In a world full of hatred, betrayals, and lies; love gives a fairy tale right in the middle of an ordinary life. A tale of misunderstandings, heartbreak, jealousy, and true love. We often come across stories that ends with a wedding. But stories are just imaginary works by people, where as marriage is just another beginning. An ordinary life clearly shows the juxtaposition between a fairy tale and the reality.
Elizabeth's lips were curved down forming a thin line, and her eyes didn't look bright as if she was lost in thoughts. The young girl didn't bother to take a notice of her sister who was helping her in getting dressed. Roseline wanted to speak to her sister who was a few years elder to her but chose to remain tight lipped.
She knew the reason as to why Elizabeth was unhappy on the day of her wedding, her sister was in a relationship with someone when she was still a student, due to some unknown reasons the guy left to states after breaking up with her sister. Roseline knew it was a sensitive topic for Elizabeth and had never spoken about it when she saw the reluctance in Elizabeth to talk to her about him. But that didn't mean she would let Elizabeth do something against her will, she couldn't just stay clam.
"Do you really have to marry him? You can still call off the wedding. Forget about everyone, just say one word," Roseline spoke softly, "Just one word is what you needed to say," she said.
"This marriage is not between two people but a deal between two companies. You won't understand even if I say, Rosie," thought Elizabeth smiled at her sister, it didn't reach upto her eyes.
Stung by her sister's bitter words, Roseline was out of speech. Just when she was about to ask her sister something, the two girls heard a knock on the door and cocked their head to the other 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, her gaze was at Elizabeth whose eyes were directed to the carpeted floor.
John stroked his daughter's hair gently with a smile on his face but the smile disappeared when he looked at Elizabeth.
"You better behave yourself after marriage. Act accordingly and do not let us down," John said, his words came with a hint of anguish but Elizabeth gave nod in agreement.
Elizabeth clutched her wedding gown, tears brimmed her eyes but she didn't let a single drop roll down on her cheeks. Today she was going to be married because of him but not even once did he speak to her with love and affection. It wasn't the first time that her foster father spoke to her this way. She somehow came be used to receive such treatment from him after death of her real father, Elizabeth never understood what made the man hate her when there were times he treated her like a princess when her parents were alive. These were the times when she missed her real parents who died when she was young. She needed some love and care but she didn't have anyone on who she could rely on.
"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 might 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, she was angry at her father who was clearly using her sister for his selfishness.
John sighed to Roseline's words, "You do not have any right to raise your voice at me, Rosie. You are still a child. You wouldn't understand anything," John glared at his daughter who flinched at his tone.
"I understand, father. You must be having a reason to accept this marriage proposal," Elizabeth interrupted, she didn't want to upset her uncle today.
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 John 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, his cold behaviour is a way of showing his affecting towards her though a part of him hated her because she was daughter of the woman who has caused his brother's death. Elizabeth being a kind girl 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.