From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Out of the corner of her eye, Paisley noticed the group entering the field but paid them no mind. She continued riding the horse leisurely with Serena.
Paisley figured the area was big enough for everyone—they could do their thing, and she and Serena could enjoy their own time without getting in each other's way.
However, Paisley's hope for mutual noninterference didn't last long. Someone seemed determined to disrupt her peace.
As she circled back to her starting point, Marissa approached her with a smile. "Could I trouble you to leave for now? There are a lot of us, and we need this area for our activities."
Seated on the horse, Paisley let the small brown horse's hooves thud against the ground rhythmically. "No." Her answer was blunt and to the point.
Marissa's expression darkened, and her tone carried a faint threat as she said, "You'd better leave now, or it'll get embarrassing for you later."
"Oh? Is that so?" Paisley replied casually.
She thought, 'I'm actually curious. How exactly does Marissa plan to embarrass me? Surely, she wouldn't announce in public that I'm Dominick's mysterious ex-wife.
'No, she'd want to keep my existence as hidden as possible. But besides that, there's nothing connecting us. So, what else could she do to humiliate me?'
Marissa hadn't expected Paisley to remain so confident and fearless. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became that Paisley was relying on her connection to Dominick to be here.
Marissa hesitated, thinking, 'If I keep pushing, Paisley might reveal she's Dominick's ex-wife. If that happens, what will everyone think of me? And what will they think of her?'
Taking a deep breath, she adjusted her tone and continued, "Look, it's just that there are so many of us, and we're all going to be riding.
"Once the horses start running, there's a chance you could get hurt. Especially since you have a child with you—it wouldn't be good if anything happened."
Paisley understood that horseback riding was a favored pastime for the wealthy, a skill many families from the upper class asked their children to learn. Although Marissa had tempered her tone, the underlying sense of superiority was impossible to hide.
Alexis, standing nearby, couldn't hold back any longer. She walked over and chimed in, "Why are you wasting your breath, Marissa? Just get someone to kick her out already."
Alexis tilted her head back, scrutinizing Paisley with disdain. Paisley's plain T-shirt and jeans, paired with worn-looking riding boots of an unknown brand, didn't sit well with her.
'So tacky,' Alexis huffed inwardly. 'She's obviously one of those low-class wannabe influencers. Even though the little kid with her is decently dressed, complete with protective gear, what does it matter? With a mother like that, it's still laughable.'
The others who had come with Marissa were also starting to show their impatience. Though no one said anything outright, their expressions made their feelings clear—disdain and irritation were written all over their faces.
Paisley looked over and happened to see the little guy on the side, Grayson. Unsurprisingly, she saw the same disdain mirrored in his eyes. She chuckled softly, thinking to herself that Grayson truly was Marissa's perfect little son.
Paisley glanced over at Dominick, who was standing nearby, watching her with a composed, almost leisurely demeanor. His expression seemed to say he was waiting for her to ask him for help.
The look in Dominick's eyes was practically taunting her, "Just beg me, Paisley. If you beg, I'll let you stay." His tall frame and arms crossed over his chest made him look imposing. It was an undeniably handsome face, yet at this moment, his smug expression was infuriating.
It didn't take long for Serena to feel the hostility from everyone around her. Feeling uneasy, she leaned into Paisley's embrace and murmured, "Mom..."
Paisley gently stroked Serena's forehead and said, "It's okay. If you want to stay and play, we'll stay. No one can make us leave."
"You're really shameless, aren't you? You can't even ride a horse, yet you're still hanging around here. I bet you already took enough photos, so scram," Alexis snapped, her irritation reaching its peak—though most of it was clearly an act meant for Marissa.
"You'd better leave now. We've all been practicing riding since we were kids. Once we pick up speed, it'd be bad if you got hurt," Marissa chimed in, maintaining her usual gentle and considerate demeanor.
Paisley nonchalantly glanced at Alexis before turning her gaze to Marissa. Then, Paisley waved her hand and called Maria over. She carefully handed Serena down from the horse and into Maria's arms.
Seeing that, Marissa felt a sense of relief and pondered, 'Looks like Paisley's finally giving up and deciding to leave. That's the smart move—staying would only embarrass her further.'
In truth, from the very beginning, Marissa's polite suggestions for Paisley to leave were meant to test Dominick's reaction. Yet, from start to finish, he remained indifferent. Grayson, too, hadn't said a single word in Paisley's defense.
Their lack of response gave Marissa the confidence to repeatedly push Paisley out while still maintaining her genteel façade.
Alexis let out a mocking laugh. "You should've left ages ago." Meanwhile, the others around them began mounting their horses, ready for a proper race.
But unexpectedly, Paisley spoke up, "I understand Ms. Prescott's point. Whoever's the better rider gets to stay, right? Fine then, let's have a competition."
Marissa hadn't expected Paisley to make such a proposal. Stunned for a moment, Marissa raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Are you serious? You want to compete with me?"
At that, laughter rippled through the crowd. Everyone there knew that Marissa's coach was none other than Yohan. And Paisley? She was infamous for barely being able to trot a horse at a pace faster than a snail. It was absurd that she'd even suggest such a thing.
"Don't overestimate yourself. Just leave already," Alexis said with an exaggerated laugh, her tone brimming with disdain.
Compared to Marissa and Dominick, Alexis' family background didn't amount to much. Yet, in the eyes of ordinary people, she was a bona fide heiress of a powerful family. So, when she dealt with Paisley, she didn't hold back at all.
Actually, it wasn't just Alexis. Everyone present acted the same way. They were either pampered second-generation elites accustomed to being flattered or professionals from high-powered families thriving in prestigious fields. In this circle, they believed they had every right and the standing to dismiss others entirely.
"You'd better just leave on your own. I'm not going to compete with you," Marissa sighed and shook her head like Paisley had said something utterly ridiculous. Yet, she still managed to appear benevolent, as if she was sparing Paisley's dignity.
Alexis lost her patience, raising her riding crop high, ready to bring it down on Paisley's little brown horse. Her actions screamed, "If you won't leave, I'll make you leave."
Paisley's eyes sharpened as she reached out and caught the riding crop mid-air. "Miss, that's incredibly rude of you."
"You're talking to me about manners?" Alexis spat, her face contorted with fury. "You trespassed into someone else's private event area, and that's what you call manners?"
Alexis didn't manage to snatch the riding crop on her first try. But when she made a stronger attempt to pull it back the second time, Paisley let go suddenly. The sudden motion threw Alexis off balance, sending her reeling backward before landing hard on the ground.
"How dare you?" Alexis' face flushed crimson with rage.
Paisley didn't bother acknowledging her, instead staring directly at Marissa. "What's the matter? Are you scared?"
Paisley had long found Marissa insufferable. Back then, whenever Emery had called Marissa a bitch, Paisley would at least try to correct Emery. Now, she thought Emery's nickname was spot-on.
Paisley reflected, 'I've made it clear time and time again—I don't care about Dominick or even Grayson. And yet, Marissa keeps shoving herself in my face like her presence matters. Honestly, she and Dominick are a perfect match—a bitch and a jerk of a man.'