Chapter 3
1264 Words
Celine's POV:
When we reached the black car waiting for us, Jace carefully helped me into the back seat. I didn’t even have time to see the car’s brand, but it was a beautiful luxury vehicle. He then told the driver, “Roy, take us to the reception venue.”
"Alright, boss," came the calm response from the driver. I sat nervously in the rear with Jace.
I moved away from him, but I remember that I had to pretend to be my sister.
Jace didn't say anything; he simply looked at my face and held my hand.
"How do you feel about this day, my love?" he asked me. I opened my mouth to speak, thinking about what Clara would have said if she had been the one.
I was still overwhelmed, so I told him the truth: "I am just overwhelmed."
"Why is that? You didn't believe me when I told you that I would marry you and no one else. I love you, Clara, and I meant every word when I confessed my feelings to you. So, you don't have to be afraid or think that this marriage is a trap. I will always support your modeling career. By the way, how about your twin sister? I didn't see her at the wedding."
Jace looked at my face lovingly, and I knew this was the right time to tell him that I was not Clara, his fiancée. However, I recalled my father's warning that Jace would deal harshly with all of us if he discovered that Clara had fled before their wedding day.
"Clara," he called my sister's name, and I snapped out of my thoughts, reminding myself that my new name was Clara.
"Yes. Celine traveled to help me cover my modeling shoot abroad. You know I told you how much it means to me. So she had to travel as my replacement. That's why she couldn't attend our wedding," I said, forcing a smile as I met Jace's gaze. His dark, curious eyes held my blue ones, and he smiled.
"Alright. I know you said that your sister normally covers for you, but you should have at least allowed her to attend our wedding," Jace said, drawing closer to me from behind as he kissed my neck.
I gulped hard and told him, "It doesn't change anything, as long as I am here with you."
"I know, but a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime day. You shouldn't have sent Celine away. Maybe she could have traveled after our wedding. You never let me meet your sister, you know," Jace spoke to me once more. My jaw dropped as I looked at his handsome face in shock.
I recalled that each time Clara asked me to accompany her to visit her boyfriend. I normally refused to go to the house.
"Yes, you don't have to worry about Celine. She will get to meet you once she is back," I lied.
"How about her bakery shop? I haven't been there, but you said she owns one. Wouldn't her bakery goods spoil or suffer temporary losses now that she has traveled for your modeling?" Jace looked concerned for me. I felt bad for having spoken poorly about him before, especially since he was a gentleman despite his wealth. I had thought of him as an arrogant billionaire, and I was equally angry because my parents had rejected my marriage to Martin Emzo, my boyfriend.
"About Celine's shop: I will be managing it for her until she returns to take over the business," I told Jace as the car pulled up to the reception venue—a grand white hotel in the city.
"Can you cook?" Jace asked me in shock, and I smiled.
"I can try," I lied, knowing that Clara hated the kitchen and didn't like to cook.
"Alright," Jace agreed as he said, "We have arrived. Let's go in."
I sighed and got out of the car with him as we entered the hotel for the wedding reception.
****
The wedding reception was lively and more crowded than I had expected. A media crew was recording us, and many top celebrities attended the wedding to congratulate Jace and me.
They obviously thought I was my famous sister, so I had to pretend to be her, wondering how Clara was faring abroad.
How does Clara feel, knowing that I am taking her place as the bride?
It was not as if I snatched Jace; Clara was the one who put me in a tight situation by forcing me to marry her fiancé.
Jace and I were invited on stage by the MC to cut the huge white cake that had almost eight layers. I smiled, knowing that I was the one who had baked this lovely white cake for my sister's wedding.
My best friend, Ava Kingsley, was present as my assistant to help me ice the cake and prepare it for the wedding reception.
"Three, two, one, go!" the MC squealed, and Jace held my right hand gently as he sliced the cake into two.
Once we cut the cake, the audience erupted into a round of applause for us, and I wanted to step away from Jace because I was still overwhelmed.
At one point, it felt like I was the one getting married. But then, I realized I was not the real bride—Clara was.
Jace wrapped his arms around my waist as the DJ changed the music to a love song for us. The MC invited Jace and me on stage once more to dance, while the guests cheered us and brought numerous gifts and checks.
I felt nervous, as I had not expected such an elaborate wedding.
How could Clara give up her wedding day for work? I shut my eyes, but I felt Jace bring his face closer to mine and whisper in my left ear.
"Open your eyes, Clara," he said. I looked at him as my blue eyes fluttered open, and I hadn't expected the ceremony to be this way.
I wasn't the media type of person. I mostly kept a low profile and was not a public figure. The lavish wedding made me feel sick because I knew it was fake. I felt quite emotional, and Jace pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead tenderly.
Tears welled up in my eyes as Jace whispered in my ear once more, "What's wrong, babe? Should we go home? If you're tired of the wedding reception, you should let me know."
"No, I am okay," I replied, smiling sadly at him, knowing that this was supposed to be his and Clara's happy day. I tried not to think about what the future holds for us, especially since I didn't even know when Clara would be back.
I promised myself not to fall in love with my sister's fiancé. He was now her husband, so I tried to act and move as if I were Clara. Besides, the wedding was Clara weds Jace, and not Celine weds Jace. But he was so kind that I didn't think my sister deserved him. An honest woman does, not me or her.
The wedding ceremony came to an end, and Jace took me back to the black limousine. He said, "We're going on our honeymoon, babe. Happy marriage to us!"
Jace took a champagne bottle out of the car's fridge and popped it open.
"Oh no! I don't drink champagne," I thought. Well, for my sister's sake, I had to sacrifice and do what her husband wanted.
- Writer
