“She’s My Wife on Paper, Nothing More” — The Crime Lord Laughed… Not Knowing She Heard Every Word
Chapter 6
The warehouse burned through the night.
Lucian’s men fought the flames.
Clara stood beside him, watching the roof collapse.
Then she remembered something.
“My father had a cellar beneath this building.”
Lucian turned.
“Where?”
She pointed.
They found the entrance beneath a pile of barrels.
Inside were old shipping records.
Lucian searched through them.
Clara found a ledger.
The pages listed payments made by Thomas.
Bribes.
Weapons.
Names.
And one final entry.
A payment to the man who had arranged her father’s death.
Clara’s hands shook.
“It’s him.”
Lucian looked.
“Thomas.”
She nodded.
“He killed my father.”
A voice came from behind them.
“Your father killed himself.”
They turned.
Thomas stood at the entrance.
Armed men surrounded him.
Clara’s brother smiled.
“You always were sentimental, Clara.”
Lucian stepped forward.
“Leave.”
Thomas laughed.
“You’re protecting her because you think she loves you.”
Lucian’s eyes narrowed.
“She doesn’t matter to me.”
Clara flinched.
The words sounded exactly like the ones she had heard before.
Thomas smiled.
“Then give her to me.”
Lucian’s voice remained cold.
“She is my wife.”
“On paper.”
Thomas laughed.
“Nothing more.”
Clara stared at Lucian.
He didn’t look at her.
Thomas raised his pistol.
“Give me the ledger.”
Lucian moved first.
The fight erupted.
Clara hid behind the stone wall.
Gunshots echoed through the cellar.
Then silence.
When she looked out, Thomas was gone.
Lucian stood bleeding from his shoulder.
Clara rushed toward him.
“You’re hurt.”
“I’ve had worse.”
“You could have died.”
He looked at her.
“I know.”
She touched the blood on his coat.
“Why did you say I meant nothing?”
“Because Thomas was watching.”
“He was already watching.”
Lucian lowered his eyes.
“I needed him to believe I still had one weakness.”
Clara’s voice softened.
“And you do?”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
