Chapter 43

Paul had been outside waiting for Allen. He wasn't prepared to leave until she agreed to do what he wanted to do. He knew that he was being selfish right now but he really did not have a choice. Right now, he did not know where Joanna is. She had definitely run away! By the time that she comes back, her career would definitely be over! Joanna spent so much effort on it. He definitely won't let someone destroy her career like this. Besides, he said that he will do everything to protect her.
If he can't protect the career that she spent so much time on, then how can he stand by her side and protect her? He won't be able to do that. He stood outside the bar waiting for Allen. Then, it started to rain. He went to his car and got an umbrella. Then he came back to wait. He saw her walk out from the bar. But she did not see him. She just kept walking on and on in the rain, he wanted to call out to her but he stopped. She seemed like something has happened to her in there.
Paul did not say anything. He just continued to follow behind her like this. Then she tripped on a stone and fell. Paul stopped, looking at her. He was expecting her to get up but she did not get up. She just sat on the ground. It was raining heavily. She was soaked to the skin. He was beginning to wonder what had happened to her. She is in this state and she doesn't even notice it? Then he heard a sound. It sounded as if she was trying.....to stiffle her tears? Then, she started to cry.
Paul stood rooted to one spot. What really happened to her? He already guessed that her working conditions in that place weren't that great but what happened that was enough to make her cry like this? He could not continue to watch like this. He walked over to her and coveted her with an umbrella. She looked up. Without making any attempt to get up, she gave him an approving look. "You, that offer of yours, if you still want, I'll do it. I'll become Joanna" She said. Paul looked at her. Is she really going to do do it ?
When Allen looked up and saw Paul, she already made her decision. She did not want to continue to live like this. He said that he was going to change her life right? If she takes the chance, will she be able to change the bad things that are happening in her life right now? She was constantly being looked down on by everyone because she was poor. Just now, she clearly did not do anything wrong to that woman, but she still slapped her and asked from an apology for her because she is a waitress.
Allen also knew that the people at the bar thought that the woman was wrong too, she had seen them whispering to each other, but no one was ready to come to her rescue. Why would they do that for her? Isn't she just a waitress? Even if she gets bullied by everyone, even if she gets slapped, she won't be able to do anything to them anyway. She just had to accept the treatment. But Allen did not want to do that anymore. Besides, she still had her grandmother to think about right. She can't be selfish and watch her grandmother die. "I'll become Joanna" she said again.
Paul looked at her. This is what he wanted. This is why he came here. This is why he had been standing here in this heavy rain and terrible weather for more than an hour now, and she finally agreed that she is going to do that, but seeing her like this, she does it hurt him so much? She agreed to do what he wants, so why does he feel so bad for her? What is going on with him? Is it because she looks like Joanna? Paul shook his head. He knew that he was doing a very dangerous thing. No matter how much she looks like Joanna, she just isn't Joanna. Paul did not know now but he would be reminding himself of this everyday from now on.
He helped her get up. There is no need for him to think too much about this. She already agreed to do this so he should be thankful to her. He can get to protect the career of his friend like he always wanted to do, that is a good thing. No need to think too much about it. Besides, it's something that's not going to last for six months, after six months, she is going to go on her way and continue to live her life. They won't have any reason to see each other from then on. "Alright, thank you for accepting to do this. You don't know much this means to me" Paul said..
Allen shook her head. She did not think that he should be thanking him. No matter how much she thought of it, this is fraud. She was commiting fraud and impersonation tight now. But it wasn't as if she had a choice. Right now her entire life is a mess, she desperately needed something like this if she was ever going to get a chance to then her life around. Her grandmother was also waiting for her at the hospital, so even though she was commiting a fraud, she still wanted to do it so that she could bring her grandmother back to her side..
She was doing it because of the money that he said he was going to give to her. She isn't doing it for him as a favour. So there is no need for him to thank her. "You don't need to thank me for anything. I'm not doing this as a favour for you. I don't even know who this Joanna woman is. I'm doing it because I really need the money. And you are right. My grandmother is in the hospital. She really needs me right now. I can't be selfish and just watch my grandmother die because I have to protect my pride right? I'm doing it because of the money" Allen said.
