The Tyrant's Stolen Bride-Chapter 132: Escape from the Forbidden Union

A few shadowy figures loitered around the bungalow, cigarette smoke curling lazily into the air.

Nearby, others clustered at a small table, cards in hand, gambling.

With Dante and Stott absent, caution had loosened its grip. No enemy had ever dared cross into this domain.

And the one they were guarding was only a doctor—hardly worth the trouble.

A sharp clap echoed from the doorway.

"Dinner’s ready... tonight’s menu is special..." Meena announced.

A lavish dinner hardly seemed out of place, with a wedding taking place that night.

Some of them drifted toward the dining area, while the rest stayed where they were.

"Let’s eat together. No need to take turns," she encouraged.

They glanced at each other, hesitating. They couldn’t all leave their posts at once.

Then Griffin appeared behind Meena, his sharp gaze sweeping over the men.

"It’s an order from Sir. He’d be displeased if any of you refused to celebrate his wedding day."

Meena seized the moment. "Come on... food won’t taste good once it gets cold."

"All right," one of the men muttered, rising to his feet as he nudged a companion who was still hesitating.

The others looked at one another, shrugged, and finally followed, abandoning their posts one by one.

Dinner that night was unusually sumptuous. The mood was light, plates were refilled more than once, and laughter rang louder than usual.

Only after they were full did they return to their posts.

Not long after that, the dull thud of heavy bodies hitting the floor echoed through the air.

Meena pressed herself against the wall, holding her breath as she watched, one by one crumple and collapse.

A satisfied glint flashed in her eyes. They had fallen right into the trap. Every single one had devoured the dinner laced with sedatives.

She broke into a run toward Griffin. "They’re all out!" she shouted.

"What about the other maids?" he asked.

"They’ve already gone back to their quarters. I bet they’re sleeping just as soundly."

"Good. Fetch Dr. Ashford from the west wing. Bring him straight to the front porch. I’ll be waiting there."

Griffin moved at once. He snatched the key and grabbed guns from the fallen guards.

He slid into the driver’s seat just as Meena and Alex came running toward him from the shadows.

"Hurry! We have to get there before the customary rite ends." he shouted.

"If we’re late, there’s no turning back."

Both of them climbed into the jeep, and Griffin slammed his foot on the accelerator.

The vehicle tore through the darkness, plunging deep into the forest as the night swallowed them whole.

Before they reached the village, Griffin tossed a gun to Alex.

"Take it. In case you need it," he said simply.

He knew a doctor wouldn’t know how to use a weapon properly but that didn’t matter.

Tonight, Alex still needed one, even if it was only for show.

As they approached the village entrance, two armed guards stood watch, rifles slung over their shoulders.

They waved the jeep through without question as they recognized Griffin.

He was one of Dante’s most trusted aides. But after this night, not anymore.

Griffin had made his decision. He would not let the woman he had grown to care about to be dragged deeper into this world.

He would not allow her to be ruined.

He was grateful Meena had agreed to cooperate for a modest payment. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

She was one of the island’s locals and knew the ins and outs of the escape routes. It would help them get out safely.

Griffin stopped the jeep a short distance from where the rite was taking place. He chose a spot beside a house, well positioned to conceal the vehicle.

"You two wait here. Stay put. I’ll go get Madam."

Alex and Meena lay low inside the jeep, hidden just as planned.

Griffin moved silently, slipping through the gathered villagers with ease, blending into the crowd as if he belonged there.

He spotted Lyra immediately. She sat at a special place reserved for the bride, positioned near the center.

With Dante nowhere in sight, it was a good chance to act.

But then he hesitated. Getting close to her would be difficult.

Everyone was facing her. Any wrong move would draw attention.

A glimmer of hope arrived when someone poked his shoulder from behind.

A village woman noticed Griffin had just arrived and joined them.

She pressed a small, strangely colored stone into his palm and gestured toward the fire pit.

Calling over a young boy, she whispered something to him.

The boy took a stone, walked to the fire pit, and tossed it into the flames.

The fire leapt briefly, flickering in beautiful, shifting colors, before settling into a calm glow.

Then he clapped his hands together and murmured a quiet prayer.

"Oooh..." Griffin let out a faint sound of understanding.

A ritual, perhaps a way to pray for the couple.

He gave the woman a thumbs up and mimicked the boy’s actions. No one paid him any mind.

Now, he was close enough.

"Psst," he murmured.

Lyra lifted her gaze. "Griffin?"

"Come with me," he breathed. She caught the urgency in his tone at once.

He moved quickly, passing through the crowd toward a secluded area.

Lyra frowned, wondering what Griffin was up to but she followed.

A strong hand closed around hers before she could take more than a few steps.

"Where are you going?" Stott asked.

Lyra tugged her arm free. "I need to rest."

She had no choice but to walk into the chief’s house under Stott’s watchful eyes.

Stott followed from a distance, but left once she was inside the room.

Just as Lyra opened the door to step out and look for Griffin, he appeared in front of the room, quickly closing the door behind.

"Madam, we need to leave before the rite ends," Griffin said, his voice tight with anxiety.

"Yes. I planned to leave after the ceremony."

Griffin grabbed her shoulders. "No. Didn’t you notice? This is part of the wedding rites."

Lyra froze, her lips parting slightly as the pieces fell into place. No wonder Dante had been so insistent.

"There’s a process—I don’t know what they call it but it... it involves consummation in front of everyone," he added, the thought alone sending a shiver down his spine.

They were all from the city, raised on modern manners and morals. Griffin would never let something so shameless happen to her.