My Neighbor Claimed Me As His Wife

After my male neighbor Lucas found out I'm a female CEO, he sent me nineteen messages late at night:

You bought another Herms bag?

Don't think being able to make money makes you special. Gentle girls are what men like.

Why are you dressed so sexy today? Trying to seduce someone? Dress more conservatively from now on.

"And who was that man who drove you home today?"

......

Completely baffled, I immediately fired back:

"What's your problem?! My life has nothing to do with you!"

Lucas exploded:

"How does it have nothing to do with me? You're going to be my wife! Every dollar you waste now is one less dollar for me!"

My jaw dropped. Since when was I supposed to be his wife?

Before I could even reply, another message came through:

"By the way, I expect you to have two children in the futurea boy and a girl!"

Reading his message, I was absolutely furious. I blocked him on the spot.

But I never expected him to be so persistent. He showed up at my company the very next day as a project manager to discuss a collaboration.

Watching him spray saliva everywhere as he talked, I interrupted impatiently:

"Let's end this collaboration right here!"

The moment those words left my mouth, the atmosphere in the office plummeted to freezing.

Lucas, who had been so confident just moments ago, had his smile freeze on his face.

The team leader who came with him smiled apologetically and asked cautiously,

"Ms. Wilson, we've been coordinating this project smoothly all along."

"Why suddenly call off the collaboration?"

He rubbed his hands nervously. "There must be a reason, otherwise..."

"We won't be able to explain this back at the office!"

I smirked and casually pointed at Lucas beside him. "The reason is simple. Because of him..."

"Madison! Enough already!"

Lucas suddenly stood up and slammed his palm on the conference table with a loud thud.

His face flushed with anger as he glared at me. "There are so many people here today! I won't say anything too harsh!"

"If you want to throw a tantrum with me at home, fine!"

"But today we're here on business. Rein in that attitude of yours!"

Then he threw the contract documents on the table. "I'm making the decisions on this collaboration! It's final!"

The client who came with him looked at him with admiration, then hurriedly pushed the contract toward me.

The managers sitting beside me looked utterly confused.

One of them started to speak, but I stopped him.

I pressed my lips together:

"Lucas, who exactly are you to me? What gives you the right to make decisions for me? Are we even close?"

Lucas's eyes flickered with embarrassment, but he still stubbornly softened his tone:

"Alright, Madison, stop being mad at me! I'm still your man! Can't you give me some face in public?"

At his words, everyone gasped.

The client with him immediately seized the opportunity:

"Ms. Wilson, we all understand couples having arguments. But this is work hours. We need to focus on work and not let emotions get in the way!"

Just as he finished speaking, someone knocked on the door. Six security guards stood outside in perfect formation.

My secretary standing behind me made a gesture for them to leave:

"I'm sorry, but Ms. Wilson has made it clearthis collaboration ends here!"

"Will you leave on your own, or shall we have security escort you out!"

The client froze, then nudged Lucas with his elbow and whispered,

"Hurry up and smooth things over with your girlfriend. If this deal falls through, you know what the consequences will be!"

Lucas grabbed my arm even more irritably:

"Madison, that's enough! I never said anything about your reckless spending! Are you really going to push your luck today?"

Unable to take it anymore, I shoved him away.

"Lucas, are you insane?"

"We barely know each other, yet you're claiming to be my boyfriend. Don't you think that's ridiculous?"

The team leader next to Lucas's eyes widened:

"Ms. Wilson, what did Mr. Hayes do to make you so angry? Please calm down!"

I found it laughable:

"Either you have hearing problems, or I'm not being clear enough. Lucas and I have no relationship whatsoever! He's been delusional, and now he even wants to be my boyfriend!"

"Madison!"

Lucas roared, glaring at me with fury. "Don't push it too far!"

"Or I'll break up with you!"

Seeing that he was still completely lost in his own fantasy, and not wanting to waste any more time with him, I said, "Please escort them out."

As he was leaving, Lucas still swaggered arrogantly. "Damn bitch! Looks like you need a good beating, huh?"

"How dare you disrespect me like this! When we get home, I'll make you regret it!"

The team leader seemed to pick up on something, his face darkening as he remained silent.

After finally getting rid of that pest, my secretarywho's also my best friendcame over. "Madison, who is that guy?"

"Is he crazy? Why is he claiming to be your boyfriend?"

I rubbed my temples helplessly. "I have no idea!"

"He wasn't this unhinged before. In fact, he used to look down on me!"

It was about six months ago when I moved back to that old apartment complex.

Everyone around me was confused.

They asked why someone with my wealth, who had bought a luxury penthouse in the city center, would want to live in an inconvenient old complex.

