Married to the wrong sister

Untitled Episode4

Claire’s POV

I hugged my knees tightly and whispered into the dark room.

“What have I done?”

The words felt heavy. They hung in the air and pressed down on my chest. I sat on the floor with my back against the door for a long time. My dress was wrinkled. My hair had come loose. I did not care.

Everything was moving too fast.

Collins knew the truth. He remembered the real me from months ago. The quiet conversation we had at the conference. The way we talked about real things instead of small talk. And now he was looking at me like he wanted to protect me.

Martin was starting to notice things too. The way he watched me. The way he touched my back at the gala. The way he said my sister’s name like he was testing it.

I was stuck between two men. One who thought I was someone else. One who knew exactly who I was.

I finally stood up. My legs felt weak. I changed into comfortable clothes and climbed into the big bed. The sheets were soft and expensive, but they felt cold. I stared at the ceiling and tried to sleep.

Sleep did not come easily.

When I finally drifted off, I dreamed of Audrey. She was laughing at a party while I stood in the corner holding papers. Then the dream changed. Martin was standing over me, asking who I really was. His eyes were cold. Collins was there too, reaching out his hand, but I could not reach him.

I woke up sweating.

The clock said it was only five in the morning. I gave up on sleep and went to the kitchen. The penthouse was silent. I made myself a cup of coffee and sat by the big windows. The city was still waking up below. Lights were turning on one by one.

I thought about my family. Mom’s tired voice on the phone. Dad sitting quietly in his chair. The business that was barely staying alive because of me.

I had done this for them.

But now I was losing myself.

Soft footsteps sounded behind me. I turned around.

Martin stood there in gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt. His hair was slightly messy from sleep. He looked different like this. Less like the powerful businessman and more like a real person.

“You’re up early,” he said.

“I couldn’t sleep,” I replied.

He walked over and poured himself a cup of coffee. He leaned against the counter and looked at me.

“You seem troubled,” he said.

I gripped my mug tighter. “It’s a big change. That’s all.”

Martin took a sip. His eyes stayed on my face. “You are different from what I expected, Audrey.”

There it was again. My sister’s name. It felt like a knife every time.

I looked down at my coffee. “People are more than what you see at parties.”

He was quiet for a moment.

“True,” he said finally. “I’m starting to see that.”

The way he said it made my stomach flutter. Not in a good way. It felt dangerous. Like he was peeling back layers he was not supposed to see.

We drank our coffee in silence. The sun was rising now. Golden light filled the room. It should have felt beautiful, but it only made me feel more trapped.

Later that morning, Martin left for the office. I stayed in the penthouse again. I tried to work on some designs for the family business, but my mind kept wandering. Every few minutes I checked my phone, hoping for a message from Audrey.

Nothing.

Around noon, my phone rang. It was Collins.

I answered quickly.

“Claire,” he said softly. “Are you alone?”

“Yes,” I whispered. I walked to my bedroom and closed the door.

“I’ve been thinking about you,” he said. “About what you’re going through. You don’t have to do this alone.”

His voice was warm. Kind. It made my eyes sting with tears.

“I don’t know what to do,” I admitted. “I’m scared all the time. Martin is starting to notice things. And I miss my real life.”

Collins was quiet for a moment.

“I can help you,” he said. “If you want to get out of this, I can find a way. Quietly. No one has to know.”

His offer felt like a lifeline. But it also felt dangerous. If Martin found out, everything would explode.

“I need time to think,” I said.

“Take all the time you need,” Collins replied. “But remember, you deserve better than this. You deserve to be seen as yourself.”

I ended the call and sat on the bed. My heart was racing. Collins made everything feel possible. Like I could still have a normal life. Like someone actually saw the real Claire.

But Martin…

I thought about the way he looked at me this morning. The way he said I was different. The way his hand felt on my back last night.

I was confused. And scared. And something else I did not want to name.

The rest of the day passed slowly. I tried to keep busy. I organized some files for the family business. I answered emails. I tried to act normal.

When evening came, Martin returned home.

He found me in the living room, looking out at the city.

“Dinner is ready,” he said.

We ate together again. This time the silence felt different. He kept looking at me. Not in the cold way from before. There was something else in his eyes now. Curiosity. Maybe even interest.

After dinner, he surprised me.

“Come with me,” he said.

He led me to a room I had not seen before. It was a beautiful home office with large windows and shelves full of books and design samples.

“I heard you have a good eye for design,” he said. “Show me what you would change in this space.”

I was shocked. He was asking for my opinion. The real me.

I walked around the room slowly. I pointed out better lighting ideas. A different arrangement for the desk. Colors that would make the space feel warmer.

Martin listened carefully. He did not interrupt. When I finished, he nodded.

“You have talent,” he said. “Real talent.”

My cheeks felt warm. No one had ever said that to me before. Not like this.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He stepped closer. We were standing very near each other. I could smell his cologne again. Clean and expensive.

“Audrey,” he said softly.

I looked up at him. My real name almost slipped out. I caught it just in time.

His hand came up and gently touched my cheek. His thumb brushed my skin.

“You are full of surprises,” he said again.

My heart was beating so fast I was sure he could hear it. For a moment, I forgot I was pretending. I forgot about the lie. I forgot about Collins.

It was just me and him in that quiet room.

Then his phone rang.

Martin stepped back quickly. He answered the call. His face changed back to the cold businessman.

“I have to take this,” he said.

He walked out of the room.

I stood there alone. My cheek still felt warm where he had touched it. My legs felt shaky.

What was happening to me?

I went back to my bedroom and closed the door. I leaned against it and tried to calm my breathing.

This was dangerous.

I could not start feeling anything for Martin. He was cold. Controlling. He thought I was my sister.

But the way he looked at me tonight…

I shook my head. I needed to focus. I needed to find Audrey. I needed to survive this year and get out.

My phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number.

It was from Audrey.

“I’m safe. I’m sorry. I’ll explain everything soon. Please don’t hate me.”

I stared at the message. Tears filled my eyes.

My sister was alive. She was okay.

But she still had no idea what she had done to me.

I typed a reply with shaking fingers.

“Come home. We need to talk.”

I sent it.

Then I turned off my phone and lay down on the bed.

My mind was spinning. Martin’s touch. Collins’s offer. Audrey’s message.

Everything was getting more complicated.

And in the middle of all of it, I heard footsteps outside my door again.

Martin.

He stopped right outside.

I held my breath.

The handle turned slowly.