002

Getting out of the cab, Celeste ran towards the small building at the end of the street. When she heard her mother's crying tone of voice, she was so worried.

As Celeste walked through the door, she saw her mother sitting on the ground with things scattered everywhere. Celeste quickly ran to her mother and helped her get up, "Mom, what happened? Why everything is..."

"Celes, please save us. Please, help. We will die. Please..." Her mother, Anya grabbed her hand helplessly and cried out.

"Mom, calm down and tell me, what exactly happened?"

"Celes, we are in big trouble. Nobody can save us except for you."

"Mom, what are you saying? I don't understand. Please, what exactly are you..."

Anya darted a fearful glance around and uttered, "They... they are h... Ahhh!"

Celeste had a loving family, her parents and two sisters were her everything. Due to their house being small for five people, she started staying in the house her grandmother left for her.

Suddenly as a small piece of broken furniture fell down the stairs, both Celeste and her mother looked in the direction. Some men walked down from upstairs and Celeste quickly hid Anya behind her. "Mom, who are they? What are they doing in our house?"

"They..." Anya grabbed her hand in fright and the words stuck in her throat as one of the men kicked on the chair.

"We couldn't find any money. Where did you keep it?" An old man around fifty-five years old asked while rubbing his bald head. His overweight tummy carried most of his weight and he was not that tall.

"What money are they talking about?" Confused to hear them, Celeste looked at her mother.

"Celes, we are sorry. We... We took..."

"I asked where the money is?" They kicked on the table this time.

Anya sobbed and blurted out, "We really don't have any money. Please, believe us."

"Believe you? You have taken so much money from us but while paying, you keep giving excuses. And now, that we caught you. You don't want to pay but do drama?"

Hearing one of them talk, Celeste stared at her mother. She was devastated and shocked at the same time. "Mom, what are they talking about? I remember paying all the sum last time. Why is there a new loan?"

"It's... We actually needed it for the company. Who knew we wouldn't make profit but lose. We have to..."

"I ask again, where the money is? We don't have time for your bullshit. Pay us or..."

Suddenly, Anya got down on her knees and cried out, "We really don't have any. We are not lying."

"B!tch. If you don't pay, we..."

As one of the men was about to hit her mother, Celeste kneeled, "Sir, we really don't have any money right now. But if you give us some time, we will surely pay."

"We can't give you anymore time." One of them looked at the other and said so.

Anya pulled her daughter's hand and muttered, "Celes, what do we do now? They beat your dad, he was sent to the hospital. You see the situation here? It's them who broke things off. If we don't pay them today then..."

"Dad is in the hospital? Why didn't you tell me t..." Celeste's eyes became teary as she got worried for her father. "Please, sir. I work for some part-time jobs, I can have the money soon. I beg you, just give me some time."

"Part-time jobs? Girl, how much do you think you owe us?"

Celeste looked at her mother and she didn't say a thing. It was sometime ago when Celeste had completed paying all the money they owed to the loanshark. She strictly told her parents to not take another loan but who knew...

"It's 2 million dollars. Do you think we are fools? Even if you sell your kidneys, you cannot arrange that amount. Stop fooling us. Woman!"

'2 million dollars?' As if thunder stricken her, she couldn't even move from her place. That much? It was not even 1 million, the last time she had to pay a smaller amount and it took her time to pay it but now...

"Mom, is he telling the truth?"

"Yeah... Celes, I'm sorry. I..."

Celeste's body trembled hearing her clarification. She seriously didn't have a full-time job, with her part-time jobs how could she afford to pay that much? It was not a joke.

The old man eyed Celeste from her head to toe and an evil smirk spread across his lips. He licked his lips lustfully and voiced, "Looking at how desperate you are, I can be a little merciful."

Hearing him, Celeste looked at her mother and smiled but then her smile vanished from her face as he made an offer, "If you marry me, I will let go of your debt."

