Substitute Bride; My Husband's Mistakes

Celine's POV

"Celine, you have to take your sister's place tomorrow," my father, Mr. Morris Mason, said to me as he rushed into my room with my mother.

"Dad, I don't understand. Why will I have to take Clara's place tomorrow? Where is she?" I asked, aware that Clara had gone to her bridal shower. How could she just flee on the eve of her wedding?

"Something came up, according to Clara, and she had to take care of it," my father said, and I sighed, standing in my bedroom. I hadn't attended the extravagant bridal shower of my twin sister, Clara Mason.

Clara and I were identical twin sisters. We were both twenty-five years old. I knew that many of Clara's friends were saying I was jealous of my twin sister because she was getting married before me. But that was not the truth.

I was 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 was proud of my twin sister. She was the apple of everyone's eye, even our older brother, Luca. But I was the opposite.

I owned a bakery shop in this part of the city. I pleaded with my parents last month to allow me to marry Martin. But my father plainly refused and said that only a rich man could marry me. Despite my pleas, my parents refused to let me marry and chased Martin and his uncles away after they came for my hand in marriage. Because of this incident, I refused to attend my sister's engagement party or her bridal shower. Now she had disappeared and wanted me to take her place on her wedding day.

"How could Clara just disappear without explaining to her manager that she is getting married to a wealthy man-the groom you all wanted?" I queried my father, who stood in my doorway with my mother.

My father had a dark complexion, while my mother was fair like me and my twin sister. We were her exact replicas.

"Celine, I know you find this hard to believe. But Clara said that she worked so hard to be selected for the Stars Award and cannot miss the modelling shoot. Please, you are her twin sister, and Jace Augustus will never find out," my mother begged me, and I looked at her face in horror.

"Mom, I cannot do it. You and Father need to order Clara to come back right now. Where's my phone?" I moved back to pick up my phone and contacted 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 many times, and most people wouldn't know I am not her. Worse, her fans visit my shop and take photos of me, tagging 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 I took so long to call you. Please, can you stand in for me tomorrow? Please, please, sister," Clara begged me in her sweet, seductive voice that rendered me speechless. I was ready to do anything for this crazy sister of mine-just to make her happy and to help her achieve her dream as a top model.

"Clara, I don't think I can do this. How do you expect me to stand in for you? Wait, 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 my sister, so I needed an explanation.

"Celine, I wish I could explain this to you, but my phone battery will soon run down. After this, I won't ask you to stand in for me again. Please, please," Clara begged me once more, rendering me speechless.

"Are you saying I should kiss your groom? What if he finds out that I am not you? You know I am not as talkative as you, and I am not close to him. Did you already tell him that I am not you?" I asked, wanting better clarification. I knew Jace and I weren't close.

I knew Jace was my sister's fiancé. He showed her off to his friends and other politicians. My sister was a very popular person with more than ten million followers online.

"No, Celine. Please do not tell Jace that I am not you. You have to act as me and pretend you are me. You know how I behave, so mimic me very well," 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 to him so we don't kiss or even think of me as you. I don't like your fiancé, and I cannot stand in for you. I'm sorry," I wanted to end the call, but my sister begged me: "Please, Celine. I'm begging you. If you don't help me, 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, and she threatened, already sobbing: "Then don't call me again."

The phone call ended, and 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 that your sister is missing, we are doomed," my father begged me and even went as far as kneeling down.

I guessed this was the price I had to pay for being born a twin. My twin sister used me for most of her silly schemes and sent me to cover for her with threats of disowning me. Now it was her wedding.

"Fine. I will try to do this, but I hope Jace Augustus doesn't find out. If he does, I won't go down alone," I warned my parents, and they shivered.

"No one will know. You will learn to 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. I will give it a try. You guys should excuse me. Let me get some sleep. It's past midnight," I told my parents, and they smiled and wished me goodnight before leaving my room.

I shut the door and muttered, "I hope I can do this." I later went to bed, but dread filled my heart.

Celine's POV

On the wedding day, I went into my sister's room so the guests would believe I was Clara. I hadn't thought this day would arrive. I was helping my famous sister cover up for her wedding.

I donned a long white wedding dress that swept the ground I walked on. The makeup artist applied heavy makeup to my face, and I hated to say this, but I didn't like makeup.

I sat there and allowed them to transform me into my sister's preferred choice of wedding dress, which had my bare back exposed and my bréasts on full display.

This was not the wedding day I had dreamed of. I was taking my twin sister's place as the bride when she was actually alive and modeling in another state.

"Mmm," I sighed once the makeup artist was done. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and couldn't believe the woman staring back at me.

Soon, my father arrived, dressed in a tailored black suit and shoes. He asked me, "Are you ready, Clara? You look so beautiful."

I saw the proud smile on my father's face. He was seeing me as Clara, his most treasured daughter, and not Celine, the one who wanted to marry a pauper.

