Married by Mistake, Loved by Fate

Chapter 7

“Baby girl… come over here.”

Lucy’s legs moved before her mind could catch up. She ran to her father, relief crashing over her like a tidal wave. *Dad. He came. After everything I hid from them, he still came.* Dust and smoke still curled through the hallway they’d just escaped, the sharp bite of gunpowder lingering in the air, but none of it mattered in that moment. Her chest ached with a confusing storm: gratitude so fierce it hurt, mixed with the sharp sting of guilt for dragging him into her mess.

“I knew you’d come for me,” she whispered, voice cracking as she threw herself into his arms. But what about Austin? He fought for me too… bled for me. How do I choose between the man who raised me and the one I just bound my life to?

Richard Bennett held her tight, his familiar cologne and solid warmth grounding her amid the chaos. “Oh, my jewel,” he murmured, his voice low and trembling with barely contained fury. “Nobody messes with my princess.”

Austin straightened, still catching his breath, and gave Richard a respectful nod. “Thank you for coming for her, sir.”

Richard’s jaw flexed, eyes hard. “I’d do anything for my daughter. *Anything.*”

He returned Austin’s nod, then focused entirely on Lucy. “Let’s go home. Now.”

Lucy clung to him a moment longer, her heart twisting painfully. *Home.* The word felt both like salvation and a cage. She let him guide her out of the maintenance closet, but her eyes kept darting back to Austin. The hallway was eerily quiet. Shadows clung to the corners, and distant footsteps echoed somewhere in the building a reminder that the Phantom’s men hadn’t vanished. *They’ll come again. And next time, someone might not make it out.*

Austin lowered his gun, exhaling sharply. “Are you sure it’s safe to move?”

“She’s supposed to come with me,” Austin added, voice sharp but controlled. “She’s my wife now. I can’t just let her walk away.”

The word “wife” sent a fresh jolt through Lucy. *Wife.* It still felt surreal, intoxicating, and terrifying all at once. Heat flushed her cheeks as she remembered the intensity of Austin’s touch, his fierce protection in the chaos. But her father’s steady arm under her hand pulled at something deeper safety, history, unconditional love. *How can I belong to both? I married Austin to escape one lie, only to step into another storm.*

Richard’s gaze hardened. “I know, DiMarco. But I need a word with my daughter first. Once we’ve spoken, she’ll come back to you. You have my word.”

Lucy’s fingers tightened on her father’s arm, heart hammering. “Dad… tonight…” How do I even begin explaining the fake identity, the test, the forced vows in the middle of danger?

“Yes, baby girl,” he cut in gently but firmly. “Right now, you stay with me. That’s all that matters.”

The drive to the Bennett estate was tense and silent. Lucy sat wedged between the two men, fingers digging into the leather seat, body still trembling. City lights blurred past the windows like fractured memories. *I love Austin I think I do. The way he looked at me in that closet, like I was worth every bullet… But Dad risked everything tonight. And Mom… God, what will she say? I’ve lied to everyone. What kind of daughter does that make me? What kind of wife?*

When they arrived, her mother was waiting in the grand foyer, arms crossed, sharp eyes flicking between them. “Lucy… what in heaven’s name happened? How did you get yourself *married* without our consent?” She turned on Austin, voice rising. “Does this mean she’s been cheating on Greg?”

Lucy froze. The accusation hit like a slap. Shame burned in her throat, tangled with defiant anger. *Cheating? If only it were that simple. I was trying to protect myself from another liar.*

Her father stepped in, hand steady on her shoulder. “Easy, Clarisse. She’s been through enough tonight.”

Lucy drew in a shaky breath, forcing the words out despite the knot in her stomach. “Mom… Dad… I didn’t cheat on anyone,” she said softly. “I married Austin because I love him. Greg was the mistake I’ll never repeat. I hid my identity to test him… and he proved he’s nothing but a gold-digger.”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “You *played* with his feelings?”

“I didn’t mean to hurt anyone,” Lucy whispered, tears pricking her eyes. *But I did hurt people. I hurt myself most of all. Running from Greg into Austin’s world… was I just trading one danger for another?* “I just needed to know the truth.”

Richard squeezed her hand. “I believe you, Lucy. That’s why I’ve had someone watching over you this whole time.”

Lucy’s head snapped toward him, a new wave of shock and betrayal crashing over her. *Watching me? All this time? Does he know about the fake name, the test… everything?* Her pulse roared in her ears. The relief of being saved warred with a sudden sense of violation, her independence, her secrets, her choices… had any of them ever reall

y been hers?

“Watching me? What do you mean?”