The Substitute Bride

CHAPTER ONE

"Damn it!" Rella Cortés swore for what seemed like the hundredth time in just an hour. She was picking up Cindy's bad language without her realising.

The whole engagement party thing was driving her insane. She was never a fan of such pump parties but it was two days before her other half Cindy's wedding and Rella was expected to be there, not only that but she found herself in such a situation she could've avoided. Her hands shook, her stomach was in knots and she was breaking out in cold sweat. She was never a mastermind in anything much less deception and lying always made her want to haul her gut out.

She took deep calming breaths, inhaling and exhaling afraid she might start to hyperventilate.

Calm down Rella, it's only for tonight nobody has to know. She assured herself.

After she was calm enough, Rella sighed.

"Rella how did you get into this mess again? Oh yes because you can't say no to Cindy that's why. You're such an idiot you know that?" In a tone that was half-chiding and half-miserable, she addressed her reflection on the mirror in the washroom of her family's restaurant, Gourmet Cortés.

She reached down unto the marble counter top and retrieved the lipstick that had slipped out of her hand. Right now, she's in Cindy's shimmering blue dress and sparkling diamonds, her makeup was as identical as it could be and if she didn't know herself better, she would've fallen for her own sham and believed she was Cindy. Why did she have to fall for Cindy's theatrics over and over again? All it took was a little of her signature water works and Rella gave in.

After all that's happened in their earlier years right from grade school to high school you'd think Rella would’ve learnt her lesson by now but she was still as feeble minded, a big softie when it came to her twin.

The dress was too fitting, and its plunging neckline left nothing to be imagined.

It was outrageous!

It outlined every supple curve down to the tiniest detail—curves Rella had no idea were there until this moment and she would never be caught dead dressed in such slutty outfit.

Except she wasn't Rella right now but Cindy.

She had never devoted such attention to herself before, not even the society had anything to say about her because Cindy had always been in the spotlight and well she, Rella always faded away into the background and she didn't mind that at all for she hated the attention.

Rella made some final touches to her makeup, her golden tresses which would've been straighter if she was herself right now were a tumbling wave of curls around her shoulders just like Cindy's.

An hour ago the party had been in full swing.

Her mom had called it an intimate dinner with family and a few friends but apparently a few friends meant the entire Manhattan high society. Of course that hadn't surprised Rella, it wouldn't be the first time Evie Cortés had gone overboard when it came to her parties.

She grabbed Cindy's dark clutch from the dresser and made for the door.

Cindy had lasted a good thirty minutes at the party after which she disappeared. Evie Cortés had been so restless she had to ask Rella to bring her sister back to the party before she does anything crazy and Rella had found Cindy tearing out of the restaurant like she had a swarm of bees chasing her.

"Please don't tell anyone Rella." Her twin had implored.