From Forgotten Wife To Fierce Queen - Chapter 378: Chapter 378

Olivia said that last bit so quietly that no one but Serena, standing closest, caught it. Even Serena only pieced it together after a dazed second—this mountain woman knew her mom. Suddenly, all the weird, confusing stuff from before made sense.
But she couldn't figure out how she could know her mother. They lived in totally different worlds—different places, different classes, different everything. Under normal circumstances, there's no way they'd ever cross paths.
Serena wanted to dig more out of her, but the woman seemed to read her mind and clammed up. She turned to Fyodor and Damon. "Tie her up—she'll make trouble. Later, heat some water for Damon to clean up. Get him nice and ready to take his wife to bed."
Hearing he'd get a wife today, Damon clapped like crazy, grinning and cackling, drool dribbling down his chin. "Good, good! Take wife, go to bed—go to bed!"
His dad wasn't impressed. "What's with all this fuss just to sleep with a woman? Strip her and get it over with—why bother washing? After all these years, you still haven't dropped those prissy habits?"
As he said it, his eyes flicked to her feet. Olivia tensed, stumbling back a few steps, nearly falling. That's when Serena noticed—her mom was lame in one leg.
She hadn't walked fast before and must've been hiding it, so it wasn't obvious. Now, flustered and tripping, the limp showed clear as day.
After a brief panic, the woman plastered on a smile again. It was even cockier and crazier than before. She nodded at her husband's rant. "You're right—why wash? Just sleep with her filthy—that's better."
'Paisley's daughter's a dirty lowlife—only fit for a dirty man.' With that thought, her eyes glinted, and she got a sicker idea, turning excitedly to her husband. "Damon's brain's a mess—what if he can't figure it out and fumbles around forever?"
Her husband blinked, seeing her point. "So what do we do?"
"What else?" She grinned at him like a perfect wife. "You're his dad—you'll have to teach him up close."
"Huh?" Clearly, Fyodor hadn't expected his wife to drop something that wild.
But after a second, the rotten side of him started itching, especially seeing Serena, tied up and helpless, her face full of despair. That evil urge grew stronger.
He didn't even fake a protest—just grinned and nodded, eyeing his wife with approval. "You're right—I'm Damon's dad. Who better to show him how it's done?"
Olivia smirked, her eyes dripping with smug contempt. Mostly, it was the sick thrill of revenge about to pay off.
Serena shut her eyes in despair, her chest tight with nausea. The psychological disgust churned her stomach hard.
Fyodor, all hyped up, wanted a drink and told his wife to grab some booze. She rummaged around but came up empty. Impatient, he went out to buy some himself. Damon, eager to be a groom, tagged along.
Lenore hadn't said a word the whole time. Seeing everyone leave, she slipped out too. For a moment, the room was just Serena. Her hands and feet were bound—she couldn't move much. The door and windows were locked, and the window had iron bars outside.
She'd thought the bars were for thieves at first—now she knew they were to keep people in. Escaping on her own was basically impossible. All she could do now was hope rescue came fast.
Soon, footsteps echoed at the door again. Serena's heart clenched, but it was Lenore who walked in.
"I convinced Dad to make Damon wash up first. Right now, Dad and Damon are bathing—it's the only thing I could do for you. I'm sorry, Rena. Don't hate me. When you're my sister-in-law, I'll treat you good," Lenore said, avoiding Serena's eyes, staring at the floor as she spoke.
"Lenore, ever think about what happens if you cross me?" Serena's tone was flat. At this point, yelling and blaming wouldn't change a thing.
Lenore's hands gripped her pant legs, panic flashing across her face. "I know your family's rich, but so what? No outsider's getting in without a guide. Even if they do, your body's already ruined. Rich folks care about appearances, right? A defiled daughter—you think your family'd still want you?"
She'd seen it plenty—lots of women in these mountains ended up staying that way. Her mom had too.
Serena's family might be loaded, but it was useless. Rich folks were all the same—sanctimonious but heartless, all polished outside and rotten inside, selfish and fake as hell.
Seeing Lenore's twisted logic, Serena knew arguing was pointless.
For the first time, she spoke to her with disdain, "Guess you're just ignorant. All those years of school, wasted. Your dad's right—what's the point of studying for someone like you? Just marry some guy already."
No curse words, but every syllable was poison, hitting Lenore like a gut punch.
"I'm going to study! I'm going to make it big! Don't get cocky, Serena—soon you'll be a Barnes. No matter how rich you are, you'll be stuck in these mountains forever, slaving away, owned by men. Me? Once I finish college, I'm out of here for good," said Lenore.
With that, Lenore bolted like she'd been stung. Maybe Serena's words hit too hard—she couldn't stand staying in that house a second longer. She grabbed her pitifully small bag, mumbled a quick goodbye to her parents, and hightailed it out.
Right then, her parents were too caught up in their own glee to care about her. Her mom, thrilled, even gave her more cash than usual for travel and living expenses.
