Double Trouble - Romance with the Twins

Juliette Leclaire's POV

"Miss, would you like a glass of champagne?" The waiter asked with a tray of champagne in his hand.

"Yes, please." I slurred without hesitation even though I had already lost count on the number of glasses I took.

I held my breath and sent the whole glass of champagne washing down my throat within a split second. Alcohol is probably the only remedy to numb my pain and wash my sorrow away for now.

Forget him, forget him!

I recited this line countless times in my mind but it was to no avail when I caught a glimpse of him. I simply lost all reins of control within me purely by the sight of his 6.8ft tall figure. The temptation was even harder to fight as I watched his masculine back bathed in the glow of the stained glass window.

I know it's so wrong, but it's now or never...

I breathed in hard and mustered every single ounce of courage within me as I staggered my way up to him, my one and only crush since young, my soon to be brother-in-law, Romeo Morgan.I steadied my stance behind him and threw him a verbal diarrhoea confession of mine as I squinted my eyes shut nervously, "Romeo... I know... I know it's not right for me to say this at your wedding, but... I can't deny that I have always been madly in love with you."

I never wanted to be a drama queen but the overwhelming wave of emotions within me caused my voice to quiver as I spewed out my deepest kept secret to him, "I thought it would be okay to watch you marry my sister, I thought I would get over with you... but... god, I never knew it would hurt me so much... I love you, Romeo."

He lowered the glass of champagne in his hand and a deafening silence ensued between us. I held my head low nervously, my face warmed rapidly as I anticipated a forthcoming wave of embarrassment to slap upon me.

Shit! What have I done?!

"I...I'm sorry, it...it must have been the alcohol," I tried to explain, looking like a complete fluster mess I bet.

Without hesitation, I was ready to jet pack my way out of his sight, out of this embarrassing situation that I had dug for myself. I turned my back swiftly but I was halted from leaving when I felt his manly grip around my arm and a sudden tug spun me around, thrusting myself against the slab of his solid chest.

"Ro...Romeo?" I uttered out of confusion, but before I could even lift my head against his tall towering statue to figure out what was happening, his lips were sealed against mine forcefully!Oh gosh! What's happening?! Wait... is this really happening?!

I shut my eyes in disbelief at the unfamiliar feel pressed against my lips. It started with a warm fuzzy feeling stirring within me and then turning sensual as he kissed me with such fervour. Overwhelmed, my legs went feeble, my heart thumped erratically as though I was drugged by his kiss...

Is this how a kiss should feel like?

Then when our lips parted, an unfamiliar deep velvety voice shook me up from basking in my short-lived surreal bliss, "How are you enjoying this kiss, Miss Juliette Leclaire?"I opened my eyes instantly and blinked hard, only to gasp in disbelief at the man with a smirky grin who was staring back into my widened eyes. He had his warm blonde hair combed back in dapper style, revealing his strong chiselled jawline, he shared such strong resemblance to Romeo, but yet something feels so off about him.

On a closer look, he was nothing like Romeo! Romeo is always seen sporting a cleanly shaven look while his jawline was littered with unshaven stubbles in a fashionably rugged way. Romeo has a pair of sparkling soft Irish blue eyes that were crisp clear, but his were a pair of smouldering hazel eyes, elusively enigmatic in its own ways. He is undeniably devilishly handsome but he is not Romeo, he is someone whom I hate to admit at this point of realisation... Rogan Morgan?!

I can't believe I just freaking shared my first kiss with Romeo's evil twin brother?! Yucks! I almost have forgotten about his existence, after all, I have yet to see him for a long time ever since he left the Morgan Enterprise five years ago.

"What the hell Rogan, what was that for?!" I broke myself away from his arms immediately and wiped my lips ferociously with utmost disgust.

"Woah... what's with the disgusted look. I couldn't be that bad in kissing right?" He raised his brow and asked in a light-hearted manner, as though everything that happened was just a joke.How dare he robbed my first kiss, my precious first kiss just like this?!

"You...despicable...idiot!" I lashed out at him and raised my hand instinctively, wanting to slap the shit out of him. However, I was denied as he grabbed my hand in time and snickered sarcastically, "Me? Despicable? Who's then the one who is trying to snitch on her sister's fiancé?""You!" I shivered in wrath and gritted my teeth in embarrassment.

