Chapter 2.

Celine's POV

When I was four, my mum told me the story of Cinderella and I was fascinated by it. I wanted my love story to be like that of Cinderella. I wanted my own prince charming.

Back then, I asked my mum "mommy, do I have a prince charming like Cinderella?"

My mom gave me that loving smile which I missed so much. The thought of her beautiful smile is the only thing that can calm me down when I find myself in a difficult situation.

"Of course baby, you have a prince charming just like Cinderella."

I smiled, happily bouncing on my toes in excitement. I was happy that I had a prince charming; someone who would come around someday and sweep me off my feet. "Mommy, I want to meet him."

She laughed and pulled me to sit on her lap. "You will meet him someday when you're older, and he's going to love you so much, just like Cinderella's prince."

"B_ But what if he doesn't like me?" I asked sadly, but my mum hushed me gently.

"He will baby because you are the smartest, kindest and the most beautiful girl in the world", she kissed my chubby cheeks and I giggled.

"Hey ladies" my dad walked in dressed in his usual office suit with a smile on his face at the scene he walked in on.

I jumped off my mum's lap and rushed to him "daddy". I called in excitement, and he lowered himself with outstretched arms and I jumped into them giggling.

He laughed, twirling me around "how's my little princess doing?"

"I'm fine daddy" he smiled brightly and kissed my cheeks before walking towards my mum and doing the same.

"Hi my love"

"Hey honey. How was work?"

"As always" he sighed heavily.

My mum smiled a weird smile which I didn't understand at that time. "If you want, I can give you a massage before you take a bath."

My dad gulp "um... Sure" he grinned.

I stared at them, noticing the love surrounding them as they stared at each other, and I asked "mommy is daddy your Prince charming?"

My mum smiled so widely and I could already see the answer in her smile, "Yes baby. Your daddy is my prince charming"

From then on, I decided that I wanted a prince charming like my dad who would love me the way my Dad loved my mum.

The first day I set my eyes on Abel Carter was in my first year of high school, a few years after I moved in with the Graysons. He was laughing along with his group of friends.

He looked so gorgeous, and I couldn't take my eyes off him.

He was the most handsome boy I had ever seen in years.

His caramel hair was messy in a cute way and his hazel eyes lit up with happiness when he laughed. And his smile could make any girl weak at the knees.

He really was an angel.

I stood there staring at him awestruck. All I could see at that moment was him and when he turned around and caught my eyes, I swear my heart stopped beating.

At that moment, I realize that Abel Carter was my prince charming.

He was the one I always looked forward to on school days; the one who made my miserable life less miserable with just a glance of his smile.

But it all came to an end when he became my bully. He wasn't always a bully, but for some reason he developed hatred for me and became my biggest bully in high school.

But that didn't stop me from loving him.

I have loved Abel for a long time even though I knew he was in a relationship with Taylor Jackson and I won't deny I was more than happy when my adoptive father, Aaron Grayson informed me that Mr J Carter wanted me to get married to his son.

I was happy but scared because I knew Abel would never accept me as his wife. I tried talking to my dad and to Mr Carter, but neither of them paid me any attention. In fact, my family is more than glad to finally get rid of me.

It really hurts to be so helpless, but I refuse to lose hope. I'm sure one day, Abel will learn to love me just as much as I love him, and he won't see me as the ugly duckling whom his father forced on him but as his wife whom he loves.

"How's the beautiful bride doing?" My best friend Angela Miller's voice rang out as she walked into my room.

I quickly brushed off my tears. "Hey Angel" I tried to sound cheerful, but it seems she already knew I had been crying.

She frowned as she stared at my red puffy eyes. My back was to her, but she could still see my reflection in the mirror before me. "Celine, are you crying?" Her worried tone made me feel a bit better cause it reminded me that I still have someone who cares about me.

I gave her a weak smile. "I'm fine Angel", she stared at me unconvinced.

"No C, you're not okay. Today is supposed to be your big day, and you're crying". She settled herself on my bed but kept her eyes on mine through the mirror. Her eyes suddenly narrowed as she asked "did that d*** face hurt you?"

"Language Angel". I wasn't a fan of vulgar language, and she knew that.

"Sorry. But answer me C, did the butt head hurt you?" I sighed. Angel would never learn. In the past, Selena and I had tried so hard to get her to stop cussing, but it seems it was already a part of her. "Common C answer me. I know you went to see him last night."

I stared at her shocked, "were you spying on me?"

She smiled mischievously "something like that. Now spill"

I sighed once again. She was such an over-protective pest, but I love her anyway. "Well, he just made it clear to me that he didn't want to get married to me" I answered, trying to hold in the tears which threatened to rush out.

"That bastard!" Angel snapped in anger as I watched her fingers ball into fist "he should be damn happy that he's getting married to you. He doesn't even deserve you. The bastard doesn't even know how damn lucky he is."

I felt better by her words, although I knew they weren't true. No man would want a woman like me as a wife.

