Part one: Almost Lost. Chapter 1.

Abel's POV

"Get ready Abel, you will be getting married to Celine tomorrow"

Those words refused to leave my head the very moment my dad broke the news to me. He didn't even give me a choice nor did he give me time to react. He just called me up and spill out that bullshit to me.

In case you're wondering why I'm so mad right now, its because Celine Grayson is the last girl I'll ever want to get married to. She's a big time pretender and a manipulative witch. She's always pretending to be a nice angelic being behind those glasses of hers when in fact she's a pretending manipulative witch.

I would have been fooled by her acting as well if I hadn't witness the awful thing she did back in highschool and now all of a sudden my dad wants me to get married to her.

I wasn't really surprised though cause Celine has also succeeded in fooling my dad with her fake innocent nerdy personality.

I quickly drown the glass of vodka in my hands. I needed to forget this. If possible I want to just wake up from this nightmare cause I can't marry Celine Grayson. I'll rather jump down a plane.

I poured myself another glass of vodka but Lucas took it away from me before it reach my lips.

"That's enough Abel. You know drinking isn't going to solve your problem"

I buried my face in my hands in frustration. Of all people why me! Why did my dad make such a decision. He knew I didn't like Celine; how could he not consider my feelings at all.

"I can't get married to Celine Lucas, I just can't" I couldn't even recognize my own voice right now. I've never been so weak and helpless until now and its really taking all my self control not to break down at this moment.

Why me!

Lucas sighed beside me while staring at me with that pity look he had been throwing at me ever since I told him about my dad's arrangement with Celine.

But honestly right now I don't need his pity. What I need is to get out from this marriage arrangement.

"Abel, Celine is really not that bad. Maybe you should just go on with the marriage and get to know her. Perhaps you might see that she isn't a bad person and learn to accept her as your wife"

I glared at him. He of all people should know just how much I hate Celine Grayson. He even got the guts to say that to me.

But I won't take it against him. Celine has succeeded in deceiving a lot of people with her fake innocence and sadly that includes Lucas.

His advice was pointless if he was going to keep telling me to consider marrying Celine.

That isn't going to happen. I will try my best to get away from this marriage even if it was close to impossible.

"Abel seriously" Lucas continued when he realize I wasn't going to answer him "you shouldn't keep judging Celine by the things Taylor told you"

"Its not just about what Taylor told me Lucas" I retorted in anger. Why was he trying to paint Taylor as the liar. If there was anyone lying, its Celine "Taylor told me a lot of things but most of it I saw myself. I saw what that little witch Celine Grayson is capable of with my own eyes"

"Stop exaggerating. Everyone knows you believe every word Taylor tells you. You don't even care if she's lying or not"

"Of course I believe her because I trust her and I know she'll never lie to me" I was burning with anger now. I can't tolerate anyone insulting Taylor, not even my best friend.

I narrowed my eyes at him "tell me the truth Lucas, why are you really taking Celine's side? Is it because you're sure that she's a good person or you also choose to believe what Selena told you?"

He sighed shakily at the mention of Selena. It is no secret that Selena Salvador is a sensitive topic for Lucas. She was a friend to Celine back in highschool.

She went missing six years ago after her father threw her out of his house and still all private investigators hired by the Salvador's were still unable to find her. 

Her disappearance has caused depression, heartbreak and regret to Lucas. He knew it was all his fault and he accepted this and lived with the guilt. And that is why he didn't like talking about her cause it brought him pain. It arose all the feelings he had been trying so hard to hold in.

But I was really angry at the way he indirectly address Taylor as a liar and I didn't care about his emotional feelings at the moment.

"Yes I believe what Selena told me and what I saw proved that Selena was right and your little girlfriend Taylor is a liar" there was anger in his voice as well but I wasn't faze. After all I know he always gets angry when Selena's name is mentioned.

I ignore the anger in his voice and retorted with burning anger that could equal his "really? You trust her?" I mocked "then why didn't you believe her when she assured you that things would turn out fine" he clench his fist on the counter but I didn't care and I went on with the most painful retort "why didn't you listen to her. Instead you choose to become a coward by lying to her parents and denying..."

Lucas fist banged on the counter top causing a few people in the bar to glance in their direction.

He glared at me with anger but I could detect the hidden tears behind his eyes.

My expression soften at that. I have really gone too far.

Lucas didn't say a word. Instead, he picked up the glass of vodka before him and drown it quickly.

I felt like a shitty friend for using his weakness against him. This was all Celine's fault. She has once again succeeded in creating a rift between me and my best friend without even trying.