Her blood boiled and she gritted her teeth, she could feel his dirty gazes scanning her body continuously. 'I really want to damage his eyes with my bare hands but I can't do that since my family is involved. Damn old baldie!'

"Please, give me 2 years. I..." Keeping calm, she requested.

"2 years? Are you kidding me? If you want to pay then pay by tonight. Or else, I will send you guys to jail." The old man shouted and Celeste stepped backwards in fear.

Anya held her hand gently from behind and cried out, "Celes, what do we do now? Your dad is in the hospital, will he survive? What if they kill him?"

"Mom, don't say that. I... I will think of something."

In her family, she was in the middle among her siblings. The elder daughter was named Anasta while the younger one was named Keith. They had a small company, her father worked very hard on it.

"Stop talking between yourselves. Either give me my money or accept my proposal."

"I will never marry you. You old fart!" Celeste blurted out, disgusted that even though he looked like her grandfather he had such dirty thoughts.

"You! How dare you scream at me! You dirty little sl*t!"

Anya pulled her hand and stood before her like a protective shield. "Do not touch my daughter."

"Like a mother like a daughter. How about you sleep with me? Come." The old man pulled Anya's hand while she tried to get away from him and the rest of the men laughed loudly.

"Mom."

"Don't worry. Once I fvck you, it will be your daughter's turn. They are young so I will be merciful." The old man chuckled while dragging Anya away.

The men laughing like some demons and her mother crying for help broke her heart. Celeste looked down, a drop of tears escaping her eyes.

Her life was not a fairytale but she was happy with everything she had. Celeste only wished to get married to the man she loved, have kids with him and grow old with him. But in a day, not only her dream shattered but she was in a life and death situation.

"Let go! Don't touch me." Anya cried helplessly.

Suddenly Celeste screamed, "I will do it. I... I accept it."

Upon hearing her, the old man smiled shyly. Letting go of Anya's hand, he said, "I apologise, mother-in-law. Please forgive me for being rude."

Taking a quick glance at Celeste, he ordered his men, "Boys, as you see I am getting married tomorrow. Clear up this place and prepare for my wedding. It must be the greatest wedding of the year." And throwing a fly kiss at Celeste, he walked away.

"Celes, my baby." Running to her, Anya pulled her in an embrace. "I know you said it to save us, you are sacrificing yourself for us. Celes, I don't know what to say. I am proud of you and thankful to God that you are my daughter."

Like a statue, she stood still. She didn't even get to cry for her heartbreak from her cheating boyfriend, and now she was going to marry an old jerk who looked at her like he would jerk off anytime anywhere he gets to be close to her.

Seeing her crying, Anya patted her back. "Celes, my daughter. Cry it all out and be free. Tomorrow is your wedding day."

Celeste hugged her mother, her heart broke in thousands of pieces. 'My cheating boyfriend hurt me, wasn't it enough? Now, am I really going to marry that old man? Is there no way to save myself from this hell? O God, if you are hearing my prayers. Please, show me a way so I can escape this.'

* The Next Day *

People kept walking in and out of the door except for Celeste who was sitting in front of the mirror like a doll.

A beautiful wedding dress, a simple ring and a tiara, looking like a doll, with her family members present and with the man she loved always. Celeste imagined such a wedding for so many times but in front of today, that day was merely a far-fetched dream.

Celeste kept looking at the mirror, the corner of her eyes was bloody red. She cried all night and kept wishing for a miracle to happen. Since her family would be in danger if she escaped, she didn't dare do it but the thought of marrying the oldie made her blood boil.

"Mam, your make up is done." The make-up artist smiled at her and left the room.

Her long red wavy hair was tied in a beautiful messy bun, and with the make-up, she looked absolutely breathtaking today.

Celeste looked at the mirror again, it was yesterday when she wanted to surprise her boyfriend so she tried that wedding dress bought by her hard-earned money just to find him cheating and now she was going to get married to an old man.

Ridiculous!

"I am finally a bride... " A drop of tears escaped her eyes as she muttered so.