THE SUBSTITUTE BRIDE: HE MARRIED THE WRONG SISTER

ALINA POV “I will not marry someone I don’t love!” I shot to my feet, my voice rising before I would know it. This couldn’t be happening. I had plans for my life, real ones, and none of them involved being handed over to a brute like Nikolai. “Alina!” My father slammed his fist against the desk. I flinched at the sharp sound, but forced myself to stay upright. My eyes moved to my mother, searching her face for something, anything that might make her step in. “Mom, please,” I said, my voice unsteady. “Talk to him. I can’t marry Nikolai. He doesn’t love me, and …” Pain spread across my cheek as I lost my balance and fell to the floor. A ringing buzz filled my ears and I pressed a trembling hand against my face as tears blurred my vision. My mother stood over me, her expression cold and unyielding. “You dare complain?” she snapped. “If we don't act fast, we will lose everything. The house, our status, the cars… everything we worked for will be gone.” Dad sighed deeply. “Aria is still in college. She still has her whole life ahead of her, her studies, her goals, her future plans. There is a lot she still needs to achieve. We cannot force her into early marriage and cut her life short like that.” Mom looked at Aria then me. “It's the only solution, Alina. The both of you are twins, they won't know the difference.” “Twins?” I asked, my voice growing louder. “But we are not the same person! Nikolai agreed to marry Aria, not me. What if he finds out? What happens when he realizes we lied to him?” Dad leaned forward. “He won't find out. You both have the same face, but just a slight difference. All you need to do is dress properly, do your hair and make up like Aria’s, and no one will notice any difference as long as you keep quiet and play the role, everything will be fine.” “Play the role?” I laughed bitterly. “So I'm supposed to pretend to be my sister? Smile like her, talk like her, act like her, while killing every part of who I am?” Aria looked away, biting her lower lip. “Everything is always about Aria!!!” I shouted, my voice cracking with raw emotion. “Aria's college, Aria's goals, Aria's youth, Aria's future!!! What about me? I have my own life too! I have dreams. I want to build something for myself. I'm young too, the same age as her!!! Why do I have to cut my life short and sacrifice everything just because she doesn't want to?” Mom rolled her eyes. “Alina, lower your voice, you’re being disrespectful.” “Disrespectful?” I stepped forward, breathing hard. “I've spent years staying quiet, helping behind the scenes, accepting whatever scraps of attention you throw my way. Three years ago, after the scandal, you all started treating me like I was an outcast. Now, when the company's in trouble, I suddenly become useful? You want to throw me to a man I know nothing about, while protecting Aria's little perfect world. What kind of parents are you?” “Enough!!!!!” Dad slammed his palm on the table making me flinch. “Shut up, Alina.” But I couldn't stop. The anger felt too good, too freeing after years of silence. “Why should I shut up? For once I'm saying what I feel!!! Everything in this house has always been about Aria. Her happiness, her comfort, her future. I'm your daughter too, her twin sister! I have goals. I have a life I want to live. I don't want to be married to an unknown man, especially not the one who was supposed to marry my sister. It's not fair!!!!” Dad stood up slowly. “Fair?” You want to talk about fairness after the scandal you brought upon this family? We protected you. We kept the news quiet. And now, when we need you to do one thing for this family, you start throwing tantrums.” Mom joined in. “Aria is so soft and she won't be able to cope. You are stronger. You can endure this marriage. Stop being so dramatic and think about all of us for once. If the company collapses, we will all suffer, including you.” I stared at her for a while, then Aria, before shifting my gaze back to her. “So her life is precious, but mine isn't? I should just throw mine away to protect hers?” Dad's patience snapped completely. “Shut up, Alina! The decision is made. You will marry Nikolai in three days. The arrangements have already started. If you refuse…” he paused, taking a deep look at me. “You can't even refuse, you don't have a choice.” The finality in his voice crushed the last of my resistance. Hot tears flowed freely from my eyes down to my cheeks. My chest heaved with fury and helplessness. Everything was always about protecting Aria. My dreams, my goals, my youth… they didn't matter. My legs were shaking as I cried. In three days, I would be married to a man I don't know. And no one in my family cared how much it would destroy me. Why are you doing this to me?” I asked, my voice cracking. “I have done everything you’ve ever asked. I have spent years being the daughter you wanted. You’ve stripped away my voice, my choices, and now…” I breathed heavily. “What have I done to make you hate me this much?” “Alina!!!” Mom warned. “No!!!” I cried, with tears blurring my vision. “I am a person! I have a heart that beats, and it is breaking right in front of you! Does that mean nothing? Does the fact that I will wake up every morning for the rest of my life in a bed with a stranger, crying myself to sleep mean nothing to you?” I looked at dad, pleading with my eyes. “Dad, please. I’m your daughter. Please, don’t do this.” “We don't have any other option, Alina. Prepare yourself for the wedding.”