Chapter 2 Substitute Bride
With a sharp, trembling lip, Penelope leaned closer to his handsome face, her voice shaking with urgency. "It has nothing to do with me! Valeria has someone she loves!"
"Running away from her wedding is inevitable. Even without me, she would still escape! So… Mr. Grimwald, please spare me!"
"Oh, you have no chance anymore." Ajax's cold, detached tone felt like a death sentence, and his indifferent gaze sealed her fate.
Penelope's delicate face paled at his emotionless words. Her body instinctively recoiled in fear. "W-What do you want to do?"
Without changing his expression, Ajax slightly shifted his wrist. His large hand, which had been resting on her neck, now gripped her throat firmly.
His hand tightened, and her breathing became increasingly difficult.
Penelope panicked, as though falling into an abyss of despair. She tried to speak, but only a few weak, silent movements escaped her lips, unable to form coherent words.
Around them, several servants stood still, their faces expressionless, silently watching.
As the cold indifference of humanity struck her, Penelope realized, with growing horror, that this man truly intended to kill her.
Then, suddenly, the sharp ring of a phone pierced the tense atmosphere.
Noticing the phone, one of the servants hurriedly picked it up from the table and handed it to Ajax.
Ajax's grip loosened slightly as he glanced at the phone's screen.
"Old Geezer" was calling—he could already guess the purpose of the call, no doubt asking about Valeria's situation.
Ajax grimaced in annoyance at the thought of dealing with his grandfather, Victor Grimwald, and cast a disdainful glare at the person in front of him—the one responsible for this mess.
Penelope, given a brief respite, finally had the chance to catch her breath. She touched her neck, attempting to pry his hand away, but it was futile.
The shadow of death still loomed over her. Her eyes filled with glistening tears as she hoarsely whispered, "Mr. Grimwald, murder comes with a price…"
Her words, trembling with fear, added a pitiful air to her fragile form, evoking deep sympathy.
For a moment, Ajax seemed distracted. Then, his brow furrowed, and in a fit of anger, he crushed the phone with a powerful motion. The sound of it shattering reverberated through the room.
The sharp crash made Penelope freeze again in terror.
Her legs trembled violently, and tears flowed freely down her face as she stammered, "I'm sorry, Mr. Grimwald… I was wrong…"
"Sorry?" Ajax sneered, twisting his lips into a mocking grin. "Do you need me to introduce you to what the police station is for?"
Penelope trembled uncontrollably. She didn't know what else to do but repeat her apologies, powerless to change anything.
His large hand moved to seize her chin, his cold, sinister eyes scanning her from head to toe. "The wedding date is set. The bride runs away, and you, the instigator, are responsible."
Penelope dared not speak, her mind racing with the chilling image of this man smiling like a devil with horns.
"You owe me a bride." His thumb, burning with intensity, traced along her jawline, slowly moving to her lips.
Finally, with a heavy press, he uttered two words that filled her with hopelessness. "Substitute bride."
Penelope winced in pain, her body trembling as the shock of his words hit her. "S-Substitute?"
"The old geezer wants a mistress for the Grimwald family. If the real one runs away, it doesn't matter. I'll just find someone connected and marry her." He had decided this coldly, moments ago.
Penelope's face drained of color as she stared at him, disbelief in her eyes. "You can't act on impulse like this! I can't!"
"Whether you can or not is up to me!" His words sliced through her protests, his cruel laugh sealing off any escape. "Now, everyone, call her ‘Mrs. Grimwald!'"
With his command, dozens of bodyguards filed in, formed a respectful line, and said in unison, "Greetings, Mrs. Grimwald!"
Penelope felt her mind go blank as she shook her head vigorously. "No… No… It's impossible…"
Ajax seized her again, lifting her effortlessly. He leaned down, his cold breath brushing her ear as he spoke in a voice that froze her to the core.
"You're the substitute bride now. You'll accept it."