Chapter 3 Three

"Ava," Richard's voice came from the dining hall as Ava walked into the house with Marc trailing behind her. "In here."

Ava paused, then sighed helplessly. She retraced her steps and headed into the dining hall.

There they all sat, Richard at the head of the table, Emily by his right, and Eva by his left. Ava thought they looked so perfect without her in the frame.

"Marc, you're excused."

Marc gave a slight bow, spun around, and disappeared through the doors.

"You really tried to escape," Richard pronounced, mocking sarcasm laced in his voice.

Ava folded her hands, eyes hardening, "You gave me no choice."

"What made you think that you would slip my grasp, Ava?" He enquired, "You must have forgotten that I control some of the high officials in the city."

Ava made a disgusted face. "You make me sicker than you already do when you brag."

Richard frowned. "I brought you into this world, Ava; whatever I say goes."

Ava has finally accepted her fate. There was no escape. She was going to get married to Devlin Frost, no matter what she did.

Hey, who knows? Maybe this is all she needed. If she gets married to Devlin, she will be out of here, away from this sick building of a home.

She has no one. Nowhere to go. No place to hide. Maybe this was all for the best. If she gets married to Devlin Frost, she will no longer have to feel terrible whenever Eva gets treated like she is the queen of England.

No more neglect. No more constant comparison. No more self-hatred and self-pity. Just Devlin Frost. Who knows? Devlin Frost might have changed over the years; he might no longer be the hateful, emotionless bastard he was as a kid.

"So, you will get married to Devlin in six days," Richard concluded.

"Fine." She declared.

There was a pause.

Did she just say... No, perhaps they heard her wrong?

"I said fine." She repeated, "I will get married to Devlin Frost since that's what you all want."

None of them ever expected that Ava would accept in just a speck of hours. They had expected her to keep throwing tantrums, but what is this? She will get married to Devlin Frost? Just like that?

Either way, this new development was fantastic. After all, it was what they all wanted.

"Um... okay." Richard beamed brightly. "Very good, Ava."

"That's all, right? May I go now?" She turned to leave.

"Actually, there is another thing," Richard said, halting her in her tracks.

"What?"

Richard glanced at Emily, at Eva, then back at Ava. "You won't be getting married to Devlin as Ava Summers; you will be getting married to him as Eva Summers."

Ava stayed quiet as she absorbed the news. She didn't even know how to feel. Just when she thought they were done with her, they found another way to screw her over.

"You mean... I have to pretend to be... Eva?" The disbelief in her voice was palpable.

"Yes."

Ava burst out laughing.

They all exchanged annoyed glances.

"What's so funny?" Richard demanded.

"You," Ava replied amidst laughter, "You are so funny... and ridiculous! And stupid!"

Richard's face darkened.

"Ava, don't speak to Dad like that." Eva cautioned.

Ava threw her a glare, "You, shut up." Then she returned her gaze to her father's annoyed face. "What in the world made you all think I could ever pretend to be Eva? Huh? I mean, look at her, she's the perfect daughter, the most beloved girl, always full of radiant smiles and energy that attracts everybody around her. The perfect girl who always knows what to say and do in every situation. Daddy's and Mommy's little girl! What in the world made you think I, the confused, imperfect daughter who doesn't even know what to do with her life, could pretend to be her?"

"I will teach you." Eva offered, "I will teach you how to be like me."

"Oh, I do not want to be anything like you!" Ava snapped at her, "You know that!"

"Ava, you've agreed." Richard pronounced, "We are not doing this again. You will pretend to be Eva, and no one... no living soul will ever know! Else, there will be consequences," His face darkened, "You know damn well what I can do. Am I understood?"

Ava felt defeated.

She has no idea why they were doing all this. If Eva grew cold feet and had a change of heart, why couldn't they just call off the wedding? I mean, the Frosts and the Summers have been friends for ages, so why are they forcing her to marry Devlin in Eva's place whilst pretending to be Eva at the same time?

There was a whole lot more to this.

"Fine!" She threw up her hands in resignation, "It' not like I have any say. Besides, I do want to know what it feels like to be the perfect, radiant Eva everyone loves! Can I go now?"

She spun on her heels and exited the dining hall. She locked herself up in her room, showered, then changed into something nice.

Twenty-four hours ago, if someone had told her that she would not only find out that Cole was cheating on her, but also that she would be the imposter bride to that emotionless robot, she would have laughed in their face and told them that they were ridiculous.

Everything was happening so fast that she couldn't keep up.

Now she was going to pretend to be Eva. That would be harder than getting married to Devlin.

She knows Eva all too well. Eva is phony. And two-faced. She gives people what they want, with that constant deceptive smile that has worked charms for her.

She loves being the center of attention. She is socially manipulative. And always dresses and walks like a supermodel on the Vogue runway. With her perfect hair and makeup.

Ugh, what a headache. Now, how in God's name was she going to pull all that off?

The light knock on her door broke into her thoughts. She sighed and rose to her feet, then made her way to the door.

Eva was standing elegantly at the door, a slender hand on her knees, her perfectly shaped lips pursed.

"What the hell do you want?" Ava demanded hostilely, eyes hardening as she folded her arms defensively.

"Oh, don't get your panties in a twist, Sis, I come in peace," Eva grinned at her. "I'm here to give you a makeover. On how to be me."