[Celine's POV]
It was 10 p.m. on Friday night, and I stood in my room preparing for bed when my door swung open.
"Celine, you have to take your sister's place tomorrow," my father, Mr. Morris Mason, said as he rushed into my room with my mother.
"Dad, I don't understand. Why do I have to take Clara's place tomorrow? Where is she?" I asked. Clara had gone to her bridal shower, so how could she flee on the eve of her wedding?
"Something came up, according to Clara, and she had to take care of it," my father replied, and I sighed. I hadn't attended my twin sister Clara Mason's extravagant bridal shower.
Clara and I are identical twin sisters, both 25 years old. Many of Clara's friends claimed I was jealous because she was getting married before me, but that wasn't true.
I'm in a relationship with Martin Enzo, a construction worker, but Martin wasn't the type of groom my father wanted, so he rejected him.
Everyone adored my twin sister. She was the apple of everyone's eye, even our older brother Luca's. I was the opposite.
I own a bakery in this part of the city. Last month, I pleaded with my parents to let me marry Martin, but my father flatly refused and said only a wealthy man could marry me.
Despite my pleas, he turned Martin and his uncles away when they came to ask for my hand. Because of that, I refused to attend Clara's engagement party or bridal shower. Now she had disappeared and wanted me to take her place on her wedding day.
"How can Clara just disappear without explaining to her manager that she's marrying a wealthy man—the groom you all wanted?" I asked my father, who stood in my doorway with my mother.
My father had a dark complexion, while my mother was fair like me and Clara. We were her exact replicas.
"Celine, I know this is hard to believe, but Clara said she worked too hard to be selected for the Stars Award and can't miss the modeling shoot. Please, you're her twin sister, and Jace Augustus will never find out," my mother begged, and I stared at her in horror.
"Mom, I can't do it. You and Dad need to order Clara to come back right now. Where's my phone?" I stepped back to my bed, picked up my phone, and called my sister.
She owed me an explanation for this sudden disappearance.
How could she expect me to stand in for her on her wedding day? Was she crazy?
I had stood in for Clara before, and many people couldn't tell I wasn't her. Her fans even visited my shop to take photos of me and tag me as Clara. But I am not my sister. Dammit.
"Clara!" My angry voice boomed over the phone as soon as she answered.
"Hey, Celine. I'm sorry it took me so long to call. Can you please stand in for me tomorrow? Please, please, sister," Clara begged in that sweet, seductive voice that always rendered me speechless.
I was ready to do anything for this crazy sister of mine just to make her happy and help her achieve her dream of becoming a top model.
"Clara, I don't think I can do this. How do you expect me to stand in for you? During the wedding, the priest will ask us to exchange vows and kiss. How can you trade your wedding day for business?" I couldn't understand her.
"Celine, I wish I could explain, but my phone battery is about to die. Please. After this, I won't ask you to stand in for me again. Please, please," Clara begged once more, leaving me speechless.
"Are you saying I should kiss your groom? What if he finds out I'm not you? You know I'm not as talkative as you, and I'm not close to him. Did you tell him I'm not you?" I asked, wanting clarity. I knew Jace and I weren't close.
I knew he was my sister's fiancé. He showed her off to his friends and other politicians, and my sister was popular, with over 10 million followers online.
"No, Celine. Please, don't tell Jace I'm not you. You have to act like me and pretend you're me. You know how I behave, so mimic me perfectly," Clara said, and I sighed heavily.
"This is too risky. What if Jace finds out and locks me up? What do I tell him? You have to explain this to him so we don't kiss. I don't like your fiancé, and I can't stand in for you. I'm sorry." I was about to end the call when she begged, "Please, Celine. I'm begging you. If you don't help me, then we are no longer sisters."
"Clara!" I was tongue-tied. This was her usual threat.
"I don't think I can do this," I said.
"Then don't call me again," she threatened, already sobbing, and the call ended.
I looked at my parents' worried faces, especially my father's, which was filled with dread.
"Celine, you have to stand in for Clara. If the Augustus family finds out your sister is missing, we're doomed," my father begged, even kneeling.
I guessed this was the price I paid for being born a twin. My sister used me for her schemes and sent me to cover for her by threatening to disown me. Now it was her wedding.
"Fine. I'll try, but I hope Jace Augustus doesn't find out. If he does, I won't go down alone," I warned, and my parents shivered.
"No one will know. You'll smile and act like Clara until she returns. Besides, this isn't your first time taking her place," my mother said, making me sigh heavily.
"Fine, Mom. I'll give it a try. You two should excuse me. Let me get some sleep. It's past midnight," I told them, and they smiled and wished me goodnight before leaving.
I shut the door and muttered, "I hope I can do this." Then I went to bed, but dread filled my heart.