He was right, I brought this upon myself.

He released my hand and walked away with a victorious smirk. I had the strong urge to kick that cockiness out his nuts, but I cannot let him spill out my secret to anyone, especially Romeo and my fraternal twin sister, Julius.

"Wait!" I ran up to him. He stopped and turned around. I swallowed my pride and pleaded, "Please don't tell anyone about what happened."

"Pardon me, what did you just say?" He leaned his head forward to me and placed his hand next to his ear signalling me to be louder.

What a complete a**hole!

I have never been this humiliated before, but I had no other choice, except to bite the bullet. "Look, I know I'm in the wrong, but for the better good of everyone, please... please don't tell on me," My voice trembled.

"Alright, I won't tell anyone about the lovely kiss that we just shared," He leaned forward and whispered by my ears teasingly. I felt my temples warmed by a flush of heat from a mix of embarrassment and anger.

"You know what I mean, DON'T...PUSH...YOUR...LUCK...WITH...ME, ROGAN MORGAN!!" I stepped forward and stressed my last warning to him.

"Woah... Someone's getting feisty... Alright, I won't," He surrendered with his hands up but he was still giving me that playful wink before he turned away from me and disappeared into the crowd.

I stomped my feet in frustration from defeat and gave myself a face palm.It wasn't just because of what Rogan did that made me felt this way, it was the realisation of the sin that I've committed from lusting after my sister's fiancé, I'm utterly ashamed of myself now."Romeo!" I heard the same annoying voice echoed from a distance.I shot my head up instantly and darted my vision eagerly around the ballroom for the sight of them. Within a few seconds of speed scanning, I managed to narrow my sight on Rogan speaking to Romeo.

Just as I was desperately trying to work my way through the crowd to them, Rogan looked at me briefly from a distance with a sheepish grin as he continued to speak to Romeo. That sinister smile on his face was as though the devil was at play with me.Damn it, Rogan, you better not spill the beans!

Rogan Morgan's POV

What an interesting woman she grew up to be.

I snickered at the thought of the kiss we just shared. Caught up in my thoughts, I bumped into a man who crossed in my path.

"Sorry pal," I apologised and patted against his arm. Upon a closer look, I realised he was Romeo, my fraternal twin brother.

"Romeo?" Surprised by the sight of my brother whom I have not met for five years, I broke into a wide smile.

"Rogan?" He looked at me with his widened eyes of surprise.

"Yea, my lil brother, I'm back. Woah, my man, you sure have grown up a lot over these few years, looking real sharp today," I gave him a hearty compliment and a welcoming gesture at my brother who looked smart and polished in his tuxedo suit.

No wonder that Juliette goes gaga over him.

"It's nice to see you again after so long, I sure didn't expect to see you here, especially after you went off the radar for the past three years," he replied with a crack of smile but he seemed somewhat troubled and flustered.

I raised my brows questionably at his behaviour, my twin telepathy instinct tells me something feels off about him.

"Well, as your elder brother, I gotta be here for your big day at least. You alright?" I asked with much concern.

"Yea, thanks for showing up, I'm fine," He fidgeted a little and swallowed a lump down his throat before he looked back at me with a smile.

I looked at him cheekily and teased him in my fake rowdy southern accent, "I know... I know... I'm guessing the jittery vibes from getting married and losing your bachelor rights is starting to bite you in the ass? I can totally understand that, I mean look at the flamboyance of this wedding ceremony... a wedding at Thornbury Castle?! I'm proud of you but arranged marriage can be kind of crazy when it gets so regal like this."

"Ya...maybe," He gave me a perfunctory nod before he continued, "You know what, let's catch up some time later, I really need to go now," he wiped his sweat off his forehead and was ready to flee off in no time.

"Alrighty," I replied. Then amidst the crowd, I saw Juliette frantically trying to push her way through towards us. That look of panic warped across her face amuses me, so before Romeo set off, I pulled him back just so I could see her going nuts.

"Hold up a second," I said to Romeo who was leaving from my sight already."Yea?" Romeo asked.