Fyodor didn't nag or hold her back like he normally would either. After half a year, he finally got a bath—feeling great, he grabbed a bottle and headed for Serena's room.
Damon trailed behind, giddy, muttering, "Take wife, go to bed."
Olivia watched those two, not mad but excited. She personally escorted them to the door. "Go on—don't waste the night."
The man pinched her face with his still-grubby hands, even after washing. "Once I teach Damon, I'll come back and give you a good time."
Disgust flashed in her eyes, but she didn't say anything—just shoved the pair into the room in a lusty rush. She looked more eager than they did.
After pushing them in, she didn't close the door all the way, leaving a crack. She'd stand right here, watching Paisley's daughter get wrecked, soothing years of pent-up hate.
Serena saw the father and son come back and knew she couldn't dodge what was coming. She'd prepped herself mentally, telling herself nothing mattered but staying alive. But when the moment hit, she was still terrified.
"Mom, save me. I'm scared." She squirmed, her mouth calling out for her mom without thinking. It was like that was the only thing giving her strength to face what was next.
The girl's fear jazzed the old man up. "Stop calling for Mom—call me Daddy. I'm your dad now."
Thinking he could play groom again at his age had him over the moon. He chugged some booze and turned to Damon. "Son, stand there—watch Dad do it once. If you don't get it, I'll show you a few more times."
Without waiting for an answer, the stinking old man lunged at Serena. Serena shrieked, twisting away. She swung her bound legs up with all her might, slamming them into him. Caught off guard, the old man toppled over.
"You little bitch, kicking me?" He raged, getting up. "Damon, get over here—hold her down!"
Just then, the old village chief banged on the door from outside. "Open up! Hurry—open the door!"
His fun interrupted, Fyodor yelled at his wife from the room. "What're you standing there for? Go open it!"
Her eyes still glowed with the thrill of revenge, but the interruption ticked her off. Still, it was the village chief—they couldn't cross him. Grudgingly, she went to the door.
The second it opened, the chief stormed in, pale as a ghost, and grilled Olivia. "You hiding someone in here?"
Her face froze, but she denied it. "No—what're you talking about? It's just us in this house."
"Don't play dumb with me—are you hiding someone? Who? Let them go now—I'm warning you!" The chief was freaking out.
But before he finished, heavy footsteps thundered outside the house.
As they got closer, wails mixed in— cries from the villagers, judging by the sound.
Seeing time running out, the chief pressed harder. "Let them go—or you're dead!"
Too late—a swarm of people burst in, flooding the courtyard and rooms in seconds. By the time Olivia snapped out of it and tried to shut the door to hide Serena, a massive force kicked her back. She crashed into the wall, sliding down like a squashed fly.
"What's all this noise for?" Fyodor still hadn't caught on, thinking it was just the chief, griping from inside.
Next second, the door to Serena's room flew off its hinges with one slap from outside. The panel smashed into an old table, splintering both in an instant.
Fyodor froze, stunned stiff. Damon wet himself on the spot.
"Miss!" A tall, burly man strode in first, spotting Serena tied up right away. It was Jake.
"Jake! Save me!" Serena croaked, her emotions surging. She knew someone would come for her.
Seeing the little girl he'd doted on since she was a baby now tied to this filthy, broken bed, nearly ravaged by these creeps, Jake wanted to rip them apart.
He rushed over, grabbed the father and son like trash bags—one in each hand—and flung them out hard. With their miserable screams echoing, Jake untied Serena's ropes.
"Jake, send people to save Elara—she got taken by someone here. I don't know where—hurry, find her!" The first thing Serena did after being freed was beg Jake to rescue Elara.
No time to waste—Jake called his team to track down and save her. After untying her, Jake scooped Serena up and carried her out of the room.
As they walked, he asked, "You hurt? Did they touch you?"
From the moment Serena's security system pinged a disconnect, Jake had locked onto her spot via satellite. After failing to reach her multiple times, he reported it to Paisley pronto and led a team out, following the signal to find her.
"I'm fine, I'm fine—you got here just in time," Serena said, not wanting to worry him, insisting she hadn't been harmed.
Finally out of that suffocating room, Serena glanced around and saw Olivia writhing against the wall in pain. But she scanned the place—no sign of Lenore.
She was about to ask where she'd gone when a familiar, warm voice cut through.
"Rena!" Paisley shoved past Linna, charging into the house like a madwoman. With everything under control and no danger left, Linna let go.
"Mom!" The tough girl who'd held it together broke down the second she saw her mom, tears flooding out.
Jake set Serena down, and she threw herself into Paisley's arms.
"Mommy, I knew you'd come save me." All her calm and logic melted away—she was just a kid needing her mom's comfort.
Paisley clutched her daughter, her heart pounding. She couldn't bear to think what might've happened if they'd been a minute late—her precious girl in these monsters' hands.
With that, Paisley's gaze snapped to Olivia nearby, sharp and fierce. But when she got a good look at her face, she faltered. "Brittany?"