I wasn't pretty. I was nothing compared to Angela, Selena and Taylor. As I stared at Angel in her light pink off-shoulder mermaid gown and her sparkling amber hair styled expertly and her gorgeous amber eyes on view, it made me wonder why she chose to be friends with me.

Angela and Selena were the most beautiful girls back in high school. Boys drool over them, and they could get any guy they wanted with just a snap of their fingers. But they didn't care about any of these guys. They were okay as long as they had each other. They acted like real sisters and didn't allow anyone to be a part of their friendship, so it was kind of a shock when they decided to befriend me.

Angel suddenly stood up from the bed as she came to stand behind me and began fixing the loose strands of my hair. "Listen C. You're a real gem and Abel doesn't deserve you."

"He doesn't," I agreed, "he deserves better. He deserves a wife who he would proudly show to the whole world, not someone so ugly like me"

"Shut up Celine, don't call yourself ugly" she scolded, glaring at me through the mirror. "you're anything but ugly." I gave her a look of disbelieve, and she sighed "let me tell you a secret" she began and went on fixing my hair "when you first started schooling with us, I was jealous of you. You were so beautiful, and I wanted to hate you for being prettier than me, but when I talked to you in our literature class, I realize what an amazing personality you have, and I decided to befriend you."

"I_ I..." I didn't know what to say. I never knew Angel used to be jealous of someone like me. I have never once considered myself pretty, and I'm not sure that I ever will.

"Did you know when I became more envious of you?" She questioned me with a smile and I shook my head "that day we saw you dancing on the school rooftop. You look so sexy and hot; I almost didn't believe it was you. I mean who would have thought that the quiet Celine Grayson knew how to dance like some damn goddess?"

I blush shyly. I can still remember Angela and Selena's shocked expression when they saw me dancing on the school rooftop. It was kind of fun.

My mum taught me how to dance when I saw her dancing once and asked her to teach me.

She was once a stripper before my dad met her. Her occupation is the reason why my grandmother dislikes her, and she didn't accept mum as her daughter-in-law even after she quit the job to be with my dad.

"Seriously C, Abel doesn't deserve you" Angel continued as her voice took on a serious tone. "Please consider my offer; leave this wedding and come to London with me"

She had made that offer to me when she first got the job as a fashion designer at one of the largest fashion company in London, but I refused her for reasons we both know about.

"Angel, you know very well why I can't leave."

She groaned "Oh come on C, you've paid enough. It's not your fault that she died."

"No Angel, it's my fault". I ignored the tears that gushed out at the reminder "I'm the reason she died". I lowered my head as I force myself not to think about my older sister Lauren and my parent.

Lauren is the real daughter of the Graysons and the main reason why my grandmother and the Graysons hate me. Angel lowered herself beside me and took my fidgeting fingers into hers. "I know you think it's your fault C", she began softly "But you have paid enough. Mr Grayson literally used you as a punching bag, and you had to spend three days in the hospital, remember? And they all treat you like an outcast; that's not fair."

"I know it's not fair but I also know I deserve it. Their d_daughter died because of me", I swallowed the lump in my throat and continued "and besides, I'm getting married to Abel. I'll finally be free"

"Moving from one hell to another is not freedom C. I'm sorry to say this, but Abel doesn't love you. You'll just end up suffering more."

"I'll be fine" I insisted. I didn't want to be a burden to Angel. She has done so much for me already.

"Fine" she gave up, "but I'm always here if you need me. And if that bastard Abel hurts you, I swear I'm going to kill him" I chuckled at her, but her expression held no sign of playfulness. "I'm serious C. Remember what I did to that guy who tried to grab your ass at the club last month"

I gulp. Angela hired some really dangerous guys to beat him up the very moment he tried to grab me. They beat him so badly that he fell unconscious.

How she hired those men was beyond me. I wouldn't want that to happen to Abel.

"Stop saying that you're scaring me. I'm sure if Selena was here she would scold you" I tried to lighten the mood but didn't realize I had made it worse by mentioning Selena.

After Selena left five years ago, Angela was devastated. She refused to see anyone for weeks, and it was just by luck that I was able to come through to her.

Like I said before. She was very close to Selena. But after Selena left she stopped talking about her and any time I bring her up, she shuts me out.

I think she's mad that Selena left without a goodbye and without even asking her for help.

"I miss her" I went on, ignoring the distant look on her face. "I wish she was here with us."

"Stop it Celine", she stood up and moved away from me. "Let's not talk about her. She's not here anymore, so we have to move on and stop wishing she was here."

"Angel, you know it's not her fault that she had to leave. You should stop avoiding conversations about her; you need to let it off your chest"

"That's enough. I'm not going to sit here and listen to you defend that f****** betrayer" she took a deep breath and turned away from me. "Mr Carter's driver is waiting for you outside. See you in church". With that she walked out of my room.

I sighed sadly. They used to be so close. Their relationship was so beautiful, and I can't help but feel sad at Angela's anger and hate for the girl she once considered her sister.

I knew Angela didn't really hate Selena. She's just blinded by rage. I just hope that things will go well, and they can sort it out when Selena decides to come back.

As of now, I should worry about my own problems.