The Billionaire's Substitute Wife

Chapter 3

Serena's POV

"Are you crazy?" I asked Ethan, yanking hard, so he would let go of me. I do not like him and I know he is not the kind of man I deserve. But I can't run off. "This marriage is a big deal to everyone, including my parents."

"That is you, Serena. This is typical Serena." He said, heaving with contempt. "You're so f*****g stubborn! You care about what people would say. You care about making them happy. You care about everything and everyone except you." He was practically fuming. "Serena, I do not like Matt. But I know that he makes you happy and so I am okay with you being with him. But this prick you just married? He is going to be the end of the happiness that you have."

My eyes were getting teary. "What can I do, Ethan? I said the vows. I'm stuck with him."

"No, you're not!" Ethan said with a chuckle. "You and I would travel to a different state and I will keep you away from him for a few months. Soon, he'll forget that you ever existed. We'll come out and you'll ask him for a divorce."

"Then what?" Ethan was too good for a friend. I understood that friends were supposed to be good to each other, but Ethan was more than a friend and it made me feel like I owed him. "After the divorce, what would happen? I would have no family, I'm sure Dad would disown me. I would have no friends, aside from you. And Matt never liked you either. Chances are that he wouldn't want to get back with me after all this drama."

"Do you need others?" Ethan said with a sigh. "You don't need them, best. You are all I have and you know it. I'm satisfied with having you and I have no need for any other friends or family. If your other friends and family members do not give you peace, get rid of them. I am willing to be your only family."

He sounded crazy. "Are you high, Ethan?"

"f**k, no! Do you think I would do this for someone who isn't you even if I were high? I'm not high! I just know that you cannot be with Damian. Listen to me, Serena. I know Damian more than even your father does and the last thing you want to do is be with that guy. He is a cunning little prick. He would ruin you and he would steal your happiness."

"What is it you know about him?" I said slowly with a calm voice. I swallowed a lump caused by fear before speaking. "Tell me everything that you know about him."

"You are not safe here, Serena. He could come in here right now and cart you away. The best thing to do is get away from here. I'll tell you everything. I came in my jet. We could travel in that if you want."

Ethan was in a hurry to 'save' me, it made me wonder if this was truly about me. He claimed to know Damian, but so did I. Although I encountered him just once, I learned a lot about him that day. And Damian wasn't as gory as Ethan painted him. He was evil, I knew that. But he wasn't as evil.

"I am going home to my husband, Ethan. You should leave the state and go back to your business. Thank you for attending my wedding and I'm sorry you weren't invited earlier. I didn't want drama like this today, which is why I didn't bother letting you know about my wedding." I leaned up and gave him a peck on his cheek, I then wrapped my hands around his waist for a brief hug. "You're a good friend and I love you. I'll be at your wedding, as well."

With that, I turned my back against him and began striding to the door. I didn't need an eye at my back, to know that he watched me walk away from him. I also didn't need to be a mind-reader to know that he was wondering what the matter with me was. I wanted to escape so badly. But I was curious to know why my father had married me off to Damian and why Damian had insisted it must be my father's daughter. There was so much to uncover and perhaps after I found answers to my questions, I would escape from my father's claws.

First, I heard footsteps approaching. Then I felt someone standing at my back, then I felt someone breathing on my skin and my heart began to race.

"Ethan!" I said, turning around. I knew he would come after me. It was typical of him to do so. A huge hand landed on my eyes before I could catch a glimpse of who it was and the person placed his other hand on my mouth. I guessed it was a male because he was strong and had huge hands.

I struggled to gain freedom, kicking the legs I could feel and grasping everything within my reach. I felt the person's shirt. It was made of cotton material. This wasn't Ethan, he was dressed in a black suit and pants. I got terrified.

Soon, my legs left the ground. As I muffled a scream, I heard a door open. I was forced into a car, which was instantly banged shut. The engine roared and the car sped off to an unknown location. The person who had kidnapped me sat next to me, his hand still over my eyes. I tried screaming and gladly, a sound came forth. I intensified, yelling louder.

"No one would hear you, honey," A man with a deep voice said. The voice was familiar, it just wasn't Ethan's.

I was immediately blindfolded, but my hands weren't tied. I could hear the conversations going on in the car and none of the voices sounded like Ethan's. The people who I assumed were kidnappers hadn't covered my mouth either. Since screaming proved abortive, I decided to speak to them calmly and plead that they let me go.

"Who are you people?" I asked them, my body trembling. Tears that fought to escape my eyes soon made it out, staining the blindfold.

"Keep quiet, we will not hurt you."

"Please sir, I got married today. My husband would be expecting me back home today and he's going to be scared shirtless if I don't get back."

"Congratulations on your wedding and we wish you a happy married life."

"I can't have one in your hostage."

"You won't have one, even outside our hostage. We are doing you a favor." With that, a tape was put over my mouth and the car came to a sudden halt. "Everything seems to be going as planned," The driver said to the rest of the people with me in the car. "We are the location." He conclusively added.

What was the plan? Where were we? A slap on my cheek had me wincing in pain. Didn't they promise not to hurt me? My heart was starting to race. A spray can was placed in front of me and some of its content emptied on my face. I inhaled the substance and instantly began to feel drowsy. My head spun, my eyes twirled and my body grew numb. In a few moments, I passed out.