Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 128

Chapter 128

Lucia’s phone rang at egarity47 1 while due was sangat the dung towable surrounded by legal documents. The caller ID showed a number she hadn’t wan in mehe bed woodworxdiately Westfield High School

Her stomach clenched as chur starri ring three times before answerjug,

kang wud eyes came from unexpected calls from schools. She let it

“Mrs. Kane?” The voice was une ertain, apogetic “This Principal Antonio from Westfield High. I’m calling about Monica Hart

The mention of her youngest daughter’s name sent a chill through Lucu’s body. “What about her?”

“There’s been an incident. Monica was involved in a physical altercation with another student. She’s been suspended for three days, and she’s asking if you could come pick her up”

Lucia’s breath caught in her throat. Monica in a fight? The same gentle child who used to cry when she accidentally stepped

on ants?

“I think there’s been a mistake,” Lucia said slowly, “I’m not listed as her emergency contact arrymore. You should call her

father.”

“We did call them. But afterward, Monica specifically asked to call you. She said she wanted her real mother to pick her up.”

The words hit Lucia like a punch to the chest. Her real mother. After everything that had happened between them, after the painful coffee shop meeting where Lucia had made it clear forgiveness didn’t mean reconciliation, Monica was asking for

her.

“Mrs. Kane? Are you still there?”

Lucia felt Alexander’s eyes on her from across the table. He had stopped reading through legal briefs and was watching her face with growing concern.

“I can’t,” Lucia whispered into the phone.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you clearly.”

“I said I can’t come pick her up.” The words felt like swallowing glass. “Please call her father again. I’m not available”

“But she specifically requested.”

r

“I understand what she requested. But I’ve already explained to my children that forgiveness doesn’t mean returning to the way things were. My relationship with them has changed permanently.”

Silence stretched across the phone line. Lucia could hear muffled voices and ringing phones in the background, the normal sounds of a busy school office.

*Should I tell her you declined?” Principal Antonio asked, his voice careful and professional.

The question hung in the air like a sword waiting to fall. How do you tell a child that their mother has refused to help them? How do you explain that love sometimes requires boundaries that feel cruel?

“Tell her that her father or stepmother will handle this situation. Tell her that I hope she’s okay, but that I can’t be the person she calls when she needs help,

“Mrs. Kane, if I may say so, Monica seems to be going through a very difficult time right now. She defended you quite

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psonairly dorur meeting I think the might be ready to

“Principal Antonio” Lucia Interrupard gently. 1 appreciate your concern. conversations about our relawship. They weirderstand where things stand between us.”

I see. Should I expect this to be your response of

confront the reality of her decis

choosing to

ee the door on

The question cut deep because it forced Lacia her children permanently? Was she willing to let the struggle alone rather than risk being hurt again?

“Yes,” she said quietly. “This will always be my response. My children have other people they can depend on now. People they chose to trust instead of me

Lucia hung up before Principal Antonio could say anything else. Her hands were trembling as she set the phone down, and she could feel Alexander studying her expression.

“That was about Monica,” he said. It wasn’t a question.

“She got suspended for fighting. She asked me to pick her up from school.”

“And you refused”

Lucía nodded, her throat too tight to speak. The dining room felt suffocating suddenly, filled with the weight of a decision that felt both necessary and devastating

“Are you okay?” Alexander asked softly.

“No. I’m not okay. But I’m protecting myself, which is something I should have learned how to do a long time ago.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Lucia shook her head and returned her attention to the legal documents spread across the table. Bank statements, forged emails, fabricated evidence designed to destroy her husband’s life. At least these attacks were straightforward. She could see them coming and fight back.

The attacks from her children had been invisible until they struck

“Maybe,” Alexander started.

“Please don’t.” Lucia’s voice was firm but not unkind. “Don’t tell me I should give them another chance. Don’t tell me that children make mistakes. Don’t tell me that blood is thicker than water or that a mother’s love should be unconditional ”

୮

Alexander fell silent, recognizing the pain beneath her words.

“I gave them chances,” Lucia continued, her voice growing stronger. “I forgave them when they came to me asking for money for college. I explained my side of the story. I told them I understood they had been manipulated. But I also told them that forgiveness doesn’t erase consequences.”

Her phone buzzed with a text message. Lucia glanced down to see Monica’s name on the screen, and her heart clenched involuntarily.

“She texted me” Lucia said, showing Alexander the phone without reading the message.

“What does it say?”

Lucia looked at the screen. “Please, Mom. I’m sorry. I need you,”

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Chapter 128

the works were simple, desperate, heartbreaking. Everything a mother’s heart was designed to respond to. For a moment, Lucia felt her resolve wavering.

“She needs me.” Lucia whispered.

“What are you going to do?”

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