"Your bow tie, you gotta look at least smart and neat to meet your bride-to-be right?" I adjusted his bow tie as I said it. Not forgetting to send that look of mockery over to Juliette.

"Thanks, Rogan," Romeo said. I raised a "no worries, I got your back" okay gesture at him before he sped off from my sight in his wide strides.

Juliette Leclaire's POV

Beaten up by what just happened, I made my way back to the bridal's suite with a heavy heart to fulfil my duty as Julius's bridesmaid.

I felt guilty and ashamed for even having the slightest thought of snitching up on her husband-to-be.

This is definitely not right, definitely not my style, and definitely not what I expected myself to be.

I took in a deep breath to reconsolidate my thoughts and finally convinced myself to resign to fate.

I walked towards Julius who sat in front of the vanity table quietly in her shimmery splash of a white bridal gown.

Even though we are both amber blondes, but the way her hair plunged over her shoulder just makes her looks way more gorgeous than I could ever be. Her glossy skin, her delicately sculpted features and her pair of constellation-green eyes, it's no wonder why Romeo's parents chose Julius over me. She had a bouncy personality while I was just studious, I had nothing to offer about myself.

However, despite all these perfections, she looked somewhat lost and troubled, it's definitely a stark contrast from when I have last seen her in high spirits about an hour ago.

Oh no... Did Rogan really spill the beans to her?

"Julius, are you okay?" I placed my hand on her shoulder.

"Yea...? Ya, I'm fine, just feeling jittery," She replied but her eyes seemed watery.

"You don't have to worry, Romeo is great man, you're going to be in good hands," I reassured her. Even though I can't have Romeo to myself, I will be equally happy for Julius, because I know Romeo would be a wonderful husband to her.

"I'm sorry..." Julius dropped her head and muttered.

"Silly, what are you sorry for? There's nothing you need to be sorry for at this moment."

She sniffed and then she wiped the rolling tears that were threatening to ruin her make up. She recomposed herself and asked, "Juliette, could you help me get my bridal veil from the other room down the hallway?"

"Alright, sure, I will get it done now," I replied and left the room almost immediately.

"There you are," I picked up the veil and made my way out of the room. Then I heard a wave of commotion going on just right outside of Julius's bridal suite.

"Where is she?!" My father questioned the servants who were outside the room in his thunderous voice.

"Sir, I'm afraid we do not know..." One of the servants timidly replied to my father in her cowardly stance.

"Just calm down first, I don't think she would be far from here," My mother pacified my father."Sir, she left her mobile phone in the drawer," one of the security personnel handed Julius's mobile phone to my father.

"What's happening?" I hurried over to the site of commotion and asked my parents.I looked into the bridal suite, the windows to the balcony were left wide opened, the bridal gown that she donned on just a moment ago was left ditched on the carpeted floor. There was no sight of Julius at all.

My mother passed a note to me as she sighed.

It was a hand-written note by Julius:

Dear Dad, Mom and Juliette,

I'm sorry that I couldn't walk down the aisle and marry Romeo. I just can't do it. Please forgive me.

Love,

Julius

I gasped at the content of the note, my heart lurched and my mind went blank for a moment. A cold shiver travelled down my spine as I wondered if I am the cause of this. Then a stream of questions raced through my mind.

Why? Why did she run away? Did Rogan tell her everything?

Where is she now?

Where could she have gone to?

What are we going to do now?

"Get me all the security personnel we have here and find her now!" My father yanked at his personal assistant, Mr Davis Franco.

"Wait, we need to be discreet about this search, don't get the groom's side alarmed." My mother further instructed Davis.

"Yes, sir!" Davis scurried off to get the job done.

However, after holding back the wedding for another thirty minutes, we still could not locate Julius at all. The real panic began to set in.

My father paced back and forth in the room with much frustration and worry written all over his face.

"Damn it, how could she be so childish to run away like this?!" My father cursed.

"Calm down, honey," My mother tried to keep a cool head amidst the chaos.

"How can I afford to calm down? Don't you know how important this arranged marriage is?! This was supposed to be a mutually beneficial marriage between our company and the Morgan Enterprise, there's a lot at stake if we lose this marriage, we can basically forgo all prospective collaboration projects under our belt with them. The media are all here to do a coverage on this wedding, we can't just call it off and go unnoticed. Our stocks are going to crash! Now that our daughter is the one that did them wrong, the Morgan Enterprise will definitely be coming after us!" My father went into full-blown panic as he rambled on.

