The Substitute Twin Bride

place?" the w

address on the message she had received on her phone. It wa

xter had heard from her sister, and t

doing in a pl

ercepted-by security. Given her plain appearance, anyone accustomed to ser

e are you going?"

hone. "I'm Rose. I was invited by Romild

ed instantly. "Ah, yes. She spec

s widened.

. Please f

"Seven years wasn't that long to rise to the hi

ancial struggles had been the root of their parents' endless arguments f

years ago. Rose went with their mother

ers. But the divorce had caused Romilda to treat Rose

that her mother was seriously ill and

milda suddenly responded that day. She a

or. What should she say? Should she give Romilda an immediate hug?

e go ahead." The hotel staff r

breath as the d

lf-naked man standing in the doorwa

eeey!!!" th

came a voice

oks lik

r eyes, unsure of what to say. Ha

Romilda's sister, right

sitantly and s

pacious living area with floor-to-ceiling windows, a sleek kit

nviting sand-colored couch. She watched him disappe

. Then, a woman emerged from the bedroom, wearing a cr

a mirror. Rose saw herself in Romil

a mused with a soft chuckle. "Yo

swallowed hard. "Yo

r faces may be the same, but

deep breath. The sting of

's demeanor changed, bu

ter all this time? They had been inseparable

t

ns apparently wasn't enough to keep their bond

?" Rose asked, cha

. "So, what do you want? T

our

you, I haven't had a

choice when their father forced Romilda to go with hi

manipulator, convinced the court to spli

earing this. The bitterness in her eyes told Rose

Rose asked, trying t

arkly. "I don't kn

ppened,

k about the past." Romilda crossed

hospital the last few years." Rose cleared her thr

eds my money for

to care for and support her mother, never once thin

n you were living like this, we would never

g her jump. She quickly pulled it out

voice was strain

ack. Can you come to the hospital? We need

gery for months because she couldn't afford it. Neither she nor

ll be there so

iss Rose. We'

d shakily, her eyes dull as

urgery," Rose said. "I'm glad you're okay, Romild

tely; she just stared at Rose

Romilda,"

milda sighed. "Wha

t sur

the c

It wasn't as if Rose wou

on it," Rose

This surgery is going to cos

at's why I'll do what

make a deal? I'll pay for it... but you have

kind o

deal she had in mind. She simply as

ve. Her mother's bypass surgery was scheduled to b

elp. Perhaps she had just been playing games with Rose and her mother's life.

e was

with the man Rose had

omilda looked like a movie star from the '60s or '70s. Clearly, she was try

ver to the man on her arm and whispered something before dismissin

roached

Thank you for visi

ted?" Romilda asked col

ow could the surgery begin if th

shook her head w

g? Just sit around and wallow

eeling small and powerle

er, are you? That way, your mother

you want from me,

formed on R

ur virgini