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When she was crying, suddenly Anya walked in the room. Seeing her, Celeste wiped the tears on her face, "Mom."

Anya smiled widely at her and gave her a light peck on the cheeks, "Oh, my. See how beautiful my daughter is looking. You are the most beautiful bride I've ever seen, Celes. Don't you think your sister is the prettiest? Anasta."

Until now, Celeste looked so dead but as she heard the name of her elder sister she ran to Anasta and hugged her, "Anasta. Are you all right? I looked for you yesterday but couldn't find you. Mom said you were staying in your friend's house."

Anasta stole a glance at her mother and hugged her back, "Yes, I was so scared. I ran away and met one of my friends on the way. They helped me."

Though the bride was Celeste, Anya and Anasta could grab everyone's attention with their appearance. At one glance, it looked a little too much to her but then she thought, they were probably trying to hide their sadness with make-up and all.

"That's good, that's good. I am relieved that you are safe."

"Yeah."

Anya held Celeste's hand and added, "By the way, Celes. Do not eat anything until I say, ok? Your groom is saying that he won't marry you if you look too fat."

Hearing her, Celeste looked at her mother with a shocked expression on her face. Unlike she saw her crying yesterday, Anya looked so much happier today. Didn't she feel bad for her? Maybe she was too sad but didn't want to show it? Celeste thought so.

Anasta pulled her mother's hand teasingly and smirked, "Mom, stop it. Celes is embarrassed, don't you see? They are getting married today. Of course, she will keep herself fit for her wedding night."

A feeling of anger washed over her as she heard Anasta. As a sister, how could she say something like that? As if Celeste was so happy to get married to the old man. Her mother and elder sister who always treated her nice and loved her felt somewhat unfamiliar to her today. They looked more excited than the bride was supposed to be.

"Alright, girls. The wedding will start soon, we can't slack off. Anyway, Celes." Pulling her in a warm embrace, Anya voiced, "Thank you so much, baby. You are sacrificing yourself for us, I know you are sad but please, forgive your mother. My hands are tied."

"Mom, I know that. I... I will marry him so please don't worry." Celeste assured her though her heart throbbed in pain.

"Yes, thank you."

"Oh, right. Mom, how is dad? Is he better now?"

Anya's happy face turned a bit paler as she was asked that. She stole a glance at Anasta and chuckled sheepishly, "Your d-dad? Yeah, he is better now. Don't worry. You just need to focus on your wedding."

"Yes, mom."

Anya bid her goodbye and as they were gone, Celeste wiped off her tears. She looked at the mirror and told herself, "It's ok. You have to do this. If you marry him, he will let your parents off the hook. Your sisters will be safe. You can do it."

Hearing footsteps nearing the room, she grabbed the veil when suddenly a familiar voice called out to her excitedly, "Sista."

"Keith?" Celeste walked to her and pulled her in her chest, giving her a warm hug.

Unlike Celeste who had red hair and big blue eyes, Anasta and Keith had silver hair with brown eyes like Anya and her husband. Some people said why did she look so different than them, maybe she was not their blood, she was adopted and etc but Celeste ignored them always.

"Nobody wants me to see you, everyone is bad." Keith who turned 6 somedays ago complained.

"Who didn't let you see me?"

"Mom, dad, Ana... Everyone."

While Keith called Anasta as 'Ana', she called Celeste as 'Sista'.

"D-dad?" Celeste was surprised to hear her.

'Mom said that dad is in the hospital, even when I asked her earlier she told me that. There's no way he is here. Maybe, Keith saw it wrong.'

Nodding her head in agreement, Keith answered. "Yes, he told me that today is an important day for everyone so I should not disturb anyone but play with other kids."

Celeste was having trouble figuring things out. "Keith, did you rea.... I mean, are you sure it's our dad who told you that?"

Keith nodded her head big time. "Yes, I am."

"Keith, tell me this. Where were you yesterday?"

"I was at home. I waited for you but you did not come."

'Mom told me that she sent Keith to our neighbours...' Taking a quick peek at the door, she sat Keith on the chair and asked, "Did you see an old man come to our home? Or... Did you hear any kind of noises in the living room yesterday?"

"Uhmm..." Remembering something, Keith shook her head, "Yes, I remember. I was sleeping in my room then suddenly I heard some noises downstairs. Mom, dad didn't know that I was awake so I kept hidden hehe."

"I see. Keith, did you see what our mom and dad were doing at that time? If they talked to the old man..."

