Marrying The Ruthless Luciano (Luciano Brothers #1)

CHAPTER 6: MASQUERADE

I should've said no.

The thought had been repeating inside my head since the moment I opened my eyes.

I stared at the garment bag hanging from my bedroom door.

Inside was the gown Czarina had sent earlier this morning.

Untouched. Just looking at it made my chest tighten.

Last night, agreeing to help had seemed like the fastest way to end the conversation.

Now... It felt like the worst decision I'd ever made.

I rubbed my face and glanced at the clock.

Five hours.

Five hours before the engagement dinner. Five hours before I pretended to become someone else.

I let out a long breath.

"No," I whispered to myself.

"I can still call her." I reached for my phone.

My thumb hovered over Czarina's name.

One call. That's all it would take. I'd tell her I changed my mind.

I'd apologize.

She'd be angry. She'd cry. Maybe she'd even hate me.

But at least I'd still have my own life.

My thumb pressed against the screen... then stopped.

A memory surfaced before I could hit the call button.

"I'm pregnant." I closed my eyes.

Another followed. "You're the only person I trust."

I cursed under my breath and dropped the phone onto the bed.

"This isn't fair."

Nothing about this was fair. Not to Czarina, not to me.

I walked toward the window and looked outside.

The neighborhood was exactly the same as always. Children chased one another across the street. Someone was hanging laundry from the balcony next door. A motorcycle passed by with its usual noisy engine.

Everything looked painfully ordinary.

Meanwhile...

I was about to attend the engagement dinner of two billionaire families while pretending to be the bride.

I laughed once.

It sounded more like disbelief than amusement.

"If my younger self could see me now..."

She'd probably tell me to run.

And honestly... she'd be right.

I nudged that thought before I could really backout.

-

Czarina had someone pick me up at lunch. It was too early for the party but she instisted we needed extra time to make sure everything is perfect.

She booked a room in a hotel near the venue. And I was shocked to see a bunch of people that is waiting for me so they could help me get ready.

"What is this?" I asked.

She smiled sweetly and motioned me to sit in front of the vanity.

"Come on, just trust me." She whispered.

I looked at everyone and each of them is smiling politely at me.

Seeing them here makes it even more thrilling.

"Thank you for doing this, Jade. I promise after this, I'll solve everything on my own." She said, assuring me as she waited me to sit on the chair prepared for me.

I took a deep breath and nodded. And even though I wanted to turn my back and just runaway... I pushed myself to sit.

"Okay, let's get this done." I said and whispered to myself.

The first thing they did was my hair.

One woman gently brushed through it while another prepared different makeup products on the table in front of me.

I watched them through the mirror.

They moved quickly, but carefully, as if they had done this a hundred times before.

"How does she usually wear her hair?" one of them asked.

"Soft waves," Czarina answered.

I glanced at her through the mirror.

"You even know that?"

She smiled.

"I've known you for years."

I rolled my eyes.

"Apparently not well enough to know I'd say no to this."

She laughed softly.

"Fair."

The woman behind me started curling my hair.

I sat there quietly, watching my reflection slowly change.

My hair fell differently around my face. My skin was covered with makeup I would never normally wear. A little foundation. Some blush. Eyeshadow. Mascara.

Nothing too dramatic. Yet with every small change... I looked less like myself.

"Is this really necessary?" I asked.

Czarina leaned against the vanity.

"You have to look like me."

"I thought the mask was supposed to hide my face."

"It will."

"Then why all this?"

"Because people don't just recognize faces."

She paused.

"They recognize the way someone carries themselves."

I frowned.

"What does that even mean?"

"You'll understand."

I wasn't convinced.

The makeup artist stepped back.

"Almost done."

I looked at myself again.

At first, I barely recognized the woman staring back at me. Then Czarina noticed my expression.

"See?"

I turned toward her, "What?"

She smiled, "Nothing."

"That's not an answer."

She walked closer and stood beside me.

Our reflections appeared next to each other in the mirror.

I stared. Then looked at her. Then back at our reflections.

My stomach dropped.

We really did look alike.

Not identical. But close enough.

Same height. Similar facial features. Similar eyes.

With the same hairstyle and makeup... It was almost unsettling.

"That's why no one will question it," she whispered.

I swallowed.

"I hate that this works."

She smiled sadly. "I know."

The stylists continued preparing me. Someone brought out the dress.

It was covered in black protective fabric, but even from where I sat, I could see the faint shimmer of the material beneath it.

I immediately shook my head.

"No."

Czarina laughed.

"You haven't even seen it."

"I already know it's expensive."

"That's not the point."

"It is to me."

She pulled the garment bag open.

The dress was elegant.

Black silk flowed down from the fitted bodice, with subtle details that caught the light whenever the fabric moved. It wasn't overly decorated. But it speaks elegance and attention.

It looked exactly like something Czarina would wear.

I stared at it.

"I can't wear that."

"You can."

"I work in a café."

"And tonight you're attending a Schuet-Luciano event."

I gave her a look.

"Please don't remind me."

She laughed.

For a few seconds, everything felt normal again.

Just two best friends—us... teasing each other. Then I remembered why I was here.

The laughter disappeared.

I stood slowly.

The dress was placed in my hands.

It felt heavier than it looked. Not because of the fabric but because of what it represented.

I disappeared behind the changing screen and changed as quickly as I could.

When I stepped out, everyone became quiet.

I immediately felt uncomfortable.

"What?"

No one answered.

I looked toward Czarina. She was already staring at me.

"What?"

She smiled.

"You look beautiful."

I looked away.

"Don't."

"I'm serious."

"I don't want to hear it."

She walked toward me and adjusted one loose strand of my hair.

"For tonight..." She looked at me through the mirror. "You're me."

Those words sent an uncomfortable chill through me. I looked at my reflection again.

For the first time, I understood how dangerous this could become. If I could fool myself... Maybe I could fool everyone else too.

Czarina picked up the masquerade mask from the table. It was black with delicate gold details around the edges.

She placed it carefully in my hands.

"This stays on until you leave."

I nodded.

"And don't talk too much."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Excuse me?"

"You have to be careful."

She smiled apologetically.

"You know how I talk. You know how I move. Just...be yourself, but not too much."

I laughed quietly.

"That's probably the strangest advice anyone has ever given me."

"I know."

She squeezed my hand.

"And Jade..."

I looked at her.

"Thank you."

I didn't answer.

I only looked at her reflection beside mine.

Tonight, I wasn't Jade Summer.

I am Czarina Schuet, the heiress of Schuet Family.