“She’s My Wife on Paper, Nothing More” — The Crime Lord Laughed… Not Knowing She Heard Every Word
Chapter 2
Clara packed only what she could carry.
Two dresses.
A wool cloak.
Her mother’s locket.
A small purse of coins.
And the wedding ring she could not bring herself to leave behind.
She had just tied the final bundle when there was a knock.
She froze.
“Mrs. Blackwood?”
It was Mrs. Finch, the housekeeper.
Clara opened the door.
The old woman looked at the packed belongings.
“You’re leaving.”
“Yes.”
“Does Mr. Blackwood know?”
“No.”
Mrs. Finch studied her face.
“What happened?”
Clara looked away.
“I heard him.”
The housekeeper’s expression changed.
“He said I was useful.”
Mrs. Finch closed her eyes.
“Oh.”
That single sound made Clara look at her.
“You knew?”
“I know many things.”
“Then tell me.”
Mrs. Finch hesitated.
“Not tonight.”
Clara laughed bitterly.
“Everyone in this house seems to know something except me.”
She picked up her cloak.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“Your father’s estate is three days away.”
“I’ll manage.”
Mrs. Finch reached for her hand.
“Please wait until morning.”
“No.”
Clara’s voice softened.
“If I stay, I will spend another year wondering whether my husband ever wanted me here.”
She opened the door.
Then she stopped.
“Did he ever say anything about me?”
The housekeeper looked at her.
“More than you know.”
Before Clara could ask what that meant, footsteps sounded in the corridor.
Lucian.
Clara stepped into the hallway.
Their eyes met.
His face was unreadable.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“At this hour?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
She almost told him.
Instead, she smiled.
“Perhaps your wife on paper has decided the paper is no longer worth keeping.”
Lucian went completely still.
His eyes moved toward the packed bag.
Then toward Mrs. Finch.
He understood.
She had heard.
“Clara—”
“No.”
She raised a hand.
“I don’t want an explanation.”
“You deserve one.”
“I deserved one before tonight.”
His jaw tightened.
“You don’t understand.”
She smiled sadly.
“That is what everyone says when the truth is inconvenient.”
She walked past him.
Lucian did not stop her.
That hurt more than anything.
Outside, the rain had become heavy.
Clara mounted the carriage.
As it disappeared down the road, Lucian remained beneath the doorway.
His closest lieutenant, Elias Vale, approached.
“You let her go.”
Lucian stared into the darkness.
“She has to believe I don’t care.”
Elias frowned.
“And if she doesn’t?”
Lucian’s expression hardened.
“Then the men hunting her will know exactly where to strike.”
