The Billionaire Married the Wrong Twin

Chapter 2: The Wrong Bride

The church fell into complete silence.

Lillian's heart stopped.

She slowly raised her head to look at Damien.

His dark eyes remained fixed on her face.

Cold.

Sharp.

Certain.

The priest looked confused.

"Mr. Ashford... what do you mean?"

Damien didn't answer him.

He took one step closer to Lillian.

His voice was calm, but every word sent a chill through the room.

"You aren't Sophia."

Gasps spread through the guests.

"What is he talking about?"

"Isn't that the bride?"

"They're twins..."

Lillian's hands trembled beneath the bouquet.

She couldn't panic.

Not now.

Not while Sophia's life depended on her.

She forced a smile.

"Damien... what are you saying?"

"You've mistaken me for someone else."

Damien studied her quietly.

Then he reached toward her face.

Lillian's breath caught.

His fingers gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"You've always tucked your hair behind your left ear whenever you're nervous."

He looked into her eyes.

"But Sophia doesn't."

Lillian froze.

How could he notice something so small?

The guests began whispering louder.

Evelyn Ashford immediately stood.

"Damien!"

He didn't look away from Lillian.

"You also wear a jasmine perfume."

His voice remained steady.

"Sophia hates jasmine."

Lillian felt her knees weaken.

She had forgotten to change her perfume.

She wanted to explain.

She wanted to tell him everything.

But she remembered the picture on her phone.

The knife pressed against Sophia's neck.

She couldn't risk it.

"I..."

Before she could speak, Evelyn walked forward.

"Damien."

Her voice was firm.

"The bride is under enormous stress today."

She smiled at the guests.

"I'm sure everyone understands."

Some guests nodded.

Others still looked suspicious.

Damien glanced at his grandmother.

"You knew."

Evelyn's expression didn't change.

"I know this wedding must continue."

His eyes narrowed.

"That's not what I asked."

For a brief second...

Neither of them spoke.

The tension between grandson and grandmother became impossible to ignore.

Finally, Evelyn lowered her voice.

"We'll discuss this after the ceremony."

Damien looked back at Lillian.

"You have one chance."

"Tell me the truth."

Lillian felt tears gathering in her eyes.

She wanted to tell him.

More than anything.

But if she did...

Sophia could die.

"I'm Sophia."

The lie hurt more than she expected.

Damien stared at her for several long seconds.

Then...

He stepped back.

"Fine."

The priest cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Shall... shall we continue?"

Damien didn't answer.

Instead, he simply held out his hand.

Lillian hesitated.

Then slowly placed hers in his.

His grip was warm.

Strong.

Protective.

Yet somehow...

It also felt like a warning.

---

An hour later...

The wedding reception was in full swing.

Crystal chandeliers sparkled above hundreds of guests.

Reporters waited outside the ballroom.

Business leaders, celebrities, and politicians filled the hall.

Lillian had never seen so much luxury in one place.

She felt completely out of place.

Every smile she gave felt forced.

Every congratulation reminded her that she was living someone else's life.

Her phone vibrated beneath the table.

Unknown Number.

She secretly opened the message.

A new photo appeared.

Sophia was still alive.

This time, she looked exhausted.

Another message followed.

Smile.

Everyone is watching.

Lillian immediately forced a smile as another photographer pointed a camera toward her.

Flash.

Flash.

Flash.

She wanted to cry.

Instead...

She smiled wider.

---

Across the ballroom...

Damien watched her carefully.

Marcus approached him.

"You were right."

Damien didn't take his eyes off Lillian.

"About what?"

"I checked the security footage."

Marcus lowered his voice.

"The woman who entered the bridal suite wasn't the same woman who came out."

Damien remained silent.

"So she really is the twin."

"Yes."

Marcus frowned.

"Should we stop this?"

"No."

Marcus looked surprised.

"No?"

Damien picked up a glass of champagne but didn't drink it.

"Whoever forced her into this..."

"...is still watching."

Marcus immediately understood.

"If we expose her now..."

"We'll lose whoever's behind this."

Damien nodded.

"And possibly get Sophia killed."

---

Late that night...

The reception finally ended.

The newlyweds arrived at Ashford Manor.

The mansion was breathtaking.

Its iron gates opened automatically.

The long driveway was lined with fountains and perfectly trimmed gardens.

Lillian had never imagined a place like this.

A line of servants bowed as they entered.

"Welcome home, Mr. and Mrs. Ashford."

Those words made her chest tighten.

Mrs. Ashford.

She wasn't supposed to be here.

A housekeeper led them upstairs.

"This is your bedroom."

Lillian stopped walking.

"Our... bedroom?"

The woman smiled politely.

"Of course."

Before Lillian could respond, the servants quietly left.

The bedroom door closed.

Silence.

She and Damien were finally alone.

Damien slowly removed his suit jacket.

Without looking at her, he spoke.

"You can stop pretending."

Lillian's heart raced.

He turned around.

His expression was unreadable.

"I know exactly who you are."

He walked toward her until only a few inches separated them.

Then he asked the question she had been dreading all day.

"Where is your sister?"

Lillian's eyes filled with tears.

"I..."

She couldn't answer.

At that exact moment...

A loud crash shattered the bedroom window.

Glass exploded across the floor.

A black arrow flew into the room...

And landed between them.

Tied to it...

Was a single photograph.

Damien picked it up.

His face instantly turned cold.

It showed Sophia.

Still alive.

But this time...

A digital countdown was displayed beside her.

71:59:58

Seventy-two hours.