He Marked Me, Then Forced Me to Bow to His Mistress Chapter 03
I pressed a hand against my burning cheek and stared at the woman in front of me in disbelief.
Daisy rolled her wrist. The sweet, submissive mask she always wore seemed to peel away completely.
“Grayson and I have made it crystal clear right in front of you, and you’re still shamelessly hanging on. Have
you no shame at all?”
“You pathetic stray. No parents, no family, no one who ever taught you any manners.”
Her lips curled into a vicious sneer.
“Hurry up and break the mate bond with Grayson.”
“Otherwise, don’t blame me if you wake up one day missing an arm or a leg.”
My head buzzed. All I could see was that venomous mouth of hers, opening and closing.
I was so furious I almost laughed.
But Daisy didn’t give me the chance to hit back.
Suddenly, she let out a shrill scream, yanked open the neckline of her dress, and threw herself backward.
“Layla!” Grayson rushed out of the ballroomAuto-added to the Library
He caught Daisy before she hit the ground and pulled her into his arms.
She clung to him, trembling as tears poured down her face.
“Grayson… I know I’m the mistress. I ruined your marriage to the Luna Queen.”
“I’ve repented-I shouldn’t have come. I’m a shameless bitch!”
As she spoke, she slapped herself twice across the face.
Grayson immediately grabbed her wrist. His jaw tightened.
“Who did this?”
Daisy bit her lip and twisted her fingers into her dress.
“Please… don’t ask me.”
Her body shuddered as her gaze flickered toward me.
“Someone like me shouldn’t provoke noble ladies like her.”
“Alpha King, let me go. I don’t want to mysteriously lose my life one day.”
Grayson’s brows drew together. His gaze landed on me, cold and hostile.
“Care to explain what’s going on?”
I lowered my hand and revealed the swollen mark on my cheek.
“You should be asking her what she said.”
“Layla!” Daisy’s voice instantly sharpened.
“Yes, I slapped you. But that was only because you threatened my parents’ lives.”
“They’re just ordinary omegas. If you’re still angry, hit me back.”
Fresh tears streamed down her face.
“Please don’t hurt them.”
My eyes reddened with fury. “That’s a lie! It was you who…”
“Enough.”
Grayson cut me off. The look in his eyes stung more than I expected.
“Layla, I’ve spoiled you too much.” His voice turned icy.
“Do you think having no parents means I won’t lay a hand on you?”
Maybe part of me had been expecting this all along. Maybe I’d stopped hoping a long time ago.
A hollow laugh escaped me. My eyes burned.
“So how exactly are you planning to stand up for your precious little darling?”
Grayson walked toward me slowly.
Without a word, he reached out and ripped the necklace from around my neck.
The pendant was a polished bullet casing.
Years ago, when he had first become the Alpha of his pack, he had handcrafted it for me himself.
“Theft of Alpha King property.” His voice was emotionless. “Deal with it according to Wolf Law.”
I forgot to breathe. My mind went completely blank.
Grayson’s rise to power had never been easy.
He had always been ruthless. I was the only exception. The one weakness he had ever allowed himself.
Right or wrong, he had always put me first.
But now, the one driving the knife into my heart was him.
He rubbed his thumb over the bullet casing pendant.
Through my tears, he looked like a stranger.
“Layla,” he said, his voice softening. “You’re getting harder and harder to deal with.”
“Stay in the dungeon for a few days.”
“Don’t worry. It won’t be long.”
He held up the necklace. “When you come out, I’ll put it back on you myself.”
A mocking smile tugged at my lips.
As the guards stepped in and shackled my wrists, I pulled my hand free of his grasp without a word.
For the first time, I felt nothing. I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t begging. I was simply done.
The sudden emptiness in his hand made Grayson frown. A strange unease settled over him.
As he stared at my retreating figure, an inexplicable thought surfaced.
It felt as though if he let go now, he’d never be able to hold onto me again.
His feet moved on instinct. But before he could take a step, Daisy slipped her arm through his and held him back.