Revenge for My Twin Sis

Pain exploded across my back as I slammed onto the cold marble floor. The impact rattled through my spine, a sharp sting spreading through my body like wildfire. My vision blurred, the chandelier above me spinning in dizzying circles. A strangled groan escaped my lips as I forced myself to breathe through the pain.

I had barely registered what had happened when I heard the sound of high-pitched, exaggerated sobs from the top of the staircase.

That little devil.

I pushed myself up, gritting my teeth against the ache. My gaze snapped upward, and there he was—Lukas Trayson.

The eight-year-old menace stood at the top of the stairs, sniffling dramatically, his small fists rubbing at his tearless eyes. He looked innocent, but I knew better. That kid was a walking disaster, and judging by the smug flicker in his gaze before it quickly vanished, I knew this was his doing.

"You little shit," I hissed under my breath, my nails digging into the cold floor as I steadied myself.

Lukas gasped, his small mouth parting in exaggerated betrayal. And then—like the manipulative little brat he was—he let out a deafening wail.

“Daaaaddyyyy!” His cries echoed through the mansion, his voice trembling as he pointed a chubby little finger at me. "Mommy cursed at me!"

My stomach dropped.

Shit.

Heavy footsteps pounded down the hall.

Duke Trayson.

Lukas' father.

My soon-to-be husband.

The man I was deceiving.

I barely had time to school my expression before Duke appeared, his towering frame filling the doorway. His piercing blue eyes darted between me and Lukas, his brows furrowing in suspicion.

“What’s going on?” His voice was deep, laced with authority.

Lukas hiccupped dramatically. "She—she got mad at me, Daddy! She called me bad words!"

Lying little bastard!

I felt my pulse pound in my temples as I swallowed down my frustration, slipping into character.

Soft. Gentle. Demure.

Just like Britney.

I lowered my gaze, biting my lip like a guilty little lamb. "It's nothing, Duke," I murmured, my voice small and fragile. "Lukas was playing a prank… I just got startled. I—I didn’t mean to scare him."

Lukas sniffled, selling his performance.

Duke exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand down his face. "Lukas, go to your room."

Lukas pouted, stomping his little feet as he turned and disappeared down the hall.

I waited until he was gone before releasing the breath I had been holding. My body tensed as Duke’s eyes landed on me again.

His gaze searched mine, scanning my face as if he were trying to decipher a puzzle.

I forced a soft smile. "It really was just a misunderstanding."

A long beat of silence.

And then, finally, Duke sighed. "Be more careful next time."

I nodded, my heart still hammering as he turned and walked away.

It wasn’t the first time I had to lie my way out of a situation like this.

And it sure as hell wouldn’t be the last.

Because I wasn’t Britney Arkinson.

I was Mia. Her twin sister.

And I was living her life.

Britney Arkinson should have been standing here. She should have been the one preparing to marry Duke, smiling at socialites, playing the perfect stepmother.

But Britney was in a coma.

She had been for months, hidden away in a private hospital under our father’s care. And me? I was the replacement.

At first, I fought against it.

I wasn’t like her. Britney was delicate, graceful, obedient. I was wild, reckless, untamed. A woman like me had no place in Duke Trayson’s world.

But my father had made it clear.

"You have to keep pretending, Mia."

After a few days, I had stormed into Britney’s hospital room the moment I got the text.

Come to the hospital. There’s good news… and bad news.

When I saw her awake, her frail body propped against crisp white pillows, my heart soared.

Finally. Finally, I could stop this nightmare.

But then, my father had pulled me aside, his expression unreadable.

“She doesn’t remember anything,” he said, his voice cold and firm.

My blood ran cold. "What?!"

“She has amnesia.”

I took a staggering step back. "No. No way."

"The wedding is in two weeks," he continued, his gaze pinning me in place. "Duke Trayson is the only thing keeping us from bankruptcy. If this marriage doesn’t happen, we lose everything."

I wanted to scream.

To run.

To burn everything to the ground.

But the look in his eyes told me I had no choice.

And now, here I was.

Standing in a grand cathedral, drowning in lace and pearls, walking down an aisle toward a man who thought I was someone else.

The scent of fresh roses filled the air, thick and suffocating. Hundreds of eyes were on me, watching, waiting.

Duke stood at the altar, his broad shoulders rigid, his icy blue gaze locked onto mine.

He looked… perfect. Too perfect.

And I hated that my heart reacted to him.

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

I wasn’t supposed to be here.

The priest’s voice drifted through the cathedral, but I barely heard it over the roaring in my ears.

This was a mistake.

A terrible, irreversible mistake.

But there was no turning back.

And then, the words that sealed my fate fell from the priest’s lips.

"You may now kiss the bride."

My breath hitched.

Duke turned to me, his expression softening.

His hands reached out.

This was it.

I had lied my way to this moment.

And now… now I had to kiss him.

Loud shouts erupted from outside the church. My eyes widened as muffled chaos stirred beyond the grand doors.

A rally.

A PROTEST.

On my wedding day.

But why?

And then—just as Duke’s lips brushed against mine

A loud gunshot rang through the air.