Chapter 2

Helen and Howard knew how to put on a show.

In my previous life, they were the same. Knowing full well their own son was out watching the play with Charlotte, but they acted like they had no idea.

I held the microphone up to Julian's mouth. "Say it yourself."

Julian glanced at me, then looked over at the Grant family. "My name is Julian West, not Samuel Grant.

"Samuel told me to stand in for him and play along. He said Miss Goodwin is way too worried about her reputation to cause a scene right here."

Helen stormed onto the stage, raising her hand to slap Julian.

I caught her wrist before she could hit him. "Mrs. Grant, I think you've got the wrong guy."

"Let go of me!" Helen hissed, her voice low and angry. "Are you going to drag both families through the mud? Samuel had something urgent to deal with. He didn't mean to."

"What kind of urgent business could he possibly have?"

Helen was at a loss for words.

Someone in the crowd whispered, "What else could it be? Someone saw Charlotte share a pic."

Howard shot them a glare. "Who's spreading rumors?"

I pulled out my phone from my purse and put the photo Charlotte sent me up on the big screen.

In the picture, Samuel had his arm around Charlotte, with the glass house by the lake in the background.

Charlotte was smiling sweetly, and Samuel was leaning down to put a necklace on her.

The message below was more telling: [This whole wedding is a little trick he's playing to keep me happy.]

The crowd went wild.

I ignored the guests and kept my eyes fixed on the three members of the Grant family. "Mrs. Grant, is this what you call urgent business?"

Helen's makeup couldn't cover up how ashen she looked. "It's a misunderstanding. Charlotte and Samuel grew up together. She's not in good health. What's wrong with Samuel going to see her?"

Julian gritted his teeth. "Does going to see her mean I have to put on the groom's suit and stand in for him at the wedding?"

Howard jabbed a finger at Julian. "Shut up! You took the money, so you should've done your job."

As soon as he said that, the crowd went dead silent.

Howard realized what he'd said, and his face turned ashen.

I let out a soft laugh. "So they really did pay you."

Helen scrambled to fix things. "Claire, listen to your mother. Let us finish the wedding today. The Grant family will make it right afterward."

"I only have one mom," I said, putting the microphone back on its stand. "She's right there in the audience, and her last name isn't Grant."

Helen was left speechless.

The emcee stood off to the side, sweat beading on his forehead as he frantically flipped through the script.

I turned to him. "Keep going."

The emcee froze. "Keep going with what?"

"The wedding."

Howard grabbed at the chance like it was his last hope. "Yes, keep going! Claire's a good girl. Let's get the wedding over with."

I turned to Julian. "Julian, are you willing?"

Julian's throat tightened. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

Helen shrieked, "Claire, have you lost your mind? You're going to marry an impostor?"

I looked at her. "Weren't you the ones who sent him up there?"

That hit the Grant family like a slap.

Someone in the crowd burst out laughing, then hurriedly clamped a hand over his mouth.

Howard lunged forward, trying to snatch the microphone.

Arthur, the butler standing behind my mom, rose to his feet, his cane tapping sharply against the floor. "Mr. Grant, the Goodwin family's lawyers are here today. If anyone tries to touch Miss Goodwin, they'll have to deal with them first."

Several men in dark suits rose to their feet.

Howard stopped mid-motion, his hand awkwardly suspended in the air, unsure whether to lower it or keep it raised.

The emcee wiped the sweat from his brow. "Alright, now, let's have the bride and groom exchange rings."

I took the spare ring out of the ring box.

I had someone prepare this ring on short notice, and it fit him perfectly.

Julian looked down as the ring slid onto his finger, and he stood there frozen, stunned by what was happening.

"Claire," he whispered, so quietly that only I could hear, "are you sure you won't regret this?"

"I've already regretted it once," I said. "This time, I won't."

Down below, Helen's face was twisted with rage.

Howard pulled out his phone and headed for the exit.

I knew he was dialing Samuel.

'Go on, make the call. Let Samuel hear it loud and clear,' I thought. He sent Julian up to the altar himself, and now Julian married me.