What I said to Lucas wasn't fair but I couldn't sit still and watch him defend Celine and insult Taylor but he's still my friend and I'm the one at wrong. Its better I apologize to him.

"Lucas" I sighed "I'm sorry. I'm just having a bad day; I didn't mean to lash out on you" I seriously didn't mean to though. He brought me here to cheer me up cause I felt so down about my marriage tomorrow. He doesn't deserve what I did and I won't hold it against him if he refuse to forgive me but I know Lucas very well and he's not the type to hold grudges.

"Its fine" he sighed drowning another drink.

See! He doesn't hold grudges.

After a moment of silence, he asked "so have you told Taylor about your marriage?"

1 groan at that. I completely forgot that she didn't know about this arrangement. I planned to propose to her after she returns from Hong Kong and she knew this, but now with Celine in the picture, things weren't going to go as planned.

Guess I was in more bigger shit than I thought and it was all Celine's fault.

That witch!

I am going to do everything I can to get out of this marriage shit. I don't care if I had to get a divorce after the wedding just as long as I get my freedom.

Taylor is the only woman for me and the only woman I want to spend the rest of my life with and not Celine Grayson.

I will make sure of that.

***

I arrived at my apartment a little late feeling so tired and depress. No matter how I tried to forget the wedding tomorrow, I just can't seem to get it out of my head.

It feels like tomorrow is the start of my misery.

I push aside the thought cause I knew if I keep thinking about it, I'll only end up slitting my own wrist.

I was about to walk into apartment when I heard a voice behind me.

"Abel"

I turn around and was met with the last person I wanted to see at this moment.

Celine Grayson.

She looks exactly the same as I remembered. Her sun flower blond hair was pulled in a messy bun and her blue eyes were barely visible due to the huge glasses that sat on her face.

Doesn't she ever take it off? Those glasses has been there since the first day I saw her.

She wore a dark brown blouse that I was sure belongs to her grandmother and her black skirt came all the way to her ankle.

To be honest, the way she dress would have one mistake her for a fifty year old instead of her original twenty three.

But well, that was how she fooled everyone around her except me of course.

"What do you want?" I made sure my voice was extremely harsh so she will know just how much I really despise her.

She flinch visibly at my tone but I didn't care about her reaction. She's a very good pretender. That's what she does best"A_ Abel I_ I heard a_ about our wedding tomorrow" she stuttered causing me to laugh bitterly.

"You heard about it?" I mocked "if I didn't know better I would think you're telling the truth right now" how dare she pretend to know nothing about this when she obviously planned it

She probably succeeded in manipulating my clueless father into doing what she wants.

"P_ Please b_believe me Abel I_I had nothing to do with this. I even tried to talk to my father but he..."

"Oh spare me your bullshit Celine" I yelled at her. She thinks she could pull her innocent act on me? She really has no shame "I know what you are Celine Grayson. You can't fool me with this fake innocence of yours so don't even bother trying"

Tears welled up in her eyes and I rolled my eyes. What a drama queen. She could fool anyone with that act but not me.

Not Abel Carter.

"A_Abel I know you won't believe me. I wish I could stop this wedding from happening. I really don't want to tie you down to something you don't want"

"You can still help though" I said thoughtfully. She probably won't agree to what I am about to say so I added a little flavour "if you do this i might believe what you said"

Her confused eyes suddenly became eager as she asked quietly "what is it?"

I smirked at her wanting so bad to see her reaction at the words I'm about to say "I don't want you to show up for the wedding. If you're able to do that, I'll believe you and apologize for treating bad all those years"

Her eyes widen and she suddenly turn pale. It was a if I just told her something impossible.

I already knew she won't agree to it because I knew she planned for this wedding to happen. She really wanted to marry me and right now, she is just putting up a show in front of me.

She shook her head slowly as her eyes continue to leak out with endless fake tears "I_ I can't" she sobbed

I rolled my eyes at the expected answer. Of course she can't. I didn't expected otherwise "well then, I guess you should leave cause there is nothing more for us to talk about"

I turn to go when I heard her voice say quietly. It was so faint that I almost didn't hear it. "B_But would it be so bad to get married to me?"

I couldn't help but laugh at that. She was asking me if it would be bad to marry her

Seriously!

I looked back at her with anger and disgust before answering "maybe you should get in contact with a mirror Celine. You'll find the answer to your question.

I walk into my apartment leaving her a sobbing mess. I didn't feel guilty for hurting her feelings because I knew it was all an act.

She wanted to marry me so she should be prepared to face the consequences.