CHAPTER 3:COURTING DEATH

JADE'S POV:

My eyes opened gradually but the sun rays made me to close them back.

I turned to the side that the sun wasn't reflecting that much and opened my eyes.

“Who are you? And what are you doing on the bed meant for my bride?”. I was startled by his voice and stood up immediately and took several steps away from him.

“I don't like to repeat myself”. Shivers ran down my spine. I didn't know what to say, I totally forgot that he hasn't seen my face yet.

“I…I was forced into this marriage”. I stuttered as I spoke.

I couldn't even raise my head to see his face and know what he looked like.

“Get prepared, there would be a party in the evening. My grandmother is coming to welcome you. After the party, if you don't have the answer to my question, then consider yourself dead”. I gulped after hearing his words.

My head remained low until he left the room.

I didn't know where to start from. The only idea that popped into my head was for me to run for my dear life. 

Just then the door opened and I almost started crying because I thought he has come back again for me.

To my relief it was Ella and Mary that came in with trays in their hands.

“Good morning Madam”. They both greeted me in unison. 

I forced a smile as I nodded at their greetings. I had an idea on how I can escape this hell.

“Ella would you mind borrowing me your uniform?”.

They both looked at me weirdly. I didn't think of the reason why I wanted the uniform before telling her now I'm stuck.

“I was just joking…hehehehe”. I don't know if they believed me or not because they were staring at me so weirdly. 

I decided to try something else.

“Ella, I have a gown that I would like to give you, in fact the both of you”. 

“You are a kind madam, but we won't accept it. Please don't be offended”. 

Maybe it's because of the demon lord that's why they refused.

“It's fine, I understand. You two can leave, let me freshen up”. 

They both nodded and left.

I needed to think of how to get out of this villa, if I wanted to survive, I needed to think fast on how to run away.

When I was done showering, I wore casual clothes. I ignored the ones that Ella and Mary brought to me.

Just then I remembered what Selene taught me during our childhood, she tied a piece of clothes together and made it long. She used it to climb down the window and escape to a nightclub.

I arranged it the same way and tied it to the window.

I heard a knock on the door when I was about climbing down to escape.

My heart skipped and I almost fell out of the window but my.waist was grabbed by a powerful hand.

“Are you trying to escape?”. I heard his hoarse voice behind me as I shivered in fear. 

“I…”. Before I could say anything, he grabbed my hands tightly and made me follow him down the stairs.

When I got down, my family were kneeling down in tears, including Selene.

“I want to know what's going on, why was my bride changed?”. I couldn't raise my head to see what his face looked like right now.

“My lord, my sister was the one who had me kidnapped. She was jealous that I wanted to marry a powerful man like you and that's why she had me kidnapped on the day we are supposed to register our wedding”. Selene didn't even bat an eye while lying against me.

“Yes..yes..yes…. My daughter came back and told us how her own sister kidnapped her in order to marry you”. My mother spoke with so much hatred towards me.

“Do you have anything to say about this accusation?”. He asked me, his voice almost sounding as if he's irritated by me.

What can I say? It doesn't matter what I say now because he won't even believe me, so I decided to take the blame, let the worse happen.

“Yes”. I said with a shaky voice.

“You dare to deceive me?”. He barked at me and I bit my lips so hard that I tasted salty liquid which meant my lips were bleeding. 

“I am sorry my lord, I was desperate to get married, that's why I exchanged my sister”. All I felt for my family right now was hatred. If I survive today, I will definitely make them pay dearly for lying against me.

“Haven't you heard? I don't give people second chances. You are courting death by daring me. I want you to decide your punishment”. 

Decide my punishment? This is the only opportunity that I have to escape from this marriage.

“Since it was my sister that you chose, then I want you to divorce me and marry her instead”. I smirked at Selene whose face turned black at my words.

“Sis, I understand that you love the Alpha, I don't have any grudge against you, I won't be a hindrance between you two. The goddess will give me my own mate when the time comes”. Selene activated her acting skills but I was determined not to let her win.

“No sis, I know you love him so much as well, that's why you accepted to marry him in the first place, I will get the divorce papers ready right away so that he can divorce me, then you can marry him”. This time she glared at me with gritted teeth but I only smirked at her.

“Her the divorce papers ready and you Selene get ready to get married to me”. Selene face turned so dark that if she was given a knife right now, she would stab me right away with it.

“My lord please wait, let me tell you what really happened. My sister is innocent of the accusation, she didn't kidnap me. I was the one that ran away the day you came to marry me and I forced my sister to marry you instead, please forgive me my lord”. 

I wasn't expecting Selene to confess the truth just to escape being married to the Alpha. What should I do right now? What if the Alpha changes his mind and refuses to divorce me?