They Said the Serpent Was a Prank, but I Found the Scales This Morning Chapter 03

They Said the Serpent Was a Prank, but I Found the Scales This Morning Chapter 03

Before I could take it back, Everett had already read what was written on it.

His expression hardened into absolute ice.

“Maren, are you truly going to drag this pathetic charade out to the bitter end? You even went through the trouble of forging a contract?”

I stared back at his mocking sneer, completely paralyzed.

A wave of absurdity spread through my chest.

Wasn’t he the one who had carried this whole act to the end?

I tightened my fingers around the contract. The last ripple of feeling in my heart finally went still.

“If you wanted to give the bracelet to Tessa, you should have told me sooner,” I said. “I would have given it to her.”

“Taking it behind my back only made things awkward for her and wasted my time.”

With that, I turned and left without looking back.

Behind me, silence fell for a moment.

Then came Tessa’s small, trembling whimper.

“I just saw it sitting on the table and tried it on for fun, then totally forgot to take it off. Maren isn’t actually furious with me, is she?”

Everett had started to follow me, but his steps stopped.

His voice softened as he comforted her.

“It’s just a bracelet. If you want to wear it, wear it. After I marry Maren tomorrow, I’ll buy her something new and make it up to her.”

The night grew quieter.

I walked out of the yard and did not look again at the two shadows leaning close together behind the papered window.

I headed toward the old mountain chapel in the woods.

But I had not gone far when a group of men appeared by the roadside, carrying a covered wedding cart, and came straight toward me.

“I waited at that chapel half the damn night,” the man at the front barked. “Finally found the little bride.”

I was too shocked to react before rough hands dragged me forward and shoved me inside.

“You have the wrong person. Let me go! This is kidnapping!”

The lead man let out a dry, mocking laugh.

“Your parents took three thousand dollars and signed the papers promising you to Mr. Crane as his new wife. We were told to pick you up from the chapel tonight. What, now you want to back out?”

My whole body went rigid.

Then I began to tremble in disbelief.

So my parents had not only planned to let Tessa take my place by mistake.

They had arranged everything for tonight long ago.

My heart dropped straight into the dark.

I struggled and screamed like a madwoman.

Not far away, Everett heard the commotion and rushed out, shouting for them to stop.

Heat rushed to my eyes. “Everett! Help me!”

But a foul-smelling cloth was instantly shoved into my mouth, choking out my cry.

Tessa, who had followed him out, grabbed Everett’s sleeve and reminded him softly.

“Everett, did you forget? These men are only pretending to be the Serpent Lord’s attendants because Mom and Dad hired them to take Maren away.”

Through my blurred vision, I saw Everett hesitate for a moment.

Then he stepped closer.

He looked at the way I was being bound like an animal and shoved into the carriage. Any trace of genuine alarm vanished from his features.

All that remained was a cold sneer.

“Maren, first the fake papers, and now a staged abduction? Do you ever tire of these theatrics?”

“Too bad. No matter how hard you perform, it’s already settled. Tomorrow, I’ll marry Tessa in your place.”

Every drop of blood in me turned cold.

I watched him turn away.

Tessa’s urging voice faded into the distance.

“It’s almost dawn, Everett. Let’s get you inside and dressed in your groom’s suit. By the time the auspicious hour hits, Maren will have had enough of the cold and come begging you to take her back…”

The curtain dropped, covering the last pale sliver of moonlight.

When the man saw that no one was coming to save me, his courage grew. His disgusting gaze slid over my body.

“If you’re going to be this disobedient, maybe I should teach you how to serve a man first.”

Fabric tore beside my ear.

I shut my eyes in despair, gripping the wooden hairpin hidden in my sleeve, ready to stab.

I did not notice the serpent mark around my wrist suddenly glow, spilling a thread of gold light.