Seducing Mr. Jerk

Chapter 2

“Impossible!! She is not a real heir, just a concubine daughter, she can't marry the king.” Queen Lyra was furious, her eyes blazing with anger, but I didn't care as I looked at my father, who was still in shock.

“I can't be a replacement bride, I am an illegitimate child,” I tried to speak, but my voice was drowned out by the commotion.

The men holding me tightened their grip, their bulging muscles making escape seem impossible.

“Your request letter for the marriage stated you had two eligible daughters, if one were to default the other would take charge.”

Lyra glared at my father who sighed, “That was because I did not expect Lavina to default. She had been preparing for this marriage for two years. She was the most perfect candidate.”

I was scared, if Lavina the doted daughter was scared to marry the king she had spent months with, what about me? What type of life would I have with that man?

No I cannot even imagine, I was going to elope with Cole, have children that do not have anything to do with royalty. I cannot imagine a life in a castle with a misogynist man that no one knew nothing about apart from his ruthlessness.

My heart pounded with fear and frustration. I glanced around, desperately searching for a way out.

Then, an idea sparked in my mind.

With a sudden burst of adrenaline, I twisted my body and stomped on the foot of one of the guards. He grunted in pain from the heels of my boot, loosening his hold.

Using all my strength, I shoved the other confused guard aside and darted towards the nearest exit. My feet pounded against the cold stone floor as I sprinted down the corridor, my breath coming in ragged gasps.

Behind me, I could hear shouts and footsteps echoing in the halls as the guards gave chase. But I refused to let them catch me. I had to escape, no matter what.

As I reached the castle's main entrance, I spotted a small window on the far side. Without hesitation, I leaped towards it, crashing through the glass with a shower of shards.

The cool night air rushed past me as I tumbled outside, landing in a heap on the ground. I winced as pain shot through my limbs, but I forced myself to push through the discomfort.

Ignoring the shouts behind me, I scrambled to my feet and ran into the darkness.

I turned back to see if anyone was chasing me, but to my luck I was alone. It was good I took those fighting lessons from Cole and maintained a good diet. I did not stop running until I climbed over the fence of the royal grounds.

My lungs were burning and my breath came in fast gasps. The world outside was shrouded in darkness, I was able to find my way to the roadside where I was able to catch my breath, hair sticking to my forehead as I managed to use the sleeve of my shirt to wipe away tears.

It was still unbelievable that everything I had known would be destroyed, they had destroyed my mother, probably destroyed Lavina and now they wanted to add more destruction to my life.

“A replacement bride?” I scoffed, “Over my dead body. They would not destroy me any further.”

I needed to find Cole as soon as possible, we would have to leave tonight. I had no money, but Cole had some savings we could get on a ship and stowaway to one of the Democratic countries. It would be illegal but it would be far away from my father and the king of Meridian.

I continued my walk down the lonely hill, from here I could see people moving around, guards in uniform looking for my sister probably. I moved quickly and soon enough I was in the outskirts of town, where his cabin was located. It was little, it was all he could afford from selling jewelry and fake diamonds.

The cabin light was off from afar, which made me shiver in fear. Let it not be he was still in town doing businesses, the guards would find me soon. I couldn't even call in fear that they would track my line which I had switched off. But as I got closer, I saw within that a candlelight was on, followed by little laughter and female giggles.

I frowned. Cole hardly led anyone to his home, especially a female. For the past three years that I had known him, I was the only one he led into his house.

But tonight was different. As I peered through the window, my heart sank at the sight before me. There was Cole, kissing a woman with dark hair, the same lips that had been on mine, his hands roaming over her body with a familiarity that made my stomach churn.

"No," I whispered, feeling a surge of fear and betrayal wash over me. I instinctively began to step back, but my foot caught on something and I stumbled, falling backwards onto a stack of wood with a loud crash.

"What's that?" Cole's voice called out from inside the parlor.

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to catch my breath. I didn't bother to get up, my knees felt so weak, my teeth chattering from the cold. A sudden gust of cold breeze had blown and I was shivering. Cole emerged shirtless from the house, his eyes widening in shock as he took in the scene before him.

"Isadora, what are you doing here?" he asked, his voice tinged with confusion and guilt. But as he glanced down at me, his eyes darkened with hatred that I had never seen before, and I couldn't help but notice the unmistakable hardness pressing against his jeans.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I struggled to find the words to explain. "I...I just wanted to see you," I choked out, “but seeing this…Cole…how could you?”

"My love, what's going on?" A lady's voice was heard before she stepped out to stand behind Cole.

She was stunning, with flowing dark hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through me. In front of her elegance, I felt like a complete disgrace. He had asked me to dress normal, to not make him feel insecure, so I had worn the most shabby clothes imaginable. And here she was, looking like a vision of perfection.

The woman's eyes met mine, and she smiled politely. "Oh, your highness," she said as she curtsied but it felt like mockery.

Cole sighed, his hand going around the woman's waist. "Isa, I'd like you to meet Lila," he said softly, his words cutting through me like a knife. "She's my wife."

The shock was so intense that my heart felt like it shattered into a million pieces. "Not possible," I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief. "It's not possible."

But Lila stepped forward, her gaze steady as she spoke. "I am Lila," she said calmly, "And yes, I have been married to Cole for two years now."

I turned to Cole, my eyes brimming with tears. "Why did you still date me then?" I cried out.

Cole sighed, his expression pained. "I'm sorry, Isa," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I was dating you, a disgraceful princess, no offense. You didn't bring much benefit, except for the jewelry you brought for me to sell and the little name you had that made people want to buy from me.. And I've known Lila since childhood. I love her.”

“We are really sorry lady Isadora, it was my idea to continue to deceive you, my apologies. We are having a baby soon and we are moving out tomorrow. We planned to end this scam today…we are really sorry.”

The words cut through me like a knife, leaving me feeling numb with betrayal. "You said we were eloping," I whispered, my voice breaking. "How many lies did you tell me, Cole?"

He hung his head, unable to meet my gaze. "I'm sorry," he said again, his voice heavy with regret. "But now that you know, I think you should leave. Let's not make things messy.”

“I…trusted my heart with you Cole, you were a light to my darkened world. I can't believe that those times I have come to you crying about my stepmother, was all a lie. When you came to the castle to sell your goods and you had called me beautiful, I thought…I was on cloud nine but…” I didn't continue because they didn’t listen.

Instead he walked back inside shutting the door behind him, while I remained sitting down on a pile of wood looking pathetic. The love that I had held dearly for years had crumbled into nothing but dust, just like that. How could I believe in love again? Did it even exist?

No it doesn't. I sat there until I heard something rustle in the woods. I turned and saw my country's crest on their uniform.

“Your highness?” One of them asked. I didn't move and just laid there until they came and picked me up themselves.

I was like a doll. Broken and lost, and left to be nothing but the replacement for a sister who didn't even care if I was dead or alive.