I began to think. Maybe Julius did the right thing by not succumbing to the fate of being manipulated like a piece of chess in this arranged marriage. I admire her courage to stand up for herself because I don't think I will ever be able to. I'm pale in contrast to her, in almost every single way.

However... I didn't understand why she would even give up such a fine man like Romeo. I would die to be in her shoes, to have the chance to spend the rest of my life with Romeo, yet she has chosen to give up on this marriage.

"Sir, we really can't hold off the wedding further, the guests and the media are getting impatient, what should we do now?" Davis broke into the room, panting and sweating away.

My father slapped his head and cursed, "Darn, I guess we will just have to call off the wedding.""Wait!" My mother shouted as she jumped out of her seat and rushed towards with me, it was as though a bolt of enlightenment lit up her face.

"What now?" My father asked impatiently.

"Juliette, would you do this for us?" My mother picked up my hands and held them tight as she looked at me with a pair of hopeful eyes.

"Do what?" My father continued to ask impatiently.

"Would you please stand in for Julius and marry Romeo," My mother pleaded to me with her pair of eyes so full of hope.

"What?! What are you talking about? This is crazy, Julius is supposed to be Romeo's bride, it's unfair to Romeo, we can't just rush into this, that's not right!" I rebutted.

I know I have been wishing hard for the day of me walking down the aisle towards Romeo, but this isn't how I would imagine myself donning the bridal gown. Romeo might be even heartbroken to force himself to marry me and I would never want to be the person that hurts him.

"No, your mother is right! Thank god we only told the media that one of Morgan's heir and Leclaire's heiress are getting married to each other, so nobody would question even if you turned out to be the bride. Baby, you're our only chance!" My father jumped over to join the pleading with my mother.

Gosh... I don't even know if this is a blessing in disguise. Even if it is, it's too surreal and it's never how I would envision my white veil occasion to be.

As Julius's elder sister, I should never bring myself to take advantage of the situation behind Julius's back and marry Romeo.

I still don't know why Julius left and I can't assume that Julius has definitely ditched this marriage for good.

What if they just had a tiff and there was just some misunderstanding left uncleared between them?

How should I answer her if she got her thinking sorted and comes back for Romeo one day?

"No, no, no, this is crazy!" I refused to budge.

My father sank to his knees and that definitely caught me off guard, because I've always known him as a tough man.

"Please... Juliette, I know it's going to be hard for you to understand, but we have a signed paper agreement with the Morgans, there's really a lot at stake if this marriage is called off. You mother and I might lose everything we have built for this company, please... I beg of you," My father pleaded.

My heart cringed, it was almost unbearable for me to watch him beg me this pathetically.What on earth have I made my father become?!

"Please... please get up, daddy, don't do this," I tried to get him up on his knees but he refused to budge.

Then the room was soon filled with sobs as my parents broke under the pressure with every second I hesitate.

Oh gosh... they must have been so desperate to have behaved as though they were held at gunpoint. Perhaps the consequence of calling off this wedding is really going to be a deadly blow to all of us.

"Al... Alright... I will marry Romeo," I forced myself to cough this sentence out against my will.

I swore I would never betray Julius when I crossed the line just earlier on with Rogan, and now that sinful taste of guilt is going to rub into my soul once again. But it was equally unbearable to leave my parents in lurch...

Within a short span of five minutes, I had servants dashing into the bridal room to help me get changed into Julius's bridal gown.

The next thing I know, I was standing right behind the heavy oak doors that were going to flap open to a brand new chapter of my life.

I stood next to my father nervously with my hand wrapped tightly to my father's elbow. I still find it hard to digest what happened and what was going to come. My mind was in a mad swirl of insecurities and uncertainties.

How would Romeo feel to know that his bride has been swapped? Would he be able to accept me?

As soon as the march in chime began when the doors flapped opened, the media started flashing their lights on us. I held my head low and gathered every ounce of strength within me to push myself for every step that I took.

Alright, don't panic... take in deep breaths, you can do it!

