1 The Beautiful Bride

"In a world full of hatred, betrayals, and lies, love gives a fairy tale right in the middle of ordinary life. A tale of misunderstandings, heartbreak, jealousy, and true love. We often come across such stories that end with a wedding saying, And they lived happily ever after. But stories are just imaginary works by the people. The reality clearly shows the juxtaposition between a fairy tale and an ordinary life, " Elizabeth said with a condescending sneer to her younger sister Rosie who is eight years younger to her.

Roseline, who was setting Elizabeth's hair noticed the change of tone in her elder sister's words. She looked at Elizabeth through the reflection of the mirror. The beautiful bride who was supposed to have a bright smile on her face was getting ready with a broken heart. Looking at her elder sister's gloomy face, Roseline was dismayed. She knew the reason why Elizabeth was unhappy on the day of her wedding as she was aware of the truth that, her sister was in a relationship with a guy during her high school days due some reasons the guy left to states after breaking up with her but Roseline doesn't know anything about him because Elizabeth never revealed his name to her younger sister. Roseline wanted to help her stepsister but the eighteen-year-old girl was unable to rescue her sister from getting married to the person whom she doesn't love.

"I know why you are saying like that, why didn't you tell father that you have someone you love?" Roseline questioned her sister.

Elizabeth gave a smile of helpless before looking at Roseline, " this marriage is not between two people but a deal between two companies," said Elizabeth in a dry voice.

Stung by her sister's mockery, Roseline was out of words. Before she could ask her sister something, she heard a knock of the door and cocked her head to the side when the door was opened with a creak. It was Roseline's parents. The old couple looked at each other proudly after seeing their beautiful daughter.

Roseline's mother Michelle Carter and her father John Carter stood in front of her, whose face was lit up with glee.

"It's time for the wedding bells to ring," said Michelle with a bright smile.

John came closer to his daughter, taking her hand in his hands, "Our daughter looks beautiful, doesn't she? " John asked his wife.

"Both the daughters of yours are the most beautiful girls," corrected John's wife Michelle.

John stroked his daughter's hair gently with a smile on his face but the smile disappeared as he looked at Elizabeth who was in her wedding gown.

"You better behave yourself after marriage. Act accordingly and don't end up doing things which would make us bend our head in front of the old man," John said to Elizabeth curtly to which she had to nod in agreement.

Elizabeth clutched her dress, she was to tears but she didn't let her tears roll down on her cheeks. Today she was going to get married because of him but not even once he spoke to her with love and affection. It wasn't the first time that her foster father spoke to her this way. She has got used to receiving such treatment from him after the death of her real father, Elizabeth never understood what made a man like him who treated her like a princess before the death of her parents is now treating her in this way. Times like this, she missed her real parents who died when she was young.

"She won't do anything that would damage your reputation," Michelle assured John.

Sometimes God takes away something unexpected from people but he replaces it with something which one could not even imagine. Elizabeth lost her parents but she was thankful that Roseline and Michelle are in her life who always supported her whenever her real father's younger brother bad mouthed her.

After assuring John, Michelle looked at Elizabeth and gave a warm smile, "You look just like your mother, Elza. Hailey would've been proud of you if she was alive today, " Michelle's words came out in whisper making Elizabeth smile.

Michelle was adjusting Elizabeth's veil when Jhon commented on Elizabeth's mother.

"Hah!! True, even she would've been proud to see her daughter love one man and marry another," John scoffed.

"You knew that she loved someone but why didn't you reject the marriage proposal at the beginning itself," Roseline interrupted.

John sighed to Roseline's words, "I was left with no other choice," John said.

"I understand. You must be having a reason to accept this marriage proposal," Elizabeth replied.

John looked at his niece who just sounded like his elder brother. His brother was a kind-hearted man who always understood him. He loved his elder brother and respected him a lot but hated his brother's wife. Every time Jhon saw Elizabeth, she reminded him of Hailey whom he hated the most. If it wasn't because of the betrayal of Elizabeth's mother, John's brother William Carter would've been alive to this date. He never hated his niece, he behaves coldly towards her because he doesn't want his niece to be like her mother. It was his way of showing his hatred towards her mother and the care and affection he has for his niece. Elizabeth being a gentle person never disrespected her foster father even though he behaves rudely at times, even though John ridicules her and her mother, she is aware that John cares for her more than Roseline.

"Good that you understood," John cleared his throat and looked away before commanding her to follow him to the entrance of the church doors.