"In a world full of hatred, betrayals, and lies, love gives a fairy tale right in the middle of ordinary life. A tale of misunderstandings, heartbreak, jealousy, and true love. We often come across such stories that end with a wedding saying, And they lived happily ever after. But stories are just imaginary works by the people. The reality clearly shows the juxtaposition between a fairy tale and an ordinary life, " Elizabeth said with a condescending sneer to her younger sister Rosie who is eight years younger to her.

Roseline, who was setting Elizabeth's hair noticed the change of tone in her elder sister's words. She looked at Elizabeth through the reflection of the mirror. The beautiful bride who was supposed to have a bright smile on her face was getting ready with a broken heart. Looking at her elder sister's gloomy face, Roseline was dismayed. She knew the reason why Elizabeth was unhappy on the day of her wedding as she was aware of the truth that, her sister was in a relationship with a guy during her high school days due some reasons the guy left to states after breaking up with her but Roseline doesn't know anything about him because Elizabeth never revealed his name to her younger sister. Roseline wanted to help her stepsister but the eighteen-year-old girl was unable to rescue her sister from getting married to the person whom she doesn't love.

"I know why you are saying like that, why didn't you tell father that you have someone you love?" Roseline questioned her sister.

Elizabeth gave a smile of helpless before looking at Roseline, " this marriage is not between two people but a deal between two companies," said Elizabeth in a dry voice.

Stung by her sister's mockery, Roseline was out of words. Before she could ask her sister something, she heard a knock of the door and cocked her head to the 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.

John stroked his daughter's hair gently with a smile on his face but the smile disappeared as he looked at Elizabeth who was in her wedding gown.

"You better behave yourself after marriage. Act accordingly and don't end up doing things which would make us bend our head in front of the old man," John said to Elizabeth curtly to which she had to nod in agreement.

Elizabeth clutched her dress, she was to tears but she didn't let her tears roll down on her cheeks. Today she was going to get married because of him but not even once he spoke to her with love and affection. It wasn't the first time that her foster father spoke to her this way. She has got used to receiving such treatment from him after the death of her real father, Elizabeth never understood what made a man like him who treated her like a princess before the death of her parents is now treating her in this way. Times like this, she missed her real parents who died when she was young.

"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 could 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.

John sighed to Roseline's words, "I was left with no other choice," John said.

"I understand. You must be having a reason to accept this marriage proposal," Elizabeth replied.

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 Jhon 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, he behaves coldly towards her because he doesn't want his niece to be like her mother. It was his way of showing his hatred towards her mother and the care and affection he has for his niece. Elizabeth being a gentle person 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.

As the bride ascended the church stairs with a bouquet in her hands, people who were seated in the church and waiting for the arrival of the bride were awestruck to see Elizabeth in her white gown. People murmured among themselves which made Elizabeth nervous. Her eyes were fixed to the floor while the people's eyes were on her. Numerous thoughts started to weave on her mind. She thought that the people were making funny comments on her but in actual, the people were spellbound to see the bride who was walking down the aisle. Her face was covered in a long veil. She was mysterious yet so marvelous. Her neck was long and slender making her head seem smaller than it was. The chain she wore around her neck with a diamond pendant made her look simple yet elegant. Melodious songs were being sung by the choir group as she took little steps towards the altar. She raised her head a little to her left side to see a young man standing as she walked. The man was her close friend Liam Winscet. They both exchanged a smile. Elizabeth had no guts to look into the eyes of the man who stood at the altar but she knew that she had to look at him. She stood at the altar opposite to him when John shook his hands with the groom.

The man was tall and his eyes were fixed on her since the moment she entered into the church, even though her face was covered in a veil he saw her smile at another man which irked him. The man had an aura which many people never possess, his presence can make the whole atmosphere change. His eyes were black and mysterious. The depths of his eyes resembled darkness as an unsettled coldness emanated from his gaze upon her. The bride and the groom were told to take their seats at the altar to begin the mass. As the priest started to preach, Elizabeth ran her fingers to the shining pendant on her neck and adjusted it before getting lost in a chain of thoughts. The chain was something special to her, so special that she took care of it from the time she received it from her boyfriend. A few days later after her boyfriend presented her the chain, she came to know from her friends that the locket was a rarest diamond designed by a famous designer. She treasured the pendant not because it was the rarest design but because it was given by the person whom she loved the most. She never understood what made him leave her but the memories she had with him were something she would cherish for a lifetime. The man who was seated beside her noticed the designer chain around her neck. Elizabeth immediately drew back her hands when she felt the man's gaze on her.