"I started from nothing. That apartment holds too many beautiful memories for me."

So the first thing I did after making money was buy that place.

During my first week there, my neighbor Mrs. Hayes brought her son over to introduce us.

She even thoughtfully introduced both of us to each other.

"This is Madison. She's twenty-seven. What was it you do for work again?"

Since we weren't close yet, I just gave a vague answer.

The moment I finished speaking, Lucas flicked his cigarette ash near my feet.

"Mom! How many times have I told you not to introduce me to low-quality women like this!"

"I'm a company executive at least. If you want grandchildren, you can't just bring me any random nobody!"

Finally, he sneered right in my face. "This type of trash isn't even worth my time to look at!"

The moment he left, Mrs. Hayes grabbed my hand and apologized profusely.

"Madison, I failed to raise him properly! Please don't be angry! Let me apologize on his behalf!"

I'm soft-hearted, and I couldn't bear to see an elderly woman like that, so naturally I didn't take it to heart.

But I never expected that two days ago, Lucas would suddenly add me as a friend from the residents' group chat.

"You're Madison, right?"

"I'm Lucas Hayes, your neighbor Mrs. Hayes's son!"

At the time, I was reviewing contract details. When I saw his name, I realized he was the project manager from the other company.

Just as I was about to discuss the specific project details with him, he launched into a barrage of accusations.

"I heard from my mom that you're a female CEO and make good money?"

"What's the use of earning money? What's important is knowing how to save money and manage it!"

"By the way, how's your fertility? Are you still... pure?"

Watching his relentless output, I was completely stunned.

Thinking about it now, I pulled out my phone and showed it to my friend. "Look at what he sent me."

My friend scrolled through the chat history, both shocked and exasperated:

"This guy is seriously sick."

At the same time, Lucas's company boss called me.

On the phone, he said ingratiatingly, "Ms. Wilson, I'd like to know why this collaboration fell through?"

"You've always kept work and personal matters separate. Why act on impulse today?"

"About you and Lucas... Lucas told me everything. I say, there's no such thing as overnight grudges between husband and wife..."

"Mr. Davis."

I interrupted him impatiently. "I think you've misunderstood. Lucas and I have no relationship at all!"

"We barely even know each other!"

After briefly explaining the situation, I could feel the oppressive atmosphere even through the phone.

Sure enough, five minutes later, Mr. Davis sent me an image.

It was Lucas's resignation letter.

"Ms. Wilson, I sincerely apologize for what happened. I've already fired Lucas!"

"As for the profit margin, to make it up to you, I'm willing to reduce our share by five percent."

"About the contract... could we discuss it again?"

His sincerity was evident, so I couldn't refuse again.

That evening, we set a time and chose a restaurant.

But just as I arrived at the restaurant entrance, Mrs. Hayes suddenly grabbed me, her face covered in tears.

"Madison, my son did something wrong! He wronged you!"

"But you can't be so heartless!"

"After all, you're husband and wife! How can there be such deep hatred?"

Lucas beside her actually knelt down in front of me in public and clutched my leg tightly.

"Honey, I was wrong! I know I was wrong now!"

"Please forgive me, okay?"

People were coming and going at the restaurant entrance, but everyone stopped to watch us curiously.

Lucas pressed his face firmly against my leg. The warm sensation made me feel utterly disgusted.

"Honey! If you want to be mad at me, fine! But why are you telling others we don't know each other?"

Mrs. Hayes quickly joined in. She collapsed on the ground, helpless and devastated, slapping her own thighs:

"Oh heaven! What did I do to deserve this! Madison, have I wronged you somehow? Why would you do this?"

Choking up, she called out to the crowd, "Everyone, come look!"

"What daughter-in-law could be as selfish as mine?"

"Just because my son criticized her for spending recklessly, she not only denies knowing him but got his boss to fire him!"

As soon as she finished, the crowd didn't give me a chance to explain and immediately turned on me.

"That's disgusting! Making her husband lose his job over an argument? If that were my wife, I'd have beaten her to death!"

"This woman's face looks mean. She seems like a gold-digger!"

"Look at how she's dressed all fancy, and look at her husband wearing what looks like thrift store clothes. This woman doesn't know how good she has it!"

Filled with rage, I hurriedly explained to the crowd, "I don't even know this man!"

"Please help me call the police!"

I was sweating profusely in my panic. Some people in the crowd began to voice doubts.

"This woman doesn't seem to be faking it. Maybe we should call the police!"

"I think so too. Let the police handle this kind of thing!"

"Madison! Stop making a scene!"

Lucas looked at me with painful devotion, then pulled two marriage certificates from his pocket.