My heart was thumping even harder when I finally stood in front of Romeo. I continued to hold my head low as the solemniser said his lines but nothing seems to get registered in my head. I just couldn't find the courage to lift my head and face Romeo yet. I was hoping he doesn't flip up when he realised I was his bride instead.

"Mr Rogan Morgan, would you take Ms Juliette Leclaire as your wife?" The solemniser asked."Yes, I do," His deep voice echoed throughout the hall.

Oh my god, I can't believe he agreed to this marriage?!

"Ms Juliette Leclaire, would you take Mr Rogan Morgan as your husband?" The solemniser asked.

"Yes, I do." I uttered without even thinking.

"You may now put on the wedding ring for each other," The solemniser continued.

He held my hand up gently with his warm large hands and slipped on the sparkling wedding band onto my finger. I thought I would feel blessed, but strangely something just felt amiss. My hands trembled as I slipped the wedding band onto his finger.

So is this it? Is this really a dream come true for me?

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr Rogan Morgan, you may kiss the bride now." The solemniser announced.

Wait a minute! Rogan Morgan?! Did I heard that wrongly?!

I stopped from completing my scripted role and looked up immediately. I swept my veil off my face, only to gasp at the same face who irked the shit out of me!

Suggested Playlist: (La La La Love Song - I know this song is Japanese but I like how the opening part of the song resonates with the jaw-dropping moment when Juliette realised who her groom is.)

"Rogan?!" I yelped, still in my widened eyes of disbelief.

"Yea, honey, for better or worse," He smirked with that cocky grin once again, sending my feet feeble and my mind in a swirl as I broke into a cold sweat of panic.

Oh my god! Did I just got myself married to an asshole?! This is not happening, this is not how things should be! Where's Romeo?!

"Come on, honey, let's get this kiss done for the media," Rogan shook me up from my temporary trance.

"No! No!" I retaliated and then from the corner of my eyes, I saw my parents making a desperate plea for me to finish my scripted role.

I turned my face back at the horrifying nightmare presented before me, he leaned in with his eyes closed, waiting to plant his puckered fish lips onto mine. The crowd pressured for the kiss as they cheered.

Eeek!!! No!!!

As much as I didn't want to do so, all eyes and attention were on us, I can't let my parents down at this juncture.

Suggested playlist for this part onwards: Love Revolution by Ken Hirai (I like how this song marks the start of their bizarre marriage. lol)

I shut my eyes tight and waited helplessly for that kiss to end. It never came on my lips, a light peck ended up on my cheek.

The crowd went in a disappointed aww but still clapped hard for us.

I opened my eyes in disbelief, still trying to comprehend why he didn't reprise the villian role that he did onto me earlier on.

Then a slew of questions started throwing onto us as the media sprung up to us in a matter of seconds.

"Mr Rogan Morgan, you really caught us off guard, you were never into marriage, for a notorious playboy like yourself, what made you finally decided to settle down?"

"Over here! I've got a question for the newly-minted Mrs Morgan, when and how did you meet Mr Morgan?"

"Mr Morgan, with this marriage in place and hence an alliance between the Morgan Enterprise and Leclaire Corporation, what are your plans and outlook for the prospect of these two companies?"

A train of questions just kept slamming onto us and for once I was thoroughly dumbfounded. My ears just started ringing from the chaos, and all I could see was just Rogan steadily sweeping off the media with his brief response.

Just when I was at the brink of hyperventilation, flashlights from the media brought me back to reality and Rogan just grabbed my hands and led me out of the hall, almost scooting away as he waved goodbye to everyone.

OK, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH MY LIFE NOW?!

Juliette Leclaire's POV

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride now." The solemniser announced.

No! No! Noooo!

I threw a solid punch right into Rogan's face when his puckered lips leaned towards me.

"Ouch!" A thunderous voice followed by a loud thud shook me back to reality.

I opened my eyes and found myself in the bed of my sister's bridal suite. I was still trying to catch my breath as I wiped the cold sweat off my face.

Was this just a dream? Thank god, this was just a dream...

Just when I broke into a wide smile of relief, a man stood up from the edge of my bed. It didn't take me long to register that he was none other than Rogan.

