Chapter 3 - I Woke Up As Lilith Laurent

Serena's POV

“Your marriage arrangement with Mr. Adrian Knight was tomorrow.”

Marriage? To whom? I was confused

Was she speaking to me? About a marriage arrangement.

 I looked around the room, and it looked unfamiliar.

“Sorry but where am I?” I asked

The maid looked horrified now. “Miss….this is the Laurent estate.”

I stared at her. 

Laurent Estate? 

I had never heard of it in my life, what was I even doing here?

“Where's my phone?” I demanded quickly. “I need my phone please.”

The maid hesitated “Miss Lilith, your mother took it after…..after what happened yesterday.”

Something about the way she said it made my stomach twist.

“After what?” 

The girl went pale immediately.

“I….we're…..we aren't supposed to say anything.”

Fear slowly crawled up my spine, I looked around the room again, finally noticing details I had ignored earlier.

The vanity table, fresh flowers, designer dresses hanging nearby and the pictures in the room.

I walked towards one of the framed photographs with unsteady steps.

The woman in the pictures wasn't me, she had long black hair with sharp eyes with beautiful and elegant features but not me, she looked like she'd be around her mid-twenties.

My hand trembled violently as I grabbed the frame closer.

“No…”

The bedroom door suddenly opened, and a sophisticated-looking woman rushed inside.

The moment she saw me standing, relief flooded her face, “Lilith!” 

Before I could react, she wrapped her arms tightly around me.

“You foolish child” she whispered shakily. “Do you have any idea what you've done to this family?”

I froze completely then she pulled away.

She cupped my face gently then I saw it, the love, real maternal love.

But it was meant for someone else, not me.

“Um..” my voice cracked slightly. “Who are you?”

The woman stared at me in shock.

“What?”

I stepped back slowly then repeated myself weakly “Who are you?”

Her face lost color instantly “Lilith..?”

“No,” I whispered “I'm not Lilith, my name is Serena”

Silence filled the room, the woman's eyes widened.

The maid gasped softly behind us.

Then suddenly she grabbed my shoulders tightly.

“Don't say that!” She snapped fearfully. “Do you want the servants spreading rumors before the wedding?”

Wedding?

I frowned immediately. “What wedding?”

The woman looked at me like I had completely lost my mind.

“Your wedding to Adrian Knight.”

My breath caught, that name felt too heavy like it carried so much importance.

I pulled away from her “I'm not getting married.”

“Yes, you are.”

“No,” I said firmly. “I don't even know who that is.”

The woman's expression hardened instantly.

“Enough childishness, Lilith.”

Something about her tone made me go still, childishness?

My eyes narrowed slightly. “Tell me what exactly happened.”

The woman sighed heavily and looked away for a second before speaking.

“You've embarrassed this family enough already yesterday.”

Yesterday? I was confused.

“What happened yesterday?”

Neither of them answered immediately.

That silence terrified me more than words would have.

The maid finally walked towards me, “Miss Lilith, you tried to…” then she stopped abruptly.

Tried to what?

I stared between them both, my eyes moving back and forth till realization hit me slowly.

“No way,” I whispered.

The woman looked away, and my chest tightened painfully.

“She killed herself?” I asked.

The maid burst into tears instantly.

The woman snapped sharply, “Lower your voice!”

But I barely heard her, and my hands started shaking.

Killed herself? But why?

So Lilith is dead? And somehow….I'm here, in her body.

“No” I whispered again, stumbling backward slightly. “No, no, no, no…..”

This had to be a dream, it was the only explanation that could keep me sane.

I turned and rushed towards the mirror near the vanity table, I stopped completely.

I stared at the mirror but a stranger with beautiful black eyes, pale skin and long black hair cascading over silk pajamas stared back at me.

Not my face, not Serena Vale's face.

My breathing became ragged instantly, still trying to accept reality.

“This isn't real,” I whispered desperately.

The woman behind me sighed tiredly. “You're still being dramatic after all this?”

I spun sharply. “What do you mean dramatic?”

“Trying to kill yourself over a marriage arrangement is already shameful enough”

Marriage arrangement?

The words echoed inside my head.

“You mean….she died because she didn't want to get married?”

The woman crossed her arms coldly. “You've always been selfish.”

Selfish? My heart broke for her.

I looked back at the mirror again, Lilith Laurent.

“What year is it?” I asked

“2026”

Okay same year, this wasn't a reincarnation.

As much as I wanted to believe it was a dream, it wasn't, dreams never felt this real.

A knock interrupted then a maid entered the room “Madam, the stylists have arrived.”

“Good.”

She looked directly at me “Try your best to behave yourself today, Lilith.”

“Today? What's happening today?”

“The engagement dinner is tonight.”

Tonight?

“The wedding ceremony will proceed tomorrow morning as planned.”

My eyes widened instantly, wedding? Tomorrow?

I stared at her in disbelief, “You're forcing me to marry someone after she literally killed herself trying to avoid it?”

The woman's face became ice cold, “You're marrying Adrian Knight whether you like it or not.” 

Silence filled the room then she added “Because no one says no to the Knight family.”

“And you,” she said, facing the maid. “If this conversation leaves this room, consider yourself done for.”

Hours later, I sat silently while stylists surrounded me, jewelry, makeup, hair, the likes.

Voices filled the room but I had zoned out.

The only thing I could think about was the fact that I wasn't Serena Vale anymore, I was now Lilith Laurent.

And tomorrow….I would be given away to a man terrifying enough for a girl to kill herself.

The engagement dinner was faster than expected and the next morning came too quickly.

The wedding dress felt heavy against my skin as I stood outside the grand cathedral doors, my heartbeat painfully uneven.

Servants rushed around nervously while guests filled the enormous church beyond the entrance.

“Miss Lilith,” someone whispered softly. “It's time.”

I let out a deep breath while my fingers trembled around the bouquet in my hands.

Then the cathedral doors slowly opened.

And for the first time, I saw him, standing at the altar.

Face cold and emotionless which sent shivers down my spine.

Adrian Knight.