"She is my wife!"

"We have official marriage certificates!"

I stared at those two marriage certificates in shock, completely dumbfounded.

Worried the crowd wouldn't believe him, he even opened them up. "Look, these are us in the photos."

"This is fake! I don't even know him!"

"Madison! Even now, you still won't forgive my son?"

Mrs. Hayes's voice cracked with urgency. "Does Lucas have to die in front of you before you admit he's your husband?"

I was going insane. All I could do was silently pray that someone had successfully called the police earlier and that they'd arrive soon.

Lucas gripped my leg with one hand and my wrist with the other, pressing his entire body against me. In a voice only we could hear, he said, "Let me tell you, you can't escape today!"

"What you women care about most is reputation, right?"

"I'll ruin your reputation. Let's see if you'll submit to me then!"

I turned my head and met his venomous gaze.

In an instant, his eyes filled with tears. Before I could react, he frantically grabbed my hand and slapped himself with it.

"Honey! Hit me! Beat me to death!"

"As long as you'll forgive me, I'll do anything!"

Mrs. Hayes crawled over to my feet. "Madison! If you're still angry, hit me instead!"

"I'm old and useless, but I'm not confused!"

"My only wish is to see you and Lucas together!"

My voice trying to defend myself was quickly drowned out by the crowd's condemnation.

"This woman is truly despicable!"

"Right? Why doesn't this guy just leave her?"

"You don't understand. This is true love!"

More and more people gathered. All I could do was shout at the top of my lungs, "They're trying to kidnap me! Please help me call the police!"

"I really don't know him!"

From the crowd came a loud voice, "I can testify!"

"The woman in front of us..."

Looking at that familiar face, I felt incredibly excited, but the next second, I heard him say with a smile:

"Is definitely this man's wife! They're married!"

My voice caught in my throat, coming out as a hoarse cry.

"You're lying!"

"Derek! You know the relationship between Lucas and me! Why are you lying?"

Derek touched his watch and said matter-of-factly, "You're the one lying, aren't you?"

"If Lucas hadn't shown your marriage photos, I would have almost been fooled by you!"

Lucas nodded in agreement. "Thank you, Mr. Davis!"

"If you hadn't helped me arrange to meet Madison, I wouldn't have known what to do!"

"Madison, please be good. Forgive me, okay?"

"I already know I was wrong!"

My wrist was gripped so tightly by him that the pain made me feel suffocated.

My phone had long disappearedhidden somewhere by Lucas.

I could only place my last hope in the crowd.

"I really don't know him! Please help me call the police!"

I used to see stories online about women being kidnapped and couldn't understand why they couldn't escape.

Now that I'd experienced it myself, I finally understood.

In this chaotic situation, combined with Lucas's sob story, Mrs. Hayes's crying, and the so-called witness...

It was very difficult for me to escape.

Lucas held my wrist tightly, looking triumphant. "Stop wasting your energy! No one will believe you."

I seized the opportunity and bit down hard on his arm.

The taste of blood quickly filled my mouth and spread.

Lucas gasped in pain and instinctively pushed me to the ground. Finally free, I ran outside without stopping.

But there were too many onlookers, and most of them were men.

They blocked me with their bodies, refusing to let me through.

"Everyone help me stop her!"

Enraged, Lucas grabbed me back again. Gritting his teeth, he slapped me across the face.

"Damn it, you just don't know what's good for you!"

"You want to run?"

"Fine! Pay back every penny I spent on you as a wedding gift! Pay back all the money I spent on you!"

Mrs. Hayes added tearfully, "This is marriage fraud! Marriage fraud!"

Hearing this, the crowd's contempt for me reached a new peak.

"Isn't this just a gold-digger?"

"Wow, this is too dramatic! This woman is shameless!"

"How much did you take from him? Pay it back now!"

Just as I opened my mouth, Lucas slapped me again. "You bitch, I was so wrong about you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, police sirens sounded in the distance.

I breathed a sigh of relief and used all my strength to shout for help.

The police quickly arrived beside us. By this point, my face had swollen like a balloon, but I still forced myself to stay conscious and report to the police.

"He..."

I had just opened my mouth when Lucas blocked my way. Holding his chin high, he said, "What?"

"Are you police going to interfere in my family matters now?"

"I'm disciplining my own wife!"

The officer in front had a stern expression. "You're saying she's your wife?"

Lucas nodded arrogantly. "What else?"

"How dare you police... Ahhhh! It hurts!"

The officer in front grabbed his shoulder hard, gripped his neck, and turned his face toward me.

"Her name is Madison Wilson. She's my wife! Are you saying she'd leave me to choose scum like you?"