LE

No matter how many times I closed

's face flashed before me like a guil

eight hours before my sis

e. Julian was right. Time was running

m, counting the seconds as they ticked by, counting a

pping into another woman's life, marrying a man I didn't

sane, it was dan

is

f this went wrong, I would lose

w, the beeping machines, the tubes connected to her body as her ch

her words t

...take care of

was running

like that. You're

ly squeezed my fingers weak

mind at e

y head now as I lay awak

the hospital. A woman worn down by worry and fear. A woman watching h

ched her rosary, still hear the silent sobs she t

up abr

too afraid to do something,

hard resolve. I picked up Julian's card, whi

only once bef

e could speak. "I'll do it.

the other end. Then, "Mee

arrived. A folder sat neat

private matters involving my family," Julian said quietly. "You cannot, under any circumstances, reveal anything a

greement, it only got worse. The penalties were severe. Threats of swift legal action that Julian restated

Six months of being legally bound to Nathan Blackwood. Six months of

. I would have to quit my job, move to New York, live under the same roof with him while me

mplications of everythi

real?" I asked quietly, the quest

ze without blinking. "In

my ears. "And if h

dle it as Kim

unnerve me. I didn't let myself th

uge fortifying breath as he handed o

fingers, I sign

look after he inspected it. "Yo

same morning. One million dollars. My mouth dropped

here was no time to waste. I

iately. The best doctors. The

rwhelmed by joy. She insisted on kn

company, which she believed. I was relieved because there was

sat silently beside me, her fingers locked around her rosar

ed out and said, "The surgery was successful," something inside both of

s going

life, which I had just signe

f me, whatever it would cost

later in the hospital corrid

eased. "Good

. "None of this would have

, then nodded, as if that

are you ready to fulfi

excitement turne

ed, his voice low and firm,

*

New York didn

ment, I was Lena Martinez, sister o

leek black Range Rover, heading towards

he chauffeur-driven car,

" He'd noticed how tense I was. Anyone

st lau

m. As if he hadn't reminded me softly that my mother's undocument

d very hard to build a quiet life for herself her

vered softly, but they

dollars without blinking was a man who knew every

life belonged to them. I b

her my boss had sent me on an important assignment to New

't imagine the horror on her face if

nt Celeste, would stay with her through Sofia's recove

n Manhattan, pulling up in front of a cozy, private littl

, eyes sweeping over the tas

door behind us. "T

walls and shelves. Kim alone. Kim smiling and striking a seductive pose for the camera. Kim standing

You need to familiarize yourself with this space and everythin

ed out of the kitchen as if on cue. He introduce

eed. She's going to make this whole process easy for

, he left

ste any time aft

e said, her voice calm and prof

ly styled blonde hair, polished nails, and a

nerves twisting in my stomach as I followed he

upon entering, I realized had been reserved exclusively

thing about her, starting with your wardrobe. Kimberly has a

s panicking. Sleek and effor

was carefully chosen to match Kimberly's signature style. I tried on dress after dress, modeling them before Dahlia for her a

was the be

ek perfection, a few inches of it trimmed

ted carefully with subtle contour, smoky eye

g back wasn't Lena Martinez. It was Kimberly. My lip

and Kim's little mannerisms which I had to learn to mimic. Dahlia r

k to the house. It was already gett

the shopping bags from the back seat. I was

*

as I finished fastening the zipper of my dress and

tely feeling his gaze sweep over me,

ged my body like it was made for me. Being Latina had blessed me with the natural hourglass figure that most w

aid. Then, to Dahlia standing beside him, "You out

e. And once we settled into the

alk and act in the same graceful, poised manner as Kimberly. Our voices already matc

mberly was and how to impersonate her perfectly. Every lit

est, explaining everyt

Her last post had been about two weeks ago, before she left. He t

ll his heart," Julian explained.

at statement. Why did t

ll the important things about his life. I

back in two days. T

through it slowly, touching furniture, looking at photos. I picked up a fr

ny woman walk away f

ing, a sudden knock echo

an? Had he forgo

or, and my hear

an. It was Nat

crushing me against him as his mouth came down hard on mine