In the courtyard.
Unlike his parents—who were clearly enjoying themselves—Lucas felt a growing headache.
Two women who had never met before were now locked in a silent but intense clash of gazes.
"Hello. Nice to meet you," Kara said with a bright smile as she stepped forward and extended her hand.
"I'm Lucas's Girlfriend. My name is Kara El—you can just call me Kara."
She very clearly emphasized the word girlfriend.
Hela also smiled and shook her hand, but her words carried a very different weight.
"I'm also pleased to meet you," she said calmly.
"My name is Hela Odinsdottir, the current Queen of Asgard—and Lucas's future wife."
The first half was fine.
The last sentence made Kara's smile freeze solid.
"Wife?"
Kara slowly turned her head, her expression a mix of confusion and disbelief as she looked at Lucas.
"Lucas… what she just said—why don't I understand it?"
"Not understanding is normal," Lucas replied calmly.
"She's basically talking nonsense on her own."
Hela, however, suddenly turned toward Lucas with a seductive smile.
"We spent two whole months together," she said smoothly.
"Day and night, fighting side by side. Everything that should have been seen was seen—and even things that shouldn't have been."
"He even nearly lost his life saving me."
"In my opinion, aside from not having children, we're no different from a married couple."
"If you don't believe me, ask him."
Kara's breathing grew noticeably faster.
She turned to Lucas again, eyes filled with disbelief.
"Lucas… is what she said true?"
Lucas didn't panic in the slightest. Instead, he answered clearly and uprightly:
"That happened after we were forcibly teleported to an unfamiliar planet. We couldn't find a way back and encountered multiple powerful monsters."
"Hela had just been imprisoned for thousands of years and was seriously injured after fighting me, so she couldn't fight at all."
"I had to take full responsibility for protecting her."
"At the beginning, she couldn't even move her fingers. Helping her eat and dealing with her mild cleanliness habits naturally involved some close contact."
Everyone present instinctively nodded after hearing Lucas's explanation.
Kara finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
She knew Lucas's character well—there was no need to doubt him.
Hela's wording had simply been far too misleading.
As for "over-the-line contact," doctors see far more intimate situations every day. No one breaks up over that.
Facing Kara's wary and slightly reproachful gaze, Hela showed no embarrassment at all and continued calmly:
"To be honest, I don't mind Lucas having other women besides me."
"With his strength and future, there will surely be women even more suitable for him than I am."
"All I need to do is stand by him when he needs me."
"Even without the title of wife, I don't mind being just one woman in his life."
Even Lucas was surprised by that statement.
He had assumed that a strong, domineering woman like Hela would possess intense exclusivity.
Unexpectedly, she was this… open.
"Surprised?" Hela asked, sitting down and casually twirling a lock of hair.
"I come from Asgard. My perspective is the universe—not a small, isolated world like Earth."
"For beings at our level, the people we meet, the things we experience, and our long lifespans make it impossible to cling to just one person forever."
"Of course," she added lightly,
"I don't think anyone is more attractive to me than Lucas."
Everyone present was left momentarily stunned.
After giving them time to process, Hela turned back to Kara.
"You may be the one who holds his emotional attachment at this stage," she said calmly.
"But if you treat that attachment as a shackle, I guarantee it will backfire on you someday."
"Or perhaps I'm wrong—after all, the future hasn't arrived yet."
"But what I do know is this: behind me stands the entire divine realm of Asgard."
"And Lucas's future is worth investing in."
"So I won't give him up."
"Or rather—at this stage, he also needs Asgard's support."
After finishing her juice, Hela stood up.
"Alright. Visit over. I'm returning to Asgard."
"Thank you all for the hospitality."
As soon as her words fell, the Rainbow Bridge descended, enveloped her, and she vanished from the courtyard.
---
A moment later, Jonathan and Helen exchanged a glance.
"Son," Jonathan said,
"Your feelings are your own. We won't interfere."
Helen nodded in agreement.
"You just need to let us hold grandchildren soon. Everything else—we won't say a word."
Lucas turned toward Kara and saw the turmoil written all over her face.
Just as he was about to speak, Kara said softly:
"Let me be alone for a while."
She stood up, rose into the air, and flew away.
Lucas shrugged slightly.
He knew Kara was deeply conflicted. This wasn't something that could be forced.
Especially after witnessing Clark and Lois reunite—she was naturally sensitive about relationships right now.
As for whether he would truly spend his life with only one woman?
Well.
Even he don't know.
---
"Hey, everyone! Why are you all just standing there?"
Tony Stark's voice suddenly rang out from the glass doors.
"Did I miss something interesting?"
Behind him was a massive crowd:
Nick Fury, Coulson, Natasha, Hawkeye, Captain America, Banner.
Deadshot with his daughter, Phastos and his boyfriend, Clark and Lois.
Even Lex Luthor showed up—this time completely bald.
When Lucas looked at him in surprise, Lex calmly explained that he'd been losing hair badly and decided a shaved head was more comfortable.
Even Thor came along, bringing his girlfriend Jane.
Lucas hadn't invited him.
But Thor had been freeloading food and drinks at Avengers HQ, heard about the gathering, and tagged along.
Why was Thor hanging around Earth anyway?
Simple.
He feared nothing—not even Odin.
But in front of Hela, he didn't dare utter a single word.
Compared to living in constant anxiety in Asgard, Earth—with wine, women, and parties—was far more enjoyable.
Wasn't it?
___
🎉 Shoutout to Matt and Willie Epps! 🎉
A huge thank you to Matt and Willie Epps for joining my Patreon and supporting the journey! Your support means a lot and helps keep the chapters coming faster. Welcome to the VIP club! 🙌✨