From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Everyone present had thought Paisley's little brown horse was small and slow, so they assumed it wasn't a good horse. But that was exactly why she chose it—because it was small and gentle.
After all, in the beginning, she just wanted to take Serena for a leisurely ride. There was no need to pick a top-tier horse.
However, that didn't mean the little brown horse was inferior. On the contrary, its small stature and calm demeanor weren't flaws—they were its strengths. The true measure of a horse's quality wasn't in its appearance but in a balanced evaluation of its overall traits.
Sure, this little brown horse didn't look as striking as Marissa's tall and stunning one. But because it was smaller, it had better balance. Its legs were compact and muscular, built for stability.
Paisley had already noticed the horse's hidden potential during her first trial ride. Despite its calm demeanor, the horse had incredible bursts of power. Such impressive strength, combined with its gentle temperament, made it undeniably an excellent horse.
Paisley had only challenged Marissa after thoroughly understanding the capabilities of the little brown horse and relying on her own skills to back her up. After all, Paisley was never one to fight a battle she wasn't prepared for.
Now, that once-mocked little brown horse was charging forward like an unstoppable force. Its determined whinnies seemed to echo as a rebuttal to everyone who had laughed at it.
On the horse's back sat Paisley, reins in hand, exuding quiet confidence. She wasn't dressed in anything fancy—just a simple T-shirt that clung to her figure in the wind, outlining her effortlessly sensual curves.
Her sharp, focused eyes stayed locked on the path ahead. Occasionally, a stray strand of her hair brushed her face, softening the edge of her fierce gaze. Her loosely tied ponytail whipped in the wind, making the audience stunned.
When Dominick realized that Paisley could actually ride, the tension in his furrowed brow eased instantly. His eyes reflected a mix of shock and admiration that he couldn't suppress. The rhythmic pounding of hoofbeats seemed to echo in his chest, striking his heart with every beat.
At that very moment, no one else existed in his gaze—only Paisley. From start to finish, it was always Paisley.
After his initial shock, Dominick was left in a daze as he pondered, 'I didn't know Paisley could ride a horse, let alone this well. Did she learn after we split up, or... has she always known, and I just never noticed?'
Behind him, Julian was equally stunned. He couldn't reconcile this Paisley with the housewife he once knew.
Meanwhile, the once noisy crowd began to quiet down. For a moment, the only sound was Serena's proud cheers for her mom, her voice ringing out loud and clear.
Alexis and the others who had mocked Paisley earlier all shut their mouths. The disdain on their faces was gone, replaced with stiffness and awkwardness. Some even felt an inexplicable twinge of embarrassment creeping over them.
At that moment, no one dared to glance back at Marissa, who was falling further behind. They couldn't help but feel secondhand embarrassment for her.
Even Grayson, who had been loudly cheering Marissa on, grew quieter until his voice disappeared altogether. He stood there with his mouth slightly open, his eyes wide with disbelief.
He blinked once, then again, as if trying to convince himself it wasn't an illusion. But every time he looked, it was the same—Paisley and her little brown horse pulling far ahead of Marissa.
Grayson mused, 'Paisley wasn't lying after all. She's truly impressive. Even more impressive than Marissa, at that.'
Marissa was panicking on the racetrack. She had watched with her own eyes as Paisley overtook her, pulling further and further ahead. Marissa thought anxiously, 'If this keeps up, I'm definitely going to lose. No. I can't lose. I won't lose.'
Marissa couldn't afford to lose to Paisley, especially not in front of Dominick and Grayson. Marissa's chest tightened, but no matter what she tried, she just couldn't catch up. As the finish line loomed closer, her mind became increasingly chaotic.
Suddenly, an idea struck Marissa. Gripping the reins tightly in one hand, she discreetly unpinned the brooch from her chest with the other. Gritting her teeth, she steeled herself and jabbed it directly into the flank of her white horse.
The tall white horse then neighed in pain, a sharp, distressed sound, before bolting forward like a mad creature.
But Marissa's panic only grew as she realized she had lost control of the animal. She knew if the horse couldn't stop in time at the finish line or if something unexpected happened, the consequences could be disastrous.
In her panic, Marissa noticed Paisley getting closer and closer. Marissa clenched her jaw and decided to throw caution to the wind. Just as her white horse was about to catch up with Paisley's little brown horse, she stabbed the brooch into her white horse's flank again.
The new burst of pain sent the already frenzied white horse into a complete frenzy. It reared and thrashed, its body jerking wildly in every direction while its legs kicked out forcefully.
Right away, Paisley realized something was off with Marissa's horse—it looked frenzied. As soon as it came closer, she braced herself for what was to come.
The moment the white horse went completely berserk, Paisley tightened her grip on the reins, adjusting her posture and shifting her weight with precision.
Her little brown horse reacted swiftly, leaping high into the air and clearing the arena fence with ease. It then landed steadily on the other side, leaving the crowd gasping in astonishment.
The horse's dark brown tail flicked arrogantly as it huffed and snorted. Paisley smirked, thinking, 'What a feisty little thing!' Sitting tall in the saddle, she lightly patted its back as if to say, "Good job."
Right now, she could've passed for a triumphant warrior queen—poised, commanding, her features calm and proud, surveying the world from above.
Before anyone could fully process Paisley's daring move, a shrill scream from Marissa shattered the moment. On her horse's back, Marissa looked utterly disheveled. She had completely lost control, and no one dared to approach the maddened white horse.
"Dad! Please, save Marissa," Grayson screamed, tears streaming down his face as he desperately pleaded with Dominick.
Dominick frowned and pondered, 'I personally chose this horse for Marissa. It's supposed to be gentle—how could it suddenly go berserk?'
As Dominick, Julian, and the security team moved to subdue the horse, Marissa's strength finally gave out. With a terrified scream, she was thrown off, hitting the ground with a heavy thud.
She cried out as a wave of sharp, searing pain coursed through her. Clenching her teeth, she couldn't even manage a word.
The white horse, now free of its tormentor, let out one final cry and bolted. However, it wasn't long before the staff on-site managed to intercept it. Strangely, the horse didn't struggle or act out any further.
Instead, it obediently stood still, waiting for someone to take its reins. Its white tail kept swishing at its haunches, and its eyes seemed filled with grievance.
Grayson dashed over the moment the scene was under control, throwing himself down beside Marissa and sobbing, "Marissa, are you okay? Don't scare me like that..."
The others gathered around to check on Marissa as well. Under Grayson's frantic cries, she slowly regained her senses, though her face was streaked with tears. Looking up with trembling lips and tear-filled eyes, she whimpered, "Dom... I almost died just now..."