Chapter 2 2

Chapter 2

...

“What kind of act are you putting on now, Layla? Huh?!”

Hendry Gargan strode toward me, fury blazing in his eyes, his presence so overwhelming it felt as though he could crush me in an instant.

“Humans like you disgust me, Layla. I know you’re obsessed with me—that’s why you drove away every woman who dared come near me.”

He stopped right in front of me.

I lifted my chin, my expression calm as I studied his face.

'Hm… he really is handsome. Tall, well-built… no wonder the Layla in this book was so crazy about him…'

Even I couldn’t deny his looks.

“But Layla,” he continued, his jaw tightening, his breathing heavy with restrained anger, “I have no intention of being with you. So instead of sending you back to your father, you’d better apologize to Nagia.”

“NOW,” he growled, his tone laced with threat.

I turned to look at Nagia Hayys, who stood there crying, her hands clenched tightly.

I knew this scene.

From the book I had read over and over again—Layla Swan had punished her by forcing her to stay submerged in water, her hands and feet bound, leaving her to shiver through the entire night… all because Nagia had dared to approach Alpha Hendry Gargan and had even slipped poison into Layla’s drink.

“Layla Swan, I swear I will cancel our engagement if you don’t...” Hendry’s anger surged, his eyes burning as his breath grew heavier, his voice edged with a low, dangerous growl.

Before he could finish, I crossed my arms over my chest, still holding my head high.

I was not Layla Swan.

Not the pathetic woman who would do anything for an Alpha who didn’t love her.

I was Layla Luris.

And I would do anything to survive, return to my world, and take revenge on the trash who had betrayed me.

The pain of being murdered by Desmon still burned inside me.

I couldn’t hold it back any longer.

“There’s no need for that,” I said coldly, my gaze sharp. “I’ll cancel the engagement myself.”

I pressed my lips together, my cheeks puffing slightly.

I saw it clearly—the shock on Hendry’s face, the way his brows furrowed, confusion flashing in his eyes.

“I’m the one calling it off, Hendry Gargan. And I will not apologize to your mistress, Nagia.”

My gaze shifted toward her, cold and piercing.

“She dared to poison my tea.” My voice remained calm, yet the atmosphere only grew heavier... “I’ll make you pay for that, Nagia. You don’t need poison just because you want Hendry Gargan.”

I tilted my head slightly, my eyes narrowing.

“If you want him… then take him.”

Nagia immediately broke into louder sobs, hiding behind Hendry as if she were terrified of me.

Of course, he would defend her.

After all, in the story I had read, Layla Swan was supposed to be dead yesterday—the moment Nagia poisoned her.

Yes.

Layla Swan was meant to die at the very beginning.

“Alpha Gargan… I would never do such a thing…” Nagia sobbed weakly. “Princess Swan is only angry because you paid attention to me… please don’t hurt her… I deserve this punishment…”

I curled my lips slightly, my eyes narrowing.

What a performance.

She knew exactly how to make him sympathize with her.

I let out a quiet breath as I watched Hendry pull her into his arms with gentle concern.

“Layla Swan,” he said through clenched teeth, glaring at me, “you truly are a cunning, disgusting human.”

“I swear I will get rid of you. I swear I will make you pay for every tear Nagia has shed.”

“How dare you hurt someone as pure and kind as her?!” His voice was filled with fury, his eyes burning as he stared at me like I was something filthy.

“Hic… hic…”

Nagia’s sobs grew softer but more pitiful, and Hendry, full of concern, led her out of the room.

And then...

silence.

Time seemed to stop.

I didn’t even realize when I collapsed onto the floor, my chest tightening painfully.

“Ugh…”

It hurt.

So much that my face flushed red.

I clutched my chest roughly as my vision blurred, tears streaming down my face without restraint.

I remembered this pain.

It was the same pain I felt when I saw Desmon cheating with my best friend.

“Layla Swan… did you really love that bastard?”

“Did you suffer just like I did?”

I whispered softly, speaking to myself—to Layla Swan, the insignificant character in this story.

A character who, it turned out, had felt the same pain as me.

My fingers clenched tightly as my chest continued to ache.

And for a moment…

I cried for her, ass much as I cried for myself, my fingers clenching tightly as my chest throbbed with an unbearable ache.

But I had to stay strong.

I had to return to my world.

I had to take revenge on Desmon and Cassie.

Without hesitation, I grabbed the flower vase in the room, holding it tightly against my chest before heading toward the back of the pavilion.

I had woken up in this place because that bastard had struck me with a vase.

If I did the same thing… maybe I could go back.

I kept walking, leaving the pavilion behind and crossing the vast flower garden.

I knew my personal maids would never stop hovering around me if I stayed there, so I headed somewhere quiet. Somewhere no one would disturb me.

If I wanted to return to my own world...

I had to do it alone.

Still dressed in my white nightgown, I wandered aimlessly through the morning, letting my feet carry me wherever they wished.

The farther I walked, the dimmer the morning sunlight became. A cool breeze brushed against my skin as towering trees gradually swallowed the path ahead.

Without realizing it, I had wandered into the forbidden forest.

I finally stopped in front of a massive ancient tree. Lowering my eyes, I looked at the porcelain flower vase in my hands.

This was it.

Taking a deep breath, I lifted the vase above my head with both hands.

"...Ah." A tiny cry escaped my lips. My eyes squeezed shut.

Actually smashing it over my own head wasn't nearly as easy as I'd imagined.

"Hah..." I let out a shaky breath and began pacing back and forth.

No.

I had to do this. I had to go back.

I had to return to my own world, and kill Desmon and Cassie with my own hands.

I...

My breathing turned ragged again.

Clenching my jaw, I tightened my grip on the vase and raised it above my head once more.

Just as I was about to bring it crashing down...

BAM!

A gigantic arrow shot through the vase in my hands. The porcelain exploded into countless pieces.

The force of the arrow drove straight into the massive tree behind me, embedding itself so deeply that the enormous trunk groaned before beginning to topple.

"Huh...?" My eyes widened.

The shattered vase. The enormous arrow buried in the tree. The towering trunk collapsing toward me... Everything happened so fast that my mind couldn't keep up.

Fear gripped my chest.

Oh no no!

I couldn't move.

The massive tree came crashing toward me, and all I could do was stare.

Then...

Someone grabbed my wrist. His grip was unbelievably strong. And...

Thud.

I was pulled to the ground. A man's body hovered over mine. For a moment... I forgot how to breathe.

Deep blue eyes. Black hair. A face so devastatingly handsome it didn't seem real.

His expression remained calm. Yet somehow, that only made him seem even more dangerous.

My heart pounded wildly against my ribs as fear threatened to consume me whole.

"How bold." His deep voice echoed through the forest, carrying an authority that demanded absolute obedience. "You dare stain my land with your blood, human?"

I swallowed hard.

His hand was still gripping my shoulder.

It hurt... So much that it felt as though my bones might shatter beneath his fingers.

BOOM!

A thunderous crash echoed behind us.

The massive tree that had nearly crushed me slammed into the ground before splintering into countless pieces.

My breathing grew heavier as tears slipped silently down my cheeks. No matter where I went, death always seemed to find me. Nothing was unfolding the way it was supposed to anymore. Meeting this man should never have happened.

"What a fragile little girl." Cruelty lingered beneath his calm voice. He lifted my chin with effortless confidence.

His breathtakingly handsome face and striking blue eyes almost concealed the cold ruthlessness hidden beneath them. "Are you trying to seduce me?"

"...Huh?" My eyes widened.

Instinctively, I lowered my gaze.

Only then did I realize... My white nightgown had become completely transparent.

And...