Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 150

Chapter 150-

Chapter 150

Lucia’s phone buzzed while he was making breakfast. The screen showed an unknown number. She almost ignored it, but something made her answer

“Mrs. Kane?” The voice on the other end came professional, detached. “This is Diana. I’m Mr. Hart’s secretary.”

Lucia’s hand tightened around the phone. “What do you want?”

“I’m calling to inform you that Mr. Hart has reviewed the custody petition. He’s asked me to convey that he will not be contesting the filing”

The words didn’t register at first. Lucia set down the spatula she’d been holding. “What?”

“Mr. Hart will not be fighting for custody of the children. He’s agreed to your terms. His exact words were that he’s done being their father.”

Lucia felt the floor tilt beneath her feet. She gripped the counter to steady herself. “He said that? Those exact words?”

Diana’s voice came quiet, almost apologetic. “Yes. I’m sorry. I know this must be difficult to hear.”

“Difficult?” Lucia’s laugh came out sharp and bitter. “He’s abandoning his children. Again.”

“I’m just passing along the message, Mrs. Kane. The paperwork will be filed with the court this week. You should have sole custody within the month.”

The call ended. Lucia stood in the kitchen holding her phone, staring at nothing. She’d wanted this. She’d fought for this. But hearing that Marco had given up so easily made her stomach turn.

He really was done with them. His own children. Like they were furniture he didn’t want to move to his new life.

“Mom?” Ria appeared in the doorway, still in her pajamas. “Who was that?”

Lucia turned, trying to arrange her face into something neutral. “Nobody important. Just a phone call.”

“You look upset.”

“I’m fine.” The lie came automatic. “Why don’t you get dressed? Alexander suggested we play volleyball in the backyard today.”

Ria’s eyes narrowed, seeing through the deflection, but she didn’t push. “Okay. I’ll tell the others. [

After Ria left, Lucia sank into a chair at the kitchen table. Her hands were shaking. She’d won. The custody battle was over before it even started. But the victory felt hollow. Rotten.

What kind of father just walked away from his children without a fight? What kind of man heard his kids needed him and said no?

Marco had always been selfish. But this was something else entirely. This was cruel.

Lucia pulled herself together and finished making breakfast. The children came down one by one. Monica with her hair still wet from the shower. Lucas yawning and rubbing his eyes. Ria already dressed and ready. Lena bouncing with energy.

They ate together at the big table, talking and laughing. But Lucia couldn’t quite shake the weight in her chest. The knowledge that their father had officially abandoned them sat like a stone in her stomach.

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Chapter 150 –

hould she tell them? Should they know that Marco had given up without even trying?

Not yet. Not today. Today, they would play volleyball and be a family. The truth could wait.

After breakfast, they all headed to the backyard. Alexander had already set up the net, and he stood there in casual clothes looking relaxed and happy. This was the man who had saved her. Who had saved all of them.

“Alright.” Alexander clapped his hands together. “Teams. Who’s with who?”

“I want Mom on my team!” Monica grabbed Lucia’s hand

“No fair, she’s good at sports.” Lucas protested. “We get Alexander then.”

They split up. Lucia and Monica with Ria. Alexander with Lucas and Lena. The game started chaotic and loud, with everyone laughing when someone missed the ball or hit it into the net.

The sun was warm on Lucia’s skin. The grass smelled fresh and green. For a moment, she could almost forget the phone call. Almost forget that Marco existed at all.

Monica dove for a ball and missed, landing on her stomach in the grass. Instead of getting frustrated, she started laughing. Real laughter that made her whole face light up.

Lucia felt tears prick her eyes. This. This was what healing looked like. This was what safety felt like.

They played for an hour, switching teams, making up ridiculous rules, collapsing in the grass when they got too tired. Alexander ordered pizza for lunch, and they ate it outside on the patio, sweaty and happy and together.

Monica sat cross-legged on the ground next to Alexander’s chair. She’d been quieter the last few minutes, her face thoughtful.

“Alexander?” Her voice came small, uncertain