Paul nodded his head. He knew that she was doing it because of this reason. That was the only way that she would agree to impersonate someone and live thier life for six months. But hearing this from her, why does he keep feeling like he is a bad person? "Of course. I know that. But you don't know how much this means. But you are right. You don't Joanna. The two of you might look alike but you are completely different. It would be very difficult to pretend to be her. Of course no matter how much I am going to pay you for this, I have to thank you for this" Paul said.
Allen nodded her head. She did not care about those details. She really needed the money to save her grandmother and turn her life around. As for the basics of pretending to be her and living her daily life, since Paul knows her really well, he will be able to guide her on how to do that. "I don't care about those details. Right now, I really need that money. I need to save my grandmother. You know this woman really well right? As long as you tell me everything about her, I'm sure that I will be able to do it" Allen said. After all, she always wanted to be an actress. Maybe if she takes this as some big acting project, it would be easier.
Paul sighed. It seems like he will have to tell Allen was everything. Joanna is different from her. She is a celebrity. She is an actress. If she is going to pretend to be Joanna, then she will need to take on her jobs. But can this woman do a good job acting? What if she blows up everything? "You see the thing is Joanna, she is an actress. If you are going to pretend to be her for six months, then you should be able to take on her jobs. Are you sure that you can act? In front of cameras?" Paul asked. He was starting to have doubts about this crazy idea of his.
Allen stopped. Can she act? Acting has been her one and only dream since she could think for herself. She really wanted to act. But at some point, she had to give up her dream. Can she act? Of course it's something that she can do perfectly well. She can act. She was all the more interested in this. For the six months, and can live her dream. Even if she won't be able to do it after that, at least for six months, with another person's identity, she would be able to live her dream. But she did not tell these things to Paul. She felt that he did not need to know. "Of course I can act" was the only thing that she said.
"Come, we have to go somewhere first" Paul said.
Vivian was in her house. She was sitting on the couch. She kept thinking about that call that she had received from Lena Joanna's assistant. She could not help but feel that something was wrong. That something has happened to Joanna. Why will Joanna's assistant call and ask if Joanna spent the night here? Ever since that witch moved away, when has she ever come back to spend the night at thier place? She once said that she would rather sleep on the street! Even if she no longer has anywhere to go, she would never come here. And her assistant knows that.
So why did she call to ask if Joanna came here? Vivian could not help but think that something happened to Joanna. She could sense from Lena's voice that something was wrong. In fact Vivian was almost sure that she was crying. Did something bad happen to that Joanna? If something did happen to her, then it's knot great! She has done so many bad things to people so something like this can only be her karma! It's great that something bad probably happened to her. She won't need to be annoyed by that witch anymore.
Lydia came out of her room and saw that her mother was smiling gleefully. She wondered what happened to make her mother smile so happily. She really wanted to know what good has happened so she went to her mother and asked, "Mom, what happened? Did something good happen to you? You've been smiling happily for some quite some time now. Do you want to share with me what good has happened to you?" Lydia asked smiling. She sat down next to her mother.
Vivian turned to look at her daughter. You could see the excitement in her eyes. She was really very happy. If something has happened to that witch Joanna, then this means that her daughter will have nothing stopping her from being with Raymond Walker! It really is a wonderful development for them! "Lydia, I think that something really good will happen soon! You know today, Joanna's secretary called and asked if Joanna spent the night here. Why would that witch sleep here? I think that something bad has happened to Joanna! That serves her right. She is so evil! If something really has happened to her, you won't have any problems being with Raymond!" Vivian said.
Lydia stopped to think. Something happened to Joanna? She is so close to getting married. Why will something happen to her? Joanna is very smart. She has been really careful these days since she is going to get married. She definitely won't let something happen to her like this. She definitely will be careful. Maybe this is a trap for them to fall into? If something really bad has happened to her then it's all too good! But they can't take chances. They have to be careful. "Mom, don't do anything now. I'll try to find out what happened" Lydia said.
Paul and Allen pulled up in front of a house. Allen looked around. She was in awe. These people sure are living great.
Paul pulled her into a house. Allen was still looking around when someone hugged her immediately!
"Joanna, you are back! Where did you find her?"
His substitute bride
Written by authoress Mira