Aaron Winchester, President of the Winchester's industries and only heir of the Winchester empire. He is a man whom every girl in the country dreams to be in his arms. He achieved a lot of fame and controversies by the age of twenty-six. He took hold of the Winchester empire when he was twenty years old and raised its standards than it was before. Aaron is known for his ruthlessness. He is the kind of man who doesn't like to share his belongings with anybody. The man is not only handsome but intelligent too. He knows how to get things done on his accord. Once he sets his eyes on anything, no one can stop him from achieving it. The news of his marriage came into limelight only a few days ago and turned into a hot topic as it was the biggest marriage of the year. Aaron was one of the world's richest bachelorette and hence the news got more attention and was spread around the world like a wildfire. The media tried to gather information about Elizabeth's private life but they couldn't as the cunning man was already one step ahead of them and made sure that the world wouldn't know about her at least until she becomes his wife. People who attended the mass were observing the way the groom looked at his bride from time to time, they were waiting to see the bride's face as they were curious to know what kind of woman made a man like him get married to a woman like her who belonged to a low status when compared to him.

While taking their vows, Aaron and Elizabeth stood opposite facing each other. Roseline who was her bride's maid stood a few steps behind from her with a tray in her hand. She was worried about her sister. Her eyes shifted at the Best man who stood behind Aaron and was shocked. The best man was none other than Aaron's cousin, Ryan. He smiled at her when she looked at him. She looked away proudly when Ryan winked at her but the guy's eyes were still on her. After Elizabeth and Aaron took their vows, they exchanged the rings.

" I now solemnly pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride!" said the priest to the bride and the groom.

Aaron lifted Elizabeth's veil to kiss her. The people who saw them kissing began to give a round of applause while cheering for them but the priest who saw them kissing felt something was odd. To the people who were seated, they thought that the groom kissed his bride but only the priest witnessed Aaron's thumb on Elizabeth's lips.

After the wedding ceremony came to an end, Elizabeth and Aaron sat in a black Ferrari car, they were on their way to the Winchester mansion. It was two weeks ago when Aaron made his appearance in Carter's company out of the blue. The security guards couldn't dare to stop a man like him. As he walked into the company with his assistant who followed his lead, The employees caught the sight of the aloof man and couldn't believe that a big shot like him visited their company. He wore a black suit, his thick black hair was neatly combed. He had a kind of charm that would make people pause and have a look at him for more than twice. The cold look on his face had a certain evil kind of demeanor and a consciousness of his dignity as a ruler.

The company lost its market shares and was almost in a stage to shut it down. After Aaron went to the president's cabin, people enquired among themselves as to know why the king of the business world and the sole reason for the company to lose its market share turned up when the company was at stake. Was he here to take hold of the company as he did to other small companies? or was he here to shut it down permanently? But they didn't understand what would he gain coming here, little did they know that the cunning man had his calculations and tactics before stepping into this company. Elizabeth noticed the commotion caused by Aaron's appearance but she was not aware of his presence until she overheard the employee's conversation. Her heart skipped a beat when she heard his name. She immediately rushed to the president's cabin and peeked through the door that was opened a little. All she heard was one sentence, " Marriage is the only option I give you ."

She couldn't believe what she just heard. Why would that man talk about marriage and who was he referring? she had no idea about what deal they were talking about and whose marriage they were talking about. All she knew was that a man like him would get his things done once he sets his eyes off on something.

"I'll talk to Elizabeth about this and let you know," replied John after thinking for a while. Listening to her name, Elizabeth's heart dropped a beat.

"Why don't you ask her right at this moment?" she heard him say and the very next moment the door was opened and he stood right in front of her. Her heart pounded faster as the clock ticked every second. She didn't know that she was to tears until a drop rolled down her cheek which she immediately wiped looking away from him.

"Hello Ms. Carter, it's good to see you getting caught red-handed while eavesdropping our conversation," he smirked.

"Elizabeth," John took her name and then looked at the man who opened the door.

With his hands in either side of the pockets, Aaron looked at John and at Elizabeth who was tight-lipped. Both of them didn't know how to react to this sudden proposal.

"You _want _ to marry me?" she asked him in broken words after gathering up her courage to face him.

"I'm left with no other choice," Aaron shrugged.

"But we fixed her marriage with someone else, "John interrupted.

Elizabeth who knew nothing about her marriage is fixed with someone was stunned.

" Looks like you weren't aware of your marriage with the CEO's son of the Winscet groups Ms. Carter. Isn't that man your best friend? "he questioned her to which Elizabeth glared at him. Aaron knew each and everything about Elizabeth, he was the kind of man who could gather information from any corner of the world and getting Elizabeth's information was like a Piece of cake to him.

" Marry me, Ms. Carter. It'll benefit your company," he advised her.

"And what benefits would you get if you marry me," Elizabeth questioned him.

"Hmm. The young lady of the Carter's is not as dumb as I thought she would be," he chuckled, "that's not for you to know," Aaron answered with a devilish smile.

"Mr.Winchester, give us some time we will let you know after we decide," John said politely to which Aaron nodded and noticed that he was being stared by Elizabeth.

"This marriage is not between two people but between two companies, Choose wisely. One wrong step might make your family fall into debts," he said to John and then he looked at Elizabeth who was looking at him. Her petite eyes couldn't hide that his words pricked her heart once again.