Mrs. Without a License

Yelena was drunk, so Lucas wanted to leave with her first. Before he did, he told me, "I'll take Yelena home first, then come back later to pick you up. Wait for me."

He looked at me intently, unease swirling in his eyes.

"Okay," I answered. After that, I waited outside the bar for the entire night, yet there was no sign of him.

"He must have forgotten about me," I thought with a self-mocking laugh.

I returned home to grab my luggage. Yet the moment I opened the door, I spotted Yelena stepping out of my room wearing my pajamas.

My fingers curled into tight fists, the nails digging deep into my palms. I had known that Yelena would eventually move in, but I still couldn't help but be upset when I actually saw it happen.

I moved to step past her so I could get my luggage, but she blocked the doorway.

"What are you doing here? I'm the true lady of this house and Lucas' legal wife. You, on the other hand, are nothing but a filthy, shameless mistress. How dare you come back here? For the past few years, you've stayed in my house and slept with my man. Now that I've returned, it's time for you to get the hell out!"

I stared at the arrogant woman before me as waves of agony crashed over me once more. Her every word struck my heart like a bullet.

Suddenly, Lucas' voice drifted over from upstairs. "Yelena, who are you talking to? Has Lucille returned?"

I watched as a flicker of panic crossed Yelena's face. She abruptly took out a small handgun, the type usually used by women.

My name was carved on the gun—it was the one I normally kept under my pillow for easy access just in case I needed to defend myself.

I thought Yelena was about to shoot me, but to my surprise, she aimed the gun at her own leg and fired.

I instinctively rushed forward to snatch the gun from her, but I wasn't able to stop her in time.

Upon hearing the gunshot, Lucas charged downstairs. The sight that greeted him was of Yelena on the ground, with me standing over her, gun in hand.

Realizing that Lucas had arrived, Yelena quickly grabbed my leg and cried out pleadingly, "I'm sorry! I got drunk last night and didn't dare to stay at the hotel alone, so I begged Lucas to bring me here. Please don't blame him. All of this is my fault! You can shoot me a few more times if it'll make you feel better…"

Lucas gazed at me in disbelief, almost immediately pulling out his own gun and aiming it at me.

"Lucille! How could you be so wicked? You know Yelena got shot in the leg three years ago while saving me. She very nearly lost her ability to walk again!"

I could only stare down the muzzle of his gun, feeling like I had plunged into icy waters. We had fought side by side for a decade, but we had never once aimed our weapons at each other.

"Lucas, do you seriously believe what Yelena said?"

Lucas remained silent, his eyes bloodshot. His furious expression told me that he didn't believe me.

Lifting the injured Yelena into his arms, he rushed outside. Before he left, however, he spat at me, "You'd better think about what you've done!"

Hearing that, I headed straight into the house and took my luggage before leaving. I didn't feel the slightest bit of hesitation as I left without looking back.

On my way to the airport, I was ambushed by members of Black Widow. They kidnapped me and called Lucas to threaten him, yet no one answered the calls.

They tortured me using all sorts of methods, and every time Lucas didn't answer the phone, they intensified their torture.

Just as I was on the brink of death, the call finally went through.

However, the voice that came over the phone was Yelena's, not Lucas'.

"Lucille is just a mistress. The only reason Lucas pretended to marry her was because he was afraid I would be in danger. Now that she has no value anymore, Lucas won't care about her. I'm Lucas' real wife."

Seeing one of my kidnappers raise his gun, I shut my eyes in despair.

…

Three hours later, Miles anxiously sought Lucas out. "Ms. Lucille is dead!"

Lucas' expression instantly froze.