Marrying The Wrong Woman

0.4

Marinette could not seem to shake the feeling that something was off. She burst out of bed, chest aching as sweat gathered along her temple and ran down her neck. She was breathing rapidly, hands clutching her side where she imagined a gaping hole would be.

Blood had coated her hands in the nightmare, the sound of a gunshot reverberating all around her as she stood upon the beautiful aisle. Adrien stood over her, sobs wracking throughout his body as he screamed her name. Voices from all around her drowned out the sound of her pounding heartbeat.

Shivering at the mere thought, she went to the bathroom and winced at the sudden light flashing back at her. Her eyes had dark bags around them and were significantly red in her reflection. She splashed cold water on her face until she felt somewhat calmer.

It was far too early to be up and about, yet she laced up her shoes and went out for a run to clear her head. Adrien still had a few hours before he needed to be at work, getting as much sleep as he could. She did not want to burden him with something as petty as a nightmare.

Across the city, nestled in a joint apartment, stood a woman wiping down a stark black hand gun. Removing all traces of fingerprints, she reloaded the bullets and held it up. Twisting her wrist under the weight, she felt a smirk twist its way onto her face.

Last night she had a wonderful dream. One that involved Adrien by her side and no one ever hearing from Marinette Dupain-Cheng ever again.

—

Luka was concerned. No, that word was too passive. Terrified. He had been lurking around Lila's office trying to find the keys for her after she walked out and demanded he lock up after her. His hand slipped, knocking off sheets printed with Marinette's face across them.

He crouched and picked them off the floor, hands with a slight tremor as he traced over her face. These photos were taken recently by the date in the corner and seemed as if they were from someone up in a building through a window or on a roof.

He was geuninely worried about her safety, hovering above the blinking phone sitting on Lila's organized desk. He picked up the phone and answered.

"Hello?"

"If you call the police or tell anyone else of your discovery, I won't hesitate to commit extreme measures."

Lila's voice had been distorted, causing a chill to spiral down Luka' spine. "Understood."

She hung up with a click, leaving Luka to stare at the dark room surrounding him suddenly feeling suffocated. He did this job never expecting that Lila would turn this...obsessive.

His grandmother took care of him for a majority of his life, a never ending string of kindness. He was repaying those dues by sending her money and caring for her as her condition worsened.

Leaving her office on unsteady feet, he locked the door tightly behind him. He felt obligate to run to the nearest police station or at least alert Marinette. Lila was cold-blooded, beating without a heart at all.

Perhaps her heart had been torn to pieces during her stay in prison. Or maybe it was from the look upon Adrien's face that balmy summer evening in the Bahamas.

He wished he could do something, guilt wracking all around him.

Anything.

—

Listening to music too loud in her ears, Marinette hummed to herself as she practically skipped down the street. She would be starting work soon at a nearby restaurant where she could happily walk to and fro everyday. Aside from her slightly concerning nightmare, things could not be going smoother for her.

Perhaps she could convince Adrien into adopting a dog or two over lunch. Maybe even a cat, given how he explicitly takes the time to show her cat videos off of his Instagram.

Stopping to check her phone, she was blissfully unaware of the presence lurking in the shadows. The sky had not let up its gray and murky facade, leaving Marinette dragging around a heavy umbrella just in case.

The shadow held up their weapon confidently, hold never faltering. Hovering the butt of the gun just behind her head, Marinette continued walking. Seemingly distracted by someone else approaching her down the street.

Shadows seemed to cloak the figure more prominently as they sank back into the little crevice of an alleyway. If not today, more chances would surely present itself.

—

"Marinette!" Adrien pulled her close to press a kiss to her temple. "How was your day so far?"

He left his blazer back at the office, dress sleeves rolled up despite the slight chill. An unexpected warmth drifted in, blanketing the city in predictions of whether it was cold enough to snow or rain. In any case, he was prepared.

"Mhm, dull as always. Although, I'm savoring the quiet until I start work again." she answered, letting him snake an arm around her waist as they walked. "And yours?"

They waited patiently at a crosswalk. "Same old stressful clients and complaints. Lila and her so called 'business deal' is just the cherry on top."

Marinette shivered. "Just saying her name is like saying Mufasa in the Lion King."

"Is it a crime that I haven't actually seen that movie?"

She audibly gasped. "Are you kidding me, Agreste? Wow, this changes everything."

"It's one of my deepest regrets." he sighed deeply. "School, work, tutors, fencing and many other things culminating into one big mess left me with little to no time to myself."

"Not even on the weekend?"

He shook his head. "Especially on the weekends."

"You poor, poor spoiled child."

"Ah, but you still love me."

She couldn't deny that. "Somehow I do."

—

Luka sat his desk a little ways away from Lila's, trying very discreetly to eavesdrop on her phone call. He had a right to be suspicious after the found out she was stalking one of his friends from high school.

If she wasn't hanging so much over his head, maybe even his own blood on her hands, he would have reported her already. For now he can keep her at an arm's length and if she actually commits to her alleged plans, he would step in.

Normally this kind of behavior is only seen in movies that overanalyze every detail, but when it actually happens in real life it is simply terrifying. Reading a couple of articles about psycho exes murdering their partners out of jealous was more common than he thought.

Although most of these crimes had been committed in Florida and Texas in the USA. He always knew that country was shady. Land of The Free? More like Land of The Florida Man Memes.

There were so many memes.

"Dumbass," Lila scoffed, slamming down her work phone. "Cancel my four o' clock meeting today."

"Yes, Madame." Luka inwardly sighed. For now he would be the competent, innocent assistant. Not bringing up the fact that his boss had a revolver locked up tightly in her safe.

When she left for an extended lunch that afternoon, Luka slid behind her desk and unlocked the safe. The digits were Adrien's birthday, not surprisingly. Scooping out the gun, he felt its full weight and shuddered. Inside the vault was more photographs but more lewd ones.

Slamming the vault door as fast as he could, he winced at the projected volume. He had to hide the gun and keep it as far away from Lila as possible.

If that meant putting himself in danger for the safety of his friends, he would do it again in a heartbeat.

Footsteps.

"Luka!"