Chapter 5: The Ex-Wife

His wife?

The word hit me like a physical blow, knocking the air straight out of my lungs. My heart stopped, then started hammering against my ribs so hard I felt dizzy.

What the hell? Are you for real right now? I just signed a contract to be his fake wife, and he already has a real one?

Panic, cold and sharp, shot through my veins. I had just escaped one cheating liar, and I had walked right into the trap of another. I clutched the silk sheet tightly to my chest, my hands trembling. I slid off the bed and crept toward the bedroom door, peering out into the living room.

Lucian was standing in the middle of the room, his gun still raised. But his posture had changed. The murderous rage was gone, replaced by a cold, icy irritation.

"Vivienne," Lucian said, his voice completely devoid of emotion. "You have five seconds to explain why you broke into my penthouse before I throw you off the balcony."

I peeked around the doorframe.

A woman stood by the shattered remains of a crystal vase. She was stunning. Tall, blonde, and draped in a blood-red designer dress that probably cost more than my entire apartment. She looked like a supermodel, completely unbothered by the gun pointed at her chest.

"I didn't break in, darling," Vivienne purred. She held up a small gold key. "I still have my key. And I have every right to be here. After all, we are still legally married."

Lucian let out a dark, humorless laugh. He lowered the gun and tossed it onto the sofa. "We are getting divorced, Vivienne. The papers are signed. The only reason we are still legally married is because your lawyers keep delaying the finalization."

"Because I don't want a divorce!" Vivienne snapped, her cool facade cracking for a fraction of a second. "I built this life with you, Lucian. I made you the respectable CEO you are today. You can't just throw me away."

Lucian stepped closer to her, his presence suddenly terrifying. "I didn't throw you away, Vivienne. I caught you in bed with my business partner. Or did you forget?"

My stomach dropped. Oh my god. She cheated on him?

Vivienne smoothed down her dress, her eyes flashing with malice. "A minor indiscretion. But it doesn't matter anymore, does it? Because I heard a very interesting rumor this morning. The board is demanding you have a stable home life to secure the new merger. A wife."

Lucian didn't say a word. His jaw was tight, a muscle ticking in his cheek.

"And then I come here," Vivienne continued, her eyes scanning the bedroom door where I was hiding. "And I find you playing house with some cheap little girl."

"Watch your mouth," Lucian warned, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper.

"Where is she?" Vivienne demanded, taking a step toward the bedroom. "Bring her out. I want to see the little whore who thinks she can take my place."

I felt a surge of anger. I was tired of being bullied. Tired of being the victim. I wasn't that little girl crying in the rain anymore.

I tightened the sheet around my chest, held my head high, and stepped out of the bedroom.

"I'm right here," I said, my voice surprisingly steady.

Vivienne froze. She looked me up and down, her lip curling in disgust. She took in my tangled hair, my smudged makeup, and the sheet wrapped around my naked body.

"Are you serious, Lucian?" Vivienne laughed, a high, cruel sound. "She's a child. She looks like she just rolled out of a gutter."

"I'm twenty-one," I said, glaring at her. "And I'm not a child."

"You're a fool," Vivienne spat, taking a threatening step toward me. "Do you really think he cares about you? You are just a pawn. A warm body to play the happy wife while he tries to save his company from me."

I flinched. She was hitting too close to home. She was echoing my exact fears.

Before I could respond, Lucian moved. He stepped directly between me and Vivienne, his broad back acting as a shield.

"Enough," Lucian said, his voice booming through the penthouse. "You will not speak to her."

Vivienne crossed her arms. "Fine. Then let's talk business. If you want to keep your shares and your company, you need to be married by the end of the week. You know my lawyers will drag this out for months otherwise. Unless you pay me fifty million dollars, I'm taking half of everything."

Fifty million dollars. My head spun. This was a different level of wealth.

Lucian didn't even flinch. He reached back, his hand finding my waist. He pulled me forward, wrapping his arm around me possessively.

"I won't need to pay you a dime," Lucian said, his eyes locked on his wife. "Because I won't be marrying you. I already have a wife."

Vivienne's eyes widened. "What?"

Lucian turned to me. He grabbed my chin, tilting my face up to his. His gray eyes were burning, but it wasn't with anger this time. It was pure, possessive determination.

"Get dressed," Lucian commanded. "We are going to City Hall."

Vivienne gasped. "You can't be serious! Lucian, you can't marry her tomorrow!"

"Watch me," Lucian said coldly. He pulled me toward the bedroom, not even glancing back at his soon-to-be ex-wife.

My heart was hammering. "Lucian, wait," I whispered as he pushed me into the bedroom and closed the door. "What are you doing? We can't get married tomorrow."

"It's a contract, Seraphina," he said, his eyes dark and intense. "You signed it. You are my wife now."

"But she said she's going to take everything," I argued. "And you said the board demands a wife. You didn't say anything about a wife who is already married."

Lucian grabbed my shoulders, pinning me against the door.

"Listen to me," he growled. "You are going to marry me tomorrow at City Hall. You are going to sign whatever the lawyers put in front of you. And you are going to smile for the cameras. Do you understand?"

"And what do I get out of it?" I asked, my voice trembling. "Besides ten million dollars?"

Lucian leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear, sending a violent shiver down my spine.

"You get my protection," he whispered. "And you get to watch Vivienne burn. Now, get dressed. We have a wedding to plan."