Reborn To Change My Fate-Chapter 324 - Three Hundred And Twenty Three

The heavy hands of the royal guards clamped down on Marissa’s arms. They did not care that she was a Grand Duchess. They grabbed her roughly, their thick leather gloves digging into her bruised skin. They pulled her away from the dark shadows of the garden and dragged her forcefully toward the front of the massive stone manor.

The winter wind howled around them. The snow was falling harder now, covering the ground in a thin, cold blanket of white. Marissa stumbled as they dragged her forward, her torn dress dragging in the wet snow.

Walking a few steps ahead of them was Ashlyn.

Ashlyn’s back was straight, but her clothes were still bloody rags from the whipping she had received earlier. Despite her ruined appearance, she walked with a proud, victorious bounce in her step. She had finally won. She had captured the clever Marissa.

Marissa looked at her sister’s back. She felt a deep sense of pity mixed with exhaustion.

"Ashlyn," Marissa called out over the howling wind. Her voice was tired but steady. "I never thought you would still be so deluded."

They reached the grand stone steps that led up to the main entrance doors of Prince Liam’s residence. The courtyard was brightly lit by large torches mounted on the walls.

Ashlyn stopped walking. She slowly turned around to face Marissa.

The bright torchlight revealed Ashlyn’s face. It was a tragic mask of dirt, dried tears, and crazy, desperate ambition. She looked at Marissa, who was firmly trapped in the grip of four large men.

"Deluded?" Ashlyn asked. She let out a dry, humorless laugh. She pointed a dirty finger at her own chest. "Carlos divorced me. Your husband threw me onto the street like a stray dog. The Thompson family completely despises me. Even my own father and my own family despise me. They locked their doors when they saw me coming."

Ashlyn took a step closer, her pale eyes wide and wild.

"Besides seeking refuge with Prince Liam," Ashlyn demanded, her voice rising in pitch, "where else can I go? What other choice do I have in this miserable world?"

She stared at Marissa, challenging her.

"Could it be you would take me in?" Ashlyn mocked. "Would you give me a warm bed after everything that has happened? Of course not. You would leave me to freeze."

Marissa looked at her sister. She saw how broken Ashlyn truly was. Ashlyn was a woman drowning in a river, willing to grab onto a poisonous snake just to stay above water.

"You are making a deal with a devil, Ashlyn," Marissa warned her honestly. She did not raise her voice. She just stated the cold truth. "He does not care about you. He will use you tonight, and he will kill you in the end. He leaves nothing but destruction behind him."

Ashlyn’s face twisted in sudden, violent anger. She hated hearing the truth. She hated that Marissa was still trying to act superior, even when she was a prisoner.

"Stop lecturing me!" Ashlyn shouted, her voice echoing across the snowy courtyard. She pointed a shaking finger at Marissa’s bound form. "Look at yourself! You are covered in dirt. You are a prisoner. You cannot even save yourself, yet you dare to preach to me?"

Before Marissa could answer, the heavy wooden entrance doors behind Ashlyn creaked open loudly.

Warm, bright light spilled out onto the top step.

Prince Liam walked out.

He had put on a dark thick robe, tying it casually around his waist, leaving his chest partially bare. His appearance was terrifying. The white powder from Marissa’s ring had done its job. His eyes were completely bloodshot, a bright, angry red. Tears still leaked from the corners of his eyes, and the skin around them was puffy and inflamed. His face was stained with his blood from the hit Marissa gave him. He looked like a wounded, furious demon. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He glared down at the courtyard. When his red eyes locked onto Marissa, a cruel, sick smile spread across his bruised face.

Ashlyn quickly stepped out of his way, bowing her head submissively. She hoped he would look at her with gratitude, but he completely ignored her.

Liam slowly walked down the stone steps. He approached the guards who were holding Marissa.

He waved his hand dismissively at the men. He did not need them anymore.

Liam took over from the guards. He stepped right up to Marissa. He reached out and grabbed both of her wrists with his large, strong hands. He yanked her forward.

Marissa stumbled into his hard chest. Liam quickly pulled her arms backward. He pinned her hands tightly behind her back, locking them together with one of his massive hands.

With his other arm, he wrapped tightly around her waist, trapping her completely against his body.

He stood directly behind her, holding her so tightly she could barely breathe.

Marissa struggled. She kicked her feet and tried to twist her shoulders, but his grip was like iron. He was much stronger than her, and the anger inside him made his hold impossible to break.

Liam lowered his head. He pressed his face right into her messy, dark hair. His lips moved until they were touching her ear.

"You are in a lot of trouble now," Liam whispered. His voice was a harsh, wet rasp. The warm, sour air from his mouth blew into her ear, making her stomach turn.

He took a deep breath. He loudly inhaled the scent of her neck, smelling her fear and her sweet perfume.

"You think you are clever, throwing powder in my eyes?" Liam hissed quietly, making sure only she could hear the twisted promise. "I will make sure you are truly satisfied tonight. I will make sure your whole body will be so sore, so broken, that you won’t be able to leave the bed for a week."

Marissa flinched violently. A wave of pure, cold disgust washed over her entire body. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to block out his voice, trying to block out the feeling of his body pressed against hers. She felt sick.

Liam chuckled, a low, evil sound. He tightened his arm around her waist. He was about to turn around and drag her back up the steps, back into the nightmare of his bedroom.

Suddenly, a sharp, metallic sound cut through the howling wind.

Shhhhing!

It was the unmistakable sound of steel leaving leather scabbards.

Liam stopped. He lifted his head from Marissa’s neck.

All around the large stone courtyard, the royal guards who had been standing watch suddenly unsheathed their swords. They quickly formed a tight half-circle, pointing their sharp blades toward the center of the yard.

Liam and Marissa turned to look at the main gates.

Standing right in the middle of the snowy courtyard, completely surrounded by Prince Liam’s armed guards, was a single man.

It was Derek.