I shut my eyes and mimicked my twin sister's composure-the way she smiled with a wide grin on her face.

"Yes, Dad," I said, stretching the smile further, and I wondered how long I could maintain this act.

"Let's go," my father said, escorting me downstairs. I saw the black Bentley car waiting to escort me to the wedding.

I had never sat in a Bentley before, so I was nervous. I was not my sister, who traveled from one location to another, going on vacations with her rich boyfriend sponsoring all her trips.

We sat in eerie silence as the car driver started the engine and drove us to the wedding venue.

I was nervous as the car ride continued until we arrived at the big church where the wedding was held.

I sucked in a deep breath of fresh air as I got out of the car. The lined-up maids welcomed me by spreading red flowers as I stepped down.

This was an elite wedding, and my father held my left hand tenderly and escorted me into the church, which was packed with top-notch guests.

My heart beat grew louder in my chest with each step I took into the church and toward the altar where Clara's fiancé, Jace Augustus, stood.

Jace was a tall, refined, dark-skinned man. Clara was so lucky to have him.

Jace was still a single, hot bachelor at thirty-five years old. He was not a man to mess with.

Seeing him standing close to me as my father and I finally arrived at the altar, Dad handed me over to Jace for the priest to join us in holy matrimony.

I was nervous. I felt like I might faint at any moment. As Jace smiled and removed my veil to reveal my face to him, I gulped hard and recalled that I was not Clara and must act like her.

How would Clara have reacted on her own wedding day? Excited? Emotional? Casual? I didn't know, but I smiled widely so Jace wouldn't think otherwise as his black eyes met my blue eyes for a brief moment.

I grinned wider so Jace wouldn't think I wasn't his woman. Clara had told me that Jace had never cheated on her, despite his influence and how many women wanted him.

Jace was a politician and looked like a Greek god as he stood there towering above me.

Clara and I were average height, and thanks to the heels she had chosen for me to wear-as this was her preferred wedding dress and shoes.

"Can we start the union?" The priest's voice brought us back to reality. Jace stepped aside while the priest recited the prayers and joined us as one.

"Do you, Clara Mason, take Jace Augustus to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"

I looked at my twin sister's fiancé's face, which was about to become my husband. If only he knew I wasn't Clara, his woman.

Jace smiled, wanting me to say I do, as he saw I looked hesitant to say the words to him.

The priest continued, "Do you promise to love and obey him and to be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," I replied, shutting my blue eyes as I was unable to meet Jace's face.

The priest then asked Jace the same question: "Do you, Jace Augustus, take Clara Mason to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"

"I do," Jace replied. The priest asked him once more, "Do you promise to love and cherish her and to be faithful to her as long as you both shall live?"

"I do," Jace smiled, looking at me like I was his real bride. He looked genuinely happy to be married to me, thinking I was my twin sister.

"I now pronounce you both man and wife. You may kiss your bride," the priest concluded after Jace and I recited our vows and exchanged wedding rings.

I hesitated to wear his ring, which symbolized love, trust, and commitment. I couldn't believe I was doing this as if I were acting in a movie, replacing my twin sister.

Jace slipped the diamond ring onto my left finger, and I shut my eyes as he pulled me closer and sealed his lips on mine without asking if I desired to kiss him.

His lips claimed mine, kissing me tenderly at first as the hall erupted in applause. Well-wishers screamed happy married life to us.

Jace pulled away from the kiss after a while and gazed into my eyes as if he already suspected I wasn't his bride.

We took pictures with his parents, who were very happy about the wedding, and with my parents too. I stood there anxiously, taking several photos with the priest, my parents, Jace's parents, the bridesmaid, and the best man.

Lily, my twin sister's best friend, was the bridesmaid. I wondered if she knew I was taking Clara's place. But I was sure Clara never told anyone of her plans.

Lily hugged me excitedly and squealed, "Congratulations, Clara! I am so happy for you!"

"Thank you," I replied. We took more wedding pictures in the church until Jace held my hand closely and kissed my lips once more.

"Come on, my wife. You don't have to act shy as if this is the first time we're kissing. Let's go to our wedding reception," Jace lifted me off the ground. I was stunned as he carried me away, holding me in that firm, mascular arms.

I wanted to tell him I wasn't Clara. This had to stop. Should I tell him the truth or continue acting as my twin sister's replacement?

I shut my eyes, inhaling Jace's cologne, which had a relaxing aroma.

Celine's POV

Once we got to the black car waiting, Jace carefully placed me in the back seat, and I didn't even have time to see what car brand it was. But it was a luxury car, and he told the driver, "Roy, take us to the reception venue."

"Alright, boss," came the calm response from the driver. I sat there nervously as Jace and I occupied the rear seat.

I shifted away from him, but I remembered that I had to pretend I was my sister.

Jace said nothing as he looked at my face and held my hand in his.

"How do you feel about this day, my love?" he asked me. I opened my mouth to speak, thinking of what Clara would have said if she were the one.

