Chapter 2

Emma’s POV

“Bring out the pictures,” Michael said to one of his goons, and immediately he brought a picture to the table.

“What’s in the pictures?” I asked.

“Look at it yourself and tell me what you think,” he replied, smiling like a devil.

The guy holding me still on the chair pulled me toward the table.

I took the pictures, and I was shocked with what I saw there. It was someone who looked exactly like me.

The clothes she was wearing screamed out for wealth, and the way she had her hair done also talked of the money she had. Even if I had money, I could never dress like her.

But what puzzles me most is that she has my face, and I don’t remember my parents telling me that I have a twin. Or do I have one that I don’t know about?

“She is not your twin. If that is what you are thinking, get it out of your head,” Michael answered my question like he knew what I was thinking of.

“Then who is she?” I asked.

“She is Dora Baxter, daughter of Minister Baxter,” he replied.

“But how come she has…”

“Your face? I was also shocked when I saw her. At first I thought it was you, but the way she reacted made me realize that she is not you.”

“Then who is she, and why does she have my face?”

“Call it the will of God or nature or destiny. All I know is that there is a reason why you both have the same face.”

“A reason?”

“Yes, a reason. You both aren’t twins, but you have the same face, and she is rich while you are poor. Isn’t that telling you anything?” he asked.

“No, it isn’t telling me anything, Michael,” I replied, feeling shocked at this discovery.

“Well, then I will explain better. You, my dear Emma, are going to take her place.”

“What?”

“You look so much like her, and with a little dress up, there won’t be a difference to comment on. You will be perfect.”

“What you’re trying to tell me now is that I pretend to be this woman?”

“You aren’t as dumb as I thought you to be,” he replied, smiling.

“You’re crazy! I won’t do such a thing!” I yelled at him.

“Of course you will. You gave me your word and the threat on your father isn’t over yet.”

“But I can’t do it. I can’t pretend to be her. I have never even seen her before. I can’t do it!”

“You can, and you will do it. It’s a must that you pretend to be Dora Baxter. I need you to help me fulfill my plan.”

“What plan?” I asked gently.

He walked to the table drawer and pulled out a picture. Then he shoved it at me.

I turned the picture over, and I saw a guy, a very handsome one. He had blue eyes and a very sexy face. I am sure that a lot of women would be dying to have him in their life, but not me, and I certainly don’t want to be part of this charade.

“Who is he?”

“Are you messing with me? You don’t know who he is?” Michael replied angrily.

“No, I don’t!” I retorted angrily too.

“He is Brian Stone, King Mark and Queen Sonia’s son. Apparently he is the crown prince and the next king to the throne.”

“What is his role in this…plan of yours?”

“He is the one I am after.”

“Why are you after him?” I asked.

“The man is a bastard. I had it all. I had it in my grasp, but when he meddled, I lost everything, and no matter what I do, he still keeps on meddling.”

“Can you explain further on this?” I asked.

“You don’t need to know all that. All I want you to know is that Brian Stone is the real enemy. The one I want to destroy and that can only be fulfilled through you,” he replied.

“Destroy? You want me to help you ruin him?” I asked.

“Not only ruined. I want him dead,” he said.

“Dead?! I’ve never killed someone, and I won’t do it now because of you. I won’t get my hands stained because of you!” I yelled at him.

“You have no say in this, Emma. You are to do as I say, and that’s final!”

“Never! No, I won’t!” I moved away from them, intent on going outside but the rough pulling from Michael stopped me.

“I’ve hatched this plan for years now, and I won’t let a stupid thing like you destroy it. It’s either you comply or your father dies,” he stated fiercely.

“Just stop this, Michael. He is your father, too. You can’t possibly want to harm him.”

“He is not my father, and I will never see him as my father, and to get what I want, I am willing to do anything. Zack!” he called one of the men there, and the one called Zack responded.

“Call the man at the hospital and tell him to finish the job,” Michael said, staring at me.

“No, Michael, don’t do this!” I begged.

“It’s either you help me get rid of the prince or your father dies.”

“But I am not a killer. I can’t possibly do what you are asking me,” I replied.

“You can, and you will! It’s what I want, and if you love your father, you will agree to it right now!”

I looked at the Zack guy and saw that he was already calling. I looked at Michael and I knew that he wouldn’t change his mind.

If pretending to be someone else and also to kill the prince is the only way to save my dad, then I will do it, I thought sadly.

“Fine! You win. I will do it,” I said feeling forced into something that I know will turn out bad for me.

“Zack!” Michael called and the man ended the call.

“That’s my good stepsister. I know that you will not disappoint me,” he said, gently tapping my cheek.

I pushed his hand away, feeling disgusted by his touch and he laughed.

“So now, let’s talk about what your role will be in all this,” he said, sitting down.

“I am listening,” I replied hotly.

“Save all that fierce spirit in you for later because Brian Stone is someone who is not intimidated easily.”

“I wish he would catch me and stop me from doing any harm.”

“That’s the problem here, love. Brian must never know what you are up to. Your father isn’t really out of danger. So don’t be too happy.”

“I hate you!” I yelled at him.

“Same with me, but to achieve my aim, I’m willing to be a friend, a stepbrother, and a brother-in-law.”

“What do you mean by brother-in-law?”

“My wife is Brian Stone’s sister. Didn’t you know?” he asked.

“If it pertains to you, I never want to know,” I retorted angrily.

“Well, you will have to know because it now pertains to you.”

“Dora Baxter is engaged to the prince. It was announced a month ago. It is not a love match thing, more like a business arrangement. So you wouldn’t be forced to kiss or sleep with the prince,” he added.

“I wouldn’t sleep with him. Not even if it was part of your plan!”

“Poor you. I am sorry to say, but you have no say in this. If the prince wants to sleep with you, you have no option but to oblige.”

“Tell me to do anything but not to sleep with Brian Stone.”

“Whatever. When the time comes, you will do it anyway. So back to what I was saying. We will get the real Dora out of the way and you will be there instead. You will get to know things about Dora so you can act like her perfectly, and once you are in fully, I will give you your first assignment on how to kill Brian.”

“Tell me something. How do you plan on getting Dora out of the way?”

“It’s simple, and that is by killing her,” he replied and I gasped.

“Does she have to be killed?”

“If we want this to go smoothly, she has to be out of the way.”

“Don’t kill her, put her somewhere, or lock her up. Just don’t kill her. When I leave, she will come back.”

“And who told you that you will be leaving? You wouldn’t be leaving because you will forever be Dora Baxter.”

“What?”

“The plan is for you to kill Brian Stone but not before you get him to sign all his fortunes to you alone, and so when he is out of the way and I manage to get my wife out of the way too, we will both enjoy the money.”

“I don’t want any money. Once we are through with this, I want to leave.”

“That’s impossible, Emma. Once you take up Dora’s identity and life, you will keep on being Dora for as long as you live.”

“I will never be able to be me again?” I asked.

“Yes, you will no longer be Emma Chadwick, but you will be Dora Baxter,” he replied.