Diamond's POV
I saw a face I didn't recognise. I stared in shock, unable to comprehend what I was seeing. I screamed again in horror, unable to believe that this was my reflection. I looked back at the doctor, my eyes wide with terror. I couldn't believe it.
I didn't look like my old self anymore, but I looked like Debra, the girl who offered me a lift. "Calm down, Debra. We called your parents when the police saw your belongings from the accident, so they gave us a picture to enable us to restructure your face," the doctor said.
Tears streamed down my face as I knew my real identity was gone forever and I was now someone else entirely. The doctor tried to reassure me, but I couldn't hear him over the sound of my own thoughts. "Can you remember anything?" the doctor asked.
I knew I had to start pretending or I'd get caught. So I shook my head. "She might have gotten amnesia due to the accident, and it will take quite a while for her to remember," he said to the lady. "Well, this is Mrs. Juan, your mother," the doctor said as Mrs. Juan moved forward to hold my hand.
And just then the news came up on the TV in the room: "Some deadly ladies escaped from prison five days ago, and they are yet to be seen," the headline said. My face and the faces of the ladies who also escaped were shown on TV.
"I pray they get caught soon; otherwise, they'd do worse things," Mrs. Juan said, and the doctor nodded in agreement. When I saw my face on the screen, I cried again. I was happy that I was off the police tracks, but sad that Debra had to die for me to be free again for life.
After a thorough checkup, I was discharged the next day and taken home by Mrs. Juan. I was safe, at least for the moment. But I couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at my conscience. We got to the house, and as I entered the house, I was surprised to see how big it was.
It wasn't a mansion, but it was something like a fairy tale. Huge chandeliers, golden doors, and staircases. But as I looked in awe, I heard someone open the door in a rush, and when I turned to look, it was a man in his 50s. He rushed to me and gave me a tight hug.
"Debra, my little princess I'm glad you're okay. I'm sorry I wasn't around, but I'm here now," he said, hugging me again. I stood in stunned silence, not knowing what to say.
This man was Debra's father. Part of me wanted to hug him back, to soak up the comfort and love he offered. But another part of me was wary, unsure of what to do. "Welcome back, Miss Debra," the maids chorused in unison as they smiled.
"Food is ready, maam," one of the maids said to Mrs. Juan. "I know you must be starving, Debra. Let's go eat something," she said, holding my hands and taking me to the dining table.
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I've been pretending to be Debra for weeks now and not talking too much. I was always in my room after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I spend time reading Debra's diary, learning more about her. I noticed that even after the accident, Mrs. Juan and Mr. Desmond were not always around.
They were the kind of parents who leave their kids in the hands of maids and Nannie's. It was for the better anyway, as I didn't have to pretend too much. I got up from bed and entered the bathroom to shower. After that, I got out and put on a simple dress. Then I heard a knock on the door.
"Yes, who's it?" I asked. "It's Clara the maid, ma. Your mom said you should put on a nice outfit because they have a surprise for you downstairs," Clara said. I wondered what it might be. "Was it Debra's birthday? I asked myself.
So I took off the dress I had already worn and picked out another from the wardrobe. I picked a simple yet stunning outfit. It was a sky blue short dress that hugged and brought out my shape properly. For some reason, Debra and I had the same body size, and all her clothes fit.
I struggled to zip the dress as I noticed I had gained some weight over the week. I stood in front of the mirror, critically appraising my reflection. The dress fit perfectly, highlighting my curves in a way that was both flattering and subtly seductive. I combed my hair, letting it fall in soft waves around my shoulders.
I left the room and headed downstairs. But as I walked down the stairs, something caught my eye. There was a man pacing around the room, like he was anticipating something. "She's here," I heard Mrs. Juan say, and when he turned to face me, my breath seized, and I felt my heart stop.
I couldn't believe who I was seeing in front of me. It was the same man I had a one-night stand with at the club where I worked months ago. "Don Nicholas is here to see you," Mrs. Juan said. He was the CEO of the largest wine company in Los Angeles. And not just any man, but one of the richest men in the city.
He was still the most handsome man I had ever seen, with piercing blue eyes and a chiselled jawline. He still had that confident air about him. I felt my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to keep my composure. I couldn't let him see how much he affected me.
I had to play it cool, no matter how difficult it was. He rushed towards me and gave me a tight hug. "I missed you so much, and I'm glad you're okay now, Debra," he whispered in my ears, sending shivers down my spine before giving me a kiss on my cheek.
And then it clicked: he was Debra's fiance, the one she talked about weeks ago, whom they forced her to marry. So I had a one-night stand with Debra's fiancé? He held my hand and turned to face Mrs. Juan and Mr. Desmond. "I would like to go on with the wedding," he said, making me freeze.
I tried not to say anything that would make them figure out I wasn't Debra; there's a possibility that Debra had already agreed to this arrangement. "Well, Debra is doing much better now," Mrs. Juan said, with a smile on her face. "So I think it's time for us to move forward with the wedding."
Nicholas nodded, his gaze never leaving my face. "I want something small. Just family and close friends. No crowds or publicity."
"Of course, Nicholas. We'll make sure it's how you want it." "Thank you," Nicholas said, his voice soft. "I really appreciate it." I couldn't take my eyes off of Nicholas. I had seen him before, but this time, something felt different. I felt a pull towards him-a connection I couldn't explain.
I knew I shouldn't feel this way knowing that he was Debra's fiance, but I couldn't help myself. And seeing that I was already falling for him, I didn't want to miss this opportunity to marry him.
The day of the wedding came, and it was a small but nice one with just family members, and after that, I was finally taken to Nicholas's home. I was in awe as I entered his home. It was a grand, sprawling mansion, with gleaming gold chandeliers and sweeping staircases that added to the opulence of the decor.
I couldn't stop looking, but my exhaustion was beginning to catch up with me. Nicholas must have noticed me yawn, because he signalled to one of the maids. "Take her to our room," he said, and the maid nodded. Just hearing the word "our room" made me blush.
Getting to the room, I couldn't help but move around as I took in the luxurious surroundings, from the soft, satin sheets on the bed to the sparkling chandelier overhead. I was surprised to see that the wardrobe was already filled with new clothes.
I blushed again as I imagined what would happen tonight. I took a quick bath, and I picked the most pretty nightwear, which was red in color. I was about to go to bed when the door opened and Nicholas walked in. He stopped when he saw me, a soft smile spreading across his face.
He walked over to me and gently brushed a strand of hair away from my face, his fingertips touching my cheek. A shiver ran down her spine at his touch. "What a sight to come home to," he said, his voice low and intimate.
Before I could say anything, he leaned in and kissed me. The kiss was soft and sweet, and I felt myself melt into it. But then he pulled away, breaking the kiss. I didn't know why he stopped, but I felt a rush of disappointment, and before I could say anything, he spoke.
"I have something else for you," he said, standing up and walking over to the table. He picked up a file and handed it to me. When I opened it, my eyes widened as I read the words on the page. "A contract marriage?" I asked, a note of confusion in my voice.
"What's this for?"
"Let me make this clear," Nicholas said, and I could sense that he was about to drop a bombshell.
"This marriage means nothing to me."
