A replacement.
A role.
A lie.
And the worst part?
I was starting to forget where one ended…
And the other began.
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