I was still overwhelmed, so I told him the truth: "I am just overwhelmed."

"Why is that? You didn't believe me when I told you I would marry you and no one else. I love you, Clara, and I meant every word I used to confess my feelings to you. So you don't have to be afraid thinking this marriage is a trap. I will always support your modeling career. How about your twin sister? I didn't see her at the wedding?"

Jace looked at my face lovingly, and I knew this was the right time to tell him I was not Clara, his woman. But I recalled my father's warning that Jace would deal with all of us if he found out that Clara fled before her wedding day.

"Clara," he called my sister's name, and I snapped back to reality, reminding myself that my new name was Clara.

"Yes. Celine traveled to help me cover for my modeling shoot abroad. You know I told you it means so much to me, so she had to travel in my place. That's why she couldn't attend our wedding," I faked a smile and met Jace's gaze. His black, curious eyes held my blue ones, and he smiled.

"Alright. I know you said your sister normally covers for you, but you should have allowed her to attend our wedding at least," Jace said, drawing closer to me in the rear as he kissed my neck.

I gulped hard and told him, "It doesn't change anything as long as I am here with you."

"I know, but a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime day. You shouldn't have sent Celine away. Maybe she could have traveled after our wedding. You've never let me meet your sister, you know," Jace spoke to me once more, and my jaw dropped as I looked at his handsome face in shock.

I recalled that each time Clara asked me to accompany her to see her boyfriend at his house, I normally refused.

"Yes. You don't have to worry about Celine. She will get to meet you once she is back," I lied.

"What about her bakery shop? I haven't gone there, but you said she has a shop. Wouldn't her bakery goods spoil or cause temporary losses now that she has traveled for your modeling?" Jace looked concerned about me, and I felt bad that I had spoken so badly about him before. He was a gentleman despite his wealth. I had thought of him as an arrogant billionaire, and I was also angry because my parents rejected me from marrying Martin Enzo, my boyfriend.

"About Celine's shop, I will manage it for her until she returns to take over her business," I told Jace as the car pulled to a stop at the reception venue-a magnificent white hotel in the city.

"Can you cook?" Jace asked me in shock, and I smiled.

"I can try," I lied, knowing that Clara hated the kitchen and didn't like to cook.

"Alright," Jace agreed and said, "We have arrived. Let's go in."

I sighed and got out of the car with him as we entered the hotel for the wedding reception.

***

The wedding reception was lively and more crowded than I had expected. Media crews recorded, and many top celebrities attended the wedding, congratulating Jace and me.

They obviously thought I was my famous sister, and I had to pretend I was her. I wondered how Clara was faring abroad.

How did Clara feel seeing me take her place as the bride?

It wasn't like I snatched Jace. Clara was the one who put me in this tight situation to marry her fiancé.

The MC invited Jace and me on stage to cut the huge white cake that had almost eight layers. I smiled, knowing I was the one who had baked this lovely white cake for my sister's wedding.

My best friend, Ava Kingsley, was present as my assistant to help me ice the cake and prepare it for the wedding reception.

"Three, two, one, go!" the MC squealed, and Jace held my right hand gently as he sliced the cake in two.

Once we cut the cake, the audience erupted in applause for us, and I wanted to step away from Jace. I was still overwhelmed.

At one point, it felt like I was the one getting married. But then, I wasn't the real bride-Clara was.

Jace wrapped his arms around my waist as the DJ changed the music to a love song for us. The MC invited Jace and me on stage once more to dance while the guests cheered and brought numerous gifts and checks for us.

I was so nervous. I hadn't expected such an elaborate wedding.

How could Clara give up her wedding day for work? I shut my eyes, but I felt Jace bring his face closer to mine and whisper in my left ear.

"Open your eyes, Clara," he said. When my eyes snapped open, I realized I hadn't expected the ceremony to go this way.

I wasn't a media person. I mostly stayed low and away from the public eye. The lavish wedding made me sick because I knew it was fake. I felt quite emotional, and Jace pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead tenderly.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and Jace whispered in my ear once more, "What's wrong, babe? Should we go home? If you're tired of the wedding reception, you should let me know."

"No, I am okay," I smiled at him sadly, knowing this was supposed to be his and Clara's happy day. I tried not to think of what the future held for us. I didn't even know when Clara would return.

I promised myself not to fall in love with my sister's fiancé. He was her husband now, so I tried to dance and act like Clara. Besides, this wedding was Clara weds Jace, but now Celine weds Jace. But he was so kind that I didn't think my sister deserved him.

An honest woman does, not me or her.

The wedding ceremony came to an end, and Jace took me back to the black limousine and said, "We are going on our honeymoon, babe. Happy marriage to us!"

Jace brought out a champagne bottle from the car's fridge and popped it open.

"Oh no! I don't drink champagne," I thought. Well, for my sister's sake, I had to sacrifice and do what she wanted.