Chapter 44

Lena was still pacing about in the house thinking about what she was going to do. Paul already told her to stay here and not leave Joanna's house but she was starting to get really worried. The both of them already confirmed now that Joanna was missing. What could he possibly do? Even though Lena already knew the reason why Paul said that they should keep it a secret, she felt that it was useless. People are going to find out that she is missing sooner or later anyway. The best thing to do now was to make it public so that they can find her.
Sure she did not like Joanna at all but she had been working with her or a few months already. Even if she did not like someone at all, she is still human! She won't want the person to just completely disappear without a trace the way that Joanna has disappeared. But what could she do except worry? It was already almost dark and Paul was still not yet back. Where did he go? Lena was still pacing up and down when she saw Paul walk into the house.
But he did not come alone. He was with someone else....and that person was Joanna? Lena was surprised. She had been trying to reach Joanna all day but her calls were all immediately connected to voice mail. She already contacted everyone that Joanna knows but no one knew her whereabouts. But Paul just went out and he brought her back? She definitely is Joanna, but why is she looking around like she is lost? And she looked different. Lena only took one glance at her and she knew that she looked different from before.
For instance, the clothes that she was wearing. Joanna is a vain person who always wanted to get the attention of others no matter where she went and so she would never wear such cheap clothes. And the clothes were completely soaked! Obviously she was in the rain, why would Joanna do this to herself? And she did not look as arrogant as she always did, Joanna always carried an arrogant air with her, but she did not look like that at all. But Lena could not be bothered to think about these things. The fact that Joanna is back was good enough for her. She went to Joanna immediately and hugged her. "Joanna, you are back! Where did you find her?" Lena asked Paul.
Allen struggled to free herself from the hug. She looked at the woman that had just hugged her. Allen could see that she was actually very young. This person should not be older than twenty years. She could see that the woman actually looked very relieved to see her. But Allen did not know how she should respond to this hug of hers. She did not know whether the real Joanna was close with her or not. Allen touched her face subconsciously. Even though Paul had been telling her the same thing all day, she still had not completely accepted that she had exactly the same face as someone else. Hearing someone call her that name, she did not know how to feel.
Lena saw the way "Joanna" was acting. She knew instantly that something was wrong. She had always been gone for a day and she already changed this much? First of all, the real Joanna would never let her hug her like this. Lena had hugged her in a moment of surprise but she was actually expecting to be pushed away by her. But she did not do that. She just stood there looking at with her a confused expression on her face. It could not be that that legendary scene in dramas happened to Joanna right? She did not lose her memory right?
Lena could no longer contain her excitement. She really wanted to ask what was going on. Why is Joanna like this? Why is she looking at her weirdly like she did not recognize her at all? And why is Paul just standing there without doing anything? What really happened to Joanna in the hours that she had been gone? And where did she even go in the first place? "Joanna, what happened to you? Do you know how worried Mike and I was? You said that you were going to meet me at the set but I did not see you at all! So I came here and called Paul. Where have you been?" Lena asked.
Paul felt that it was time that he stepped into the situation. He could already see that Allen did not know what to say. Actually, he brought Allen here because he did not want to decieve Lena. Besides, if he tried to fool Lena, then everything would blow up in his face. He could tell her about her daily life but when it comes to her acting, Lena is the person that was always with her. She is the only one that will be able to tell Allen everything about Joanna's acting. And besides, he won't be able to fool everyone on his own.
He was definitely going to need the help of someone and that someone is Lena. So he brought her here. He was sure that Lena will cooperate. If people know that Joanna has run away and her career gets destroyed, Lena will be out of her job too so she could only play along with them until he finds the real Joanna and bring her back. "Lena, I have something really important to say to you. This person, this woman she is not Joanna. Joanna, I still don't know where she is but I am definitely going to find her! But this woman, she is Allen, not Joanna" Paul said. He felt that if he told her it all at once she won't be able to accept it. Let her process this information first.
Lena opened her mouth wide in shock. She could not believe what she was hearing. So this woman, she is not Joanna? She is Allen? How is that even possible? How can someone who is not Joanna look exactly like Joanna? Really what game is Joanna and Paul trying to play here? Is this some kind of a joke? But even though Lena did not want to believe it, she had to admit that there were some differences between Joanna and this woman. In fact immediately she walked in and she hugged her, Lena had started to notice that something was wrong.