"Yes, they were talking to an old man. I... Heard they said... Mom said that if I act, she... she will melt. Don't worry, just be ready with the money."

"Then?"

"Then... The old man said that... there's half. After we are married, I will pay you the whole thing."

Celeste stepped backwards, until her back hit the wall. She tried to disbelieve everything continuously but she no longer could do it. Now, everything was making sense to her.

'I am their daughter also, why would she do this to me? It sounds so weird, can it be that it's not what am I thinking? Wait, it's me who is getting married so there's no way... '

Suddenly the reality hit her and Celeste wiped off her tears. "Keith, do you love me?"

"Yes, I love you the most. Sista."

"Ok. Let's play a game, shall we?"

* Half an hour later *

Hiding behind the curtain, she glanced around cautiously. After trying for long, she finally managed to escape but the men chased after her.

Some men in formal suits were searching the areas in the hallway and one of them added, "You check that way and you that way. She can't run far with that heavy wedding gown."

"Yes, boss."

The sound of people's footsteps running around got her, as she saw them running to different directions she patted her chest. Celeste took a furtive look around and upon noticing the gallery in her opposite, a tight-lipped smile appeared on her face.

Taking a look at both directions, she quickly ran towards the gallery. But halfway to her destination, she noticed two men coming back.

'Damn it! Why are they coming back? Now, how do I hide now? I can't go there in their presence.'

A tall man of 6'1" with blond hair and light brown eyes walked past her, he just had casually wore black shirt with black jeans yet he could grab everyone's attention, his sharp facial features could put the male models aside in one cast. In this earth where living beings existed, he looked like an extremely handsome beast... So unearthly.

Seeing the men walk towards her direction, a great idea came into her brain. Celeste grabbed the strange man's right hand by her left one and pulled him close saying, "I am sorry, sir. Please do me a favor."

Taken aback by her sudden appearance, the mysterious man stood still. His beautiful brown eyes kept blinking in nervousness as her slow, deep breaths grazed his skin. While he was too stunned to speak because of the sudden disturbance by the strange woman who approached him out of nowhere, she could smell his cool lemony cologne that filled her nostrils.

For a moment, she found herself so immersed in his presence that the two men chasing her became almost non-existent.

Celeste peeked at the distance and seeing the two men still there, she quickly grabbed the mysterious man's shirt. As a result, three of his shirt buttons were gone while revealing a small part of his tanned chest.

As her eyes fixated on his chest, a gulp went down her throat. 'So sexy.' she heard herself mumbling.

The man clenched his fists in rage, nobody ever insulted him like this, less talk about a woman.

Feeling her lustful gazes focused on him, the man was utterly disgusted. He slowly touched her arm and his soft touch on her arm made Celeste self-aware. She stood still and mumbled under her breath, 'Oh no! He is a pervert.'

Celeste snuck a peek at the men and murmured, 'They are still here, I can't run away. But this man keeps touching me.'

Getting a grip of her hand, the mysterious man ordered in a cold tone of voice, "Let go."

"I'm sorry, sir. Please, stay a little more."

"Let go right now." He blurted out annoyingly.

Ignoring his order, Celeste looked at the men again and just then the handsome man tried getting away from her.

"Sir, please. A little more." Celeste insisted, holding onto his shirt firmly.

Suddenly his shirt was ripped apart as they both tried to pull and push. Her hands trembled and she looked at the small piece of clothes in her hand while the man looked so furious.

'Ohh, no. What did I do?'

"Well, I... I didn't mean to do it. It was accidental. I am so sorry, sir. And thank you so much for helping. May God bless you with abundance of happiness." Saying so she quickly ran away from there, leaving the man standing still.

"President, what happened to you?" Another tall man named, Atlas rushed to the mysterious man immediately and he was flabbergasted the moment he saw his boss's ripped shirt.

"Can't you tell just by looking?"

Atlas looked at the man closely and uttered, "Well, looks like someone... Did someone harass you? Who is it? Who dare..."

"It's a crazy woman." The man angrily spat out.

"Judging by the way she tore your shirt, she must be a pervert." Atlas commented.

"You seem to like her very much."

"Me? No, no. I was just..." Cutting him off, the man asked him while putting on a coat, "When is the wedding starting?"

"Oh, we don't have much time. President, we have to go now. Our men are waiting inside."

Putting on the coat, as the man walked away Atlas followed after him. He looked around discreetly, checking if there was any danger around his boss.

"These days are so bad. Women are so bold, they jump on men like animals. I feel bad for whoever gets this type of wife, their lives must be a living hell."