Substitute Bride; My Husband's Mistakes

Chapter 3

CELINE:

When we arrived at the black car waiting, Jace carefully put me in the back seat and I didn't even have time to see what brand it was. It was a beautiful 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 rode in the rear.

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

Jace didn't say anything; he looked at my face and held my hand in his.

"How do you feel about this day, my love?" he asked, and 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 that 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 that this marriage is a trap. I will always support your modelling 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 Clara fled before her wedding day.

"Clara," he called my sister's name and I snapped out of it, reminding myself that my new name was Clara.

"Yes. Celine travelled to help me cover for my modelling shoot abroad. You know that 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 dark, curious eyes held my blue orbs 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, so 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 after our wedding she could have travelled. You 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 meet you once she is back," I lied.

"How about her bakery shop? I haven't gone there, but you said she has a shop. Wouldn't her bakery goods spoil or suffer momentary losses now that she travelled for your modelling?" Jace looked concerned for me. I felt bad that I had spoken so badly about him before, when he was a gentleman despite his wealth. I had thought of him as an arrogant billionaire; I was similarly angry because my parents rejected me marrying Martin Enzo, my boyfriend.

"About Celine's shop: I will go there for her until she is back 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 in shock and I smiled.

"I can try," I lied, knowing 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 went into the hotel for the wedding reception.

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The wedding reception ceremony was lit and more crowded than I had expected. Media crews were recording us and many top celebrities attended, congratulating Jace and me.

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

How did Clara feel, seeing that I was taking her place as the bride?

It was not like I snatched Jace; Clara was the one who put me in a tight situation to marry her fiancé.

Jace and I were invited onstage by the MC 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 make it ready for the reception.

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

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

At one point, it felt like I was the one getting married. But I was not the real bride—Clara was.

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

I was so nervous; I hadn't expected this kind of 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 looked at my face as my eyes fluttered open and I hadn't expected the ceremony to go this way.

I wasn't the media type of person. I mostly lay low and was not a public figure. The lavish wedding made me sick because I knew it was fake. I felt 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, "What's wrong, babe? Should we go home? If you're tired of the reception you should let me know."

"No. I am okay," I said, smiling at him sadly, knowing this was supposed to be his and Clara's happy day. I tried not to think of the future. I didn't even know when Clara would be back.

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 I was Clara. Besides, the wedding banner was Clara weds Jace and not Celine weds Jace. But he was so kind that I don't think my sister deserved him.

An honest woman does—not me or her.

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

He 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 her husband wanted.