For instance, Joanna won't be caught dead by anyone wearing those clothes! Not that Lena had any problem with the style, but Joanna always wanted attention and she would never wear anything that wasn't eye catching. And her temperament. The Joanna she works for is always rude by why is this woman looking at her like she was scared? So in her mind, Lena knew that something wasn't right. So if she is not Joanna, does this mean that Joanna has a twin sister? But she has never talked about a twin! How is it possible? "Wait, so you are telling me now that this woman is not Joanna. So who is she? How can she look so much like Joanna?" Lena asked.
Paul felt that it was time that he stepped into the situation. He could already see that Allen did not know what to say. Actually, he brought Allen here because he did not want to decieve Lena. Besides, if he tried to fool Lena, then everything would blow up in his face. He could tell her about her daily life but when it comes to her acting, Lena is the person that was always with her. She is the only one that will be able to tell Allen everything about Joanna's acting. And besides, he won't be able to fool everyone on his own.
Paul cleared his throat thinking about how he was going to explain it to Lena. He just hoped that she won't be too shocked. After all, he knew that the idea was crazy but right now, it's the only thing that they could do. If they did not think of a crazy plan like this then everything would go down the drain. Everything that Joanna has worked for. "Lena, you know that no one can find out that Joanna has run away. It would only ruin her reputation and her career. I don't know about you but I can't let that happen to Joanna at all! I can't let the reputation that she worked hard to build be destroyed by anyone"
Paul gave it some time for that information for digest before he continued. Something like this, a crazy plan like this, you had to be well prepared to listen to it and accept it. "Actually, I've known Miss Allen for some time now. When I first saw her, I was shocked too. I did not think that there is any way that a situation and concidence like this can be possible. I've already checked. She is not related to Joanna in any way. Anyway, my point is, Allen can help us. I already made an agreement with her. She will pretend to be Joanna for six months. Before that time, I'll definitely find her and everything will be back to normal" Paul said.
Lena sat down. She felt that she was going to fall down if she tried to process this information standing up. So this person in front of her, she is a look alike who doesn't have any relations with Joanna but looks completely like her? And Paul brought her here so she can pretend to be someone else for six months? What sort of idea is this? No matter what, no matter how much she looks like Joanna, she is definitely not Joanna! Just because you look exactly like someone doesn't mean that you are that person.
There will definitely be differences. After all, people are different. Lena was skeptical about the idea. She did not think that it was going to work. People are definitely going to notice something. After all, had she not noticed something immediately she saw her? How can they even fool everyone with this look alike? "So you are saying that this person looks like Joanna but is not her? And she doesn't have any relations to Joanna at all? Is that what you are saying? If she doesn't have any relations to her, did she have plastic surgery? And also you want her to pretend to be Joanna for six months? Paul will this work?" Lena was confused.
Allen felt that she should say something now. Before she did not say anything because she wasn't sure why Paul brought her here to see this woman but she could already guess what was going on. This woman and Joanna must be really close. She must know Joanna really well. So Paul is letting her in on this so they can create a wonderful show for everyone. She had to give it to him. He had it all planned out. "I really don't know how this Joanna is but I've heard that I look like her. I'm starting to believe it, seeing your reaction. And I've never had any plastic surgery. I don't have money for that" Allen said
Immediately she opened her mouth, the two people in the house turned to look at her. Allen knew that they were surprised to hear her talk but she did not mind at all. She really did not like hearing that she had undergone plastic surgery. She did not do anything like that! And besides, she is only here for the money. As long as they tell her what to do, she can definitely do it well. "You don't have to worry about anything. I'll do it well. You just have to tell me what to do. And I hear that she is an actress. I'll definitely play the part well" Allen concluded.
Lena looked from Allen to Paul. It seems like Paul already told her everything. But does this woman know that the person she wants to impersonate is about to get married? If they will be putting on a show, there will have to go all out. Including the marriage. From the look of things, they won't be able to postpone it anymore. In fact, Lena was almost sure that Joanna already set a date for the marriage. "Alright. Paul is right. If we don't do this and people find out, Joanna will be finished. We have to protect her career. But do you know that Joanna is about to get married? In other words, you will be getting married in a few days?" Lena asked.
His substitute bride
Written by authoress Mira