"That sure was one hell of a sucker punch, woman!" Rogan rubbed the left side of his cheek as he picked himself up from the floor. He was still in his groom's suit, without his jacket, but he had his sleeves rolled up to his muscular forearm and his shirt was unbuttoned down to his mid chest.

Ok, he looks hot, but does this mean the nightmare was real?!

When that moment of realisation sets in, an instant wave of cold shiver swept across my whole body, and I felt sick in the stomach.

"Are you okay?" He sat down by the edge of the bed and tried to check on me but I immediately sprawled away from him, using the pillow as my only form of defence against him.

"How did this happened? Where's Romeo?!" My voice trembled as I broke into hysterical tears.

"Alright, relax, would you?" He raised both of his arms in the air as he backed off.

"Firstly, you fainted the moment we got out of the chapel. Secondly, we couldn't find Romeo before the wedding, so that's how it happened." He explained nonchalantly.

"How could you do that? That's deceiving!" I yelled back.

"Oh, so now me standing in for my brother is deceiving? But you standing in for Julius isn't?" He retaliated, giving me the ridiculous look.

Darn it... why do I always end up being shamed by him?!

"Lost for words? Or do you have something to do with Julius's disappearance?" His cold eyes pierced through me.

"Of course not! I never wanted to do this if not for... you wouldn't understand..." I hung my head low in defeat.

Being married to this asshole already made me felt pathetic, and now I still have to be maligned by him. The reality now was just too hard a pill for me to swallow.

I held my arms tightly as I tried to overcome all this madness. The touch of fabric that clothed me soon made me realised I wasn't in my bridal gown, I was in a skimpy silk robe instead.

Wait a minute... why am I not in my bridal gown? Did Rogan changed for me?!

I crossed my arms over my shoulders and yelled at Rogan, "Did you changed for me?!"

How could he touch me and look at my body without my consent!!

"Chill... One of the maids changed for you. Besides, it's not like there's anything fascinating to begin with." He explained, not forgetting to throw an insulting remark at me.

"You! Jerk!" I roared at him and threw a pillow right at him. I wish I could spit fire at him if only I could!

My aim was sharp but he dodged the pillow swiftly like it was nothing.

"Listen, my parents have agreed to look for them with their own means, so we have not alerted the police. The last thing they want is to shake the shareholders' confidence, after all, Romeo is supposedly the heir to the Morgan Enterprise. We will leave for the airport to get back to Michigan first thing tomorrow morning. So watch what you say to the media." He said while pouring himself a drink.

"Michigan? No, I'm going back to Chicago, I've no business in Michigan," I rebutted.

He walked towards me and held my chin up towards him, "Did you just forgot that you are now Mrs Morgan? Fyi, your parents have already left for Chicago, like it or not, you're officially under the care of Morgan."

I swear to god this man has a knack of making my blood boil and driving me crazy. For the sake of my sanity and blood pressure, I can't imagine living with him for a day, let alone forever!

I slapped his hand off my chin and gave an angsty death stare, "Take your filthy hand off me!"With just one slight push, he pinned me onto the bed. I was heavily locked down by this towering tall beast, I have underestimated his prowess and stupidly landed myself in this predicament.

"Don't you dare touch me!" I shouted.

"I don't think that's how you should treat your husband," He narrowed his eyes into mine."This is just a paper marriage, only a fool will take it as real!" I snapped back.

His brows furrowed for a brief second before he leaned his face even closer to mine, I could felt his breath against my lips, the intimidation was real with the closeness between us. My body trembled uncontrollably as I continued to be pinned under him helplessly by his literal physical dominance.

He revealed a smirk and snickered, "Don't overestimate yourself." Then he released his grip on me and left for the door.

The chill within me resides.

What does he mean?

Gosh... one moment he appears like a goofball, the next moment he appears to be a powerful person that could be deadly. Who is he really? This man gives me nothing but creeps.

When the door shut behind him, my pent up emotions just poured out uncontrollably. For as long as I could remember, I have never cried this hard in my life before. There was just too much for me to bear.

Rogan Morgan's POV

I leaned against the door as her sobbing went on.

Do you really hate marrying me this much?

Did we really miss it all five years ago?