Chapter 2

He gently ended the kiss, causing her to catch her breath for a moment. Her gaze fixated on his beautiful turquoise eyes, and he grinned warmly at her. She struggled to keep up the act; guilt gnawed at her for betraying both him and her twin sister.

After the wedding, the parents of the bride and groom hosted a grand party to celebrate the union of the prince and princess. The couple reunited with their loved ones, and she descended from upstairs in her party attire after changing out of her wedding dress. She looked like a vision.

She wore a long gown with a boat neckline adorned with sparkling crystals and made of a delicate thistle violet fabric. She looked absolutely stunning in her evening gown, but there was a lack of sparkle in her eyes. She scanned the room, searching for someone familiar, but couldn’t find anyone.

“Dear, you came…” Mrs. Esposito approached her, and Faith nodded in affirmation. Shortly, Mr. Esposito joined them.

The rustling noise momentarily distracted her. Adam entered the crowd, and when she spotted him, a sense of relief washed over her. Adam approached Faith with a warm smile.

“It seems it’s time for us to go,” Mr. Esposito remarked with a chuckle.

“It’s not like that, Uncle,” Adam quickly protested.

“Call us Dad and Mom… we’re no longer strangers. You’re my son-in-law now,” Mrs. Esposito said. She affectionately patted Faith, who looked at Adam with confusion, uncertain about what to do after the party. Adam smiled and offered his hand, leaving her perplexed.

“May I have the pleasure of dancing with such a beautiful lady?” he asked, extending his hand.

She hesitated for a moment but then placed her hand in his. He gently pulled her into his arms, and they began to dance to a melodious song. However, she appeared distracted, and he noticed it. His approach remained tender.

“Are you alright, Faith? You’ve seemed preoccupied since the wedding ceremony,” he remarked, causing her to shiver.

She managed a nervous smile and replied, “No, I… I’m fine,” with a hint of uneasiness.

“If you’re tired, we can head to our room. Just let me know,” Adam suggested.

“Can we leave? I’m feeling suffocated in this crowd,” she replied.

“Alright, let’s go,” he said, taking the lead. They made their way to Adam’s room.

The party was hosted by their parents at Adam’s private villa, which made it convenient for them.

As they entered the room, Faith sat on the bed and let out a sigh. Adam handed her a tissue to wipe away the sweat, which she gratefully accepted and used to dab her face.

“Thanks,” she said.

“Why are you thanking me, Faith? You weren’t like this before, were you?” He sat down beside her, his eyes filled with affection. She moved away slightly, and Adam turned toward her, getting closer.

She couldn’t keep up the facade any longer; she didn’t want to lie. She nervously bit her lower lip, and as he drew nearer, she placed her hand on his chest, trying to avoid his advances. He looked displeased.

“Why… What’s going on, Faith? Why are you avoiding me?”

“I… I’m not…” she stuttered.

“You’re not Faith?” he finished her sentence.

When she heard his revelation, shock washed over her, and her heart raced.

“How… how did you know?” she asked, her eyes wide with surprise.

“I’ve known from the beginning, Grace. You’re not Faith; you’re Grace. How could I not tell the difference between you two?” he responded.

Her expression changed as he pronounced her original name.

“Brother-in-law…” A tear welled up in her eye, and she couldn’t even bring herself to say his name. Her heart sank. The more she wanted to confess the truth, the more painful it became. When he heard her, he sighed, and she let out a soft whimper.

“Don’t cry,” he softly urged.

“I’m sorry, Brother… I didn’t have any other choice… they… they forced me into it… I… I didn’t mean to…” She sniffled.

He was torn, not knowing how to respond. If it were anyone else, he would comfort her, but she was his lover’s sister, making the situation complicated.

***

[Flashback]

“Faith… are you sure? Should we go there tomorrow? It’s already midnight…” Grace asked, fear evident in her eyes.

“Are you scared, Grace? We’ve gone out at midnight plenty of times,” Faith reassured her and patted her as Grace looked around nervously.

“I just have a bad feeling,” Grace replied.

“Come on, don’t be so superstitious.”

Faith and Grace ventured out of the house for a late-night drive, a common pastime for them to enjoy the city’s nighttime scenery.

As they chatted, Faith was behind the wheel. Suddenly, their car was jolted when a truck collided with them. Faith lost control, and their car flipped over, with the truck crashing into them again. Just before the impact, Faith instinctively hugged Grace to shield her.

The car was severely damaged, and there was no one in sight to help. Grace opened her eyes with a pounding head and aching body, finding Faith unconscious on top of her.

“Faith… argh…” Grace struggled to speak, but Faith didn’t respond. Soon, Grace also lost consciousness.

Faith sensed movements around her but couldn’t open her eyes, feeling the presence of people. Her pupils reacted to the light. She experienced pain all over her body.

Eventually, she managed to open her eyes, and the sudden light stung her pupils. Someone was flashing a flashlight in front of her eyes.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked around and realized she was in a hospital. The antiseptic smell, the constant beeping of machines, and the sterile white surroundings filled her with a sense of dread.

“Miss Faith… How are you feeling? Do you experience any discomfort? Can you hear me?” the doctor inquired.

Upon hearing her sister’s name, Grace initially thought they were mistaken, but she didn’t dwell on it and gave a slight nod.

“That’s great. Get some rest. I’ll check back in a while,” the doctor said before leaving.

Mr. and Mrs. Esposito came to visit her. “Baby, how are you feeling?” Mrs. Esposito asked.

“I’m fine, Mom,” Grace replied with a weak smile.

“Mom, where… Where is Faith? Why isn’t she here? Can you call her? I want to see her,” Grace inquired, still vividly remembering her unconscious sister who had shielded her during the accident. She just wanted to be sure Faith was okay.