Substitute Bride; My Husband's Mistakes

Celine's POV:

On Friday night, as I prepared for bed, I heard my door swing open.

"Celine, you have to take your sister's place tomorrow," my father, Mr. Morris Mason, announced, rushing into my room with my mother close behind.

"Dad, I don't understand. Why would I take Clara's place tomorrow? Where is she?" I asked, knowing Clara was at her bridal shower. How could she disappear on the eve of her wedding?

"Something came up, according to Clara, and she had to take care of it," my father explained. I sighed, standing in my bedroom, having skipped my twin sister Clara Mason's extravagant bridal shower.

Clara and I are identical twins, both 25. Many of Clara's friends thought I was jealous because she was marrying before me, but that wasn't true.

I'm in a relationship with Martin Enzo, a construction worker, but my father disapproved of him as a groom, so he rejected him.

Everyone adored my twin sister. She was the apple of everyone's eye, even our older brother, Luca. I, on the other hand, was the opposite.

I own a bakery in the city. Last month, I pleaded with my parents to let me marry Martin, but my father flatly refused, stating I could only marry a rich man.

Despite my pleas, my parents forbade the marriage and chased Martin and his uncles away when they came to ask for my hand. Because of this incident, I refused to attend my sister's engagement party or her bridal shower. Now she had vanished and expected me to stand in for her on her wedding day.

"How can Clara just disappear without explaining her reason to her manager, especially since she's marrying the wealthy man you all wanted?" I questioned my father, who stood in the doorway with my mother.

My father has a dark complexion, while my mother is fair, like me and my twin sister. We are her exact replicas.

"Celine, I know this is hard to believe, but Clara said she worked so 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 with horror.

"Mom, I can't do it. You and Father need to order Clara to come back right now. Where's my phone?" I moved back to grab my phone in the shelf to contact 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'd already stood in for her countless times, and many people wouldn't know I wasn't Clara. Worse, her fans visit my shop, take photos of me, and tag me as Clara. But I'm 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. Please, can you stand in for me tomorrow? Please, please, sister," Clara pleaded in her 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 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 needed an explanation; I couldn't understand my sister.

"Celine, I wish I could explain, but my phone battery is almost dead. Please, after this one, I won't ask you to stand in for me again. Please, please," Clara begged once more, rendering 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 that close to him. Did you already tell him I'm not you?" I asked, wanting clarification. I knew Jace and I weren't close.

I knew Jace was my sister's fiancé. He paraded her to his friends and other politicians. My sister is very popular, with over 10 million followers online.

"No, Celine. Please, don't tell Jace I'm 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 she begged, "Please, Celine. I'm begging you. If you don't help me, we're 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 over the phone, "Then don't call me again."

The 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 Jace find out your sister is missing, we are doomed," my father begged, even kneeling.

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

"Fine. I'll try and 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's back. Besides, this isn't your first time taking her place," my mother said, making me sigh heavily.

"Fine. I'll give it a try. You guys should excuse me. Let me get some sleep. It's past midnight," I told my parents. They smiled and wished me goodnight before leaving my room.

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