From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 376: Chapter 376

Lenore stepped slowly into the room, her back to Serena as she closed the door. "Rena, I know you're smart—the smartest girl I've ever met. So I knew I couldn't hide it from you forever. You've probably figured something's up a long time ago, right?"
Serena was caught off guard—she hadn't expected Lenore to be so blunt. "I don't know anything. I'm waiting for you to tell me."
Lenore shut the door and turned to her. "Don't play dumb. You felt it last night, didn't you? When I left, you were already awake—you were just pretending to sleep."
She smiled, walked to the table, and sat down, casually grabbing a bag of crackers and tearing it open. "After almost two years as roommates, you think I wouldn't know what you two are like when you're asleep?
"Elara snores softly when she's out. And you, Rena—your breathing's long and deep."
Serena and Elara swapped a look. They hadn't realized Lenore had studied them that closely.
Lenore munched a couple of crackers, then stopped, brushing the crumbs off her hands. "Rena, you're right—there's no wedding. Or rather, no wedding for me."
"Lenore, what are you talking about? If you're not getting married, why'd you trick us into coming? What do you want?" Elara shot up from the bed.
"Rena, Elara, I'm so sorry. I want to keep going to school, and the only way that happens is if you're here," said Lenore.
Just then, noisy voices erupted outside the Barnes family's courtyard. Lenore glanced out. "They're here."
With that, she stood, opened the door, and walked out.
Elara panicked. "Who's here? Who's that? Rena, is Lenore really selling us out?"
Olivia's voice rang out. "Why're you here so early?"
"If we didn't come early, what if they ran off?" the other party said.
"No chance—we've been watching. They're not going anywhere," Fyodor chimed in.
"We had a deal—if my son doesn't like them, we're taking your daughter today," they replied.
"Relax, I know," Fyodor said again. "There's two in there—you pick first. Whatever's left is for Damon. If you don't want either, you take Lenore."
Inside, Serena and Elara heard every word loud and clear. Their faces went pale.
Then Lenore's voice came from outside. "My two classmates are city girls—soft skin, good looks, classy vibes. You'll love them."
Hearing Lenore pitch them like that, Elara shook with rage. "Rena, Lenore really sold us out. No wonder she said she couldn't keep going to school if we didn't come."
So that was it—one of them was meant to take her place in a marriage, and the other would be stuck here for Damon to ruin. That's why Damon crept in last night, touching Serena's leg and calling her his wife. It all clicked now.
"She's disgusting—so disgusting. We treated her like a real friend, and this is how she repays us?" Elara cried, not because she was weak, but because the tears just wouldn't stop.
Serena glanced at her phone—still no signal. There had to be a signal jammer in the house. Those weren't easy to get on the open market, but their school had them.
And some seniors from other departments—guys Lenore was tight with—knew how to make them. She had plenty of ways to get her hands on one.
The question was how strong it was. Was it a basic model that only blocked surface signals, or a pro one that could jam satellite signals too?
If it was the first, the security company could still track her via satellite once her phone's connection dropped. Then all she and Elara had to do was buy time until help arrived. If it was the pro version, strong enough to block satellites, then—
Serena gripped Elara's hand tight. They'd have to go all in. With that in mind, she started scanning the room for anything they could use as a weapon. But after a full sweep, nothing useful turned up. It was clear—they'd been set up to have no way out.
The door swung open from the outside, and a crowd of mountain men poured in. Their eyes glinted with malice, sizing Serena and Elara up like merchandise.
Serena pulled Elara close, her brain racing to analyze the situation and find the best escape route.
The scrawny old man leading them caught her vibe and sneered, "Thinking of running? Dream on. Once you're in these mountains, you're not getting out. You think it's just us? There's more outside. This whole village is ours—one shout, and everyone's on our side."
"You—you're trafficking women! Aren't you afraid of jail?" Elara trembled, her voice shaking. She'd seen stories online about women sold into the mountains.
She never imagined she'd end up one of them. All because she trusted her friendship with Lenore.
"Hahaha!" The scrawny old man laughed like it was the funniest thing he'd heard. "Jail? We're all one big happy family here. Anything happens, it's just household stuff. The cops won't even know. No one's coming for us—nobody cares," said the old man.
Then he nudged the wiry young guy next to him. "Son, take a look—which do one you want? That's your wife from now on."
The young guy's eyes lit up like a dog in heat, practically drooling over Serena and Elara. "Dad, they're both hot—can I have them both?"
"No way—that wasn't the deal. You pick one, the other's for Damon. We're letting you choose first—what more do you want?" Fyodor jumped in, objecting.
Damon scrunched up his face, pointing at Serena. "Wife—that's my wife."
The young guy followed Damon's finger to Serena, then looked at Elara, stuck on deciding.
Fyodor was worried they'd take both. He yanked Lenore over. "If you want two, take my daughter too. But one of those girls has to stay for Damon."
Lenore's face went white, struggling hard. "Dad, you and Mom promised—if I brought my roommates, I wouldn't have to marry. You said I could keep studying!"
Fyodor slapped her across the face. "Study what? Haven't you had enough already? Your studying's not as important as your brother carrying on the Barnes family line."
"Mom!" Lenore couldn't get through to Fyodor. Clutching her face, she turned to her pretty mom. "Mom, you said you went to college—you know how good studying is. You said you'd let me keep going, right?"
But her mom ignored her, pointing at Elara and saying to the scrawny old man. "Take her. She's got the build—looks like she can pop out a bunch. As for this one—"
She looked at Serena. "She's prettier, sure, but too skinny. Leave her for Damon—he can break her in good."
Right then, Serena saw it in Olivia's face—an evil and hate so thick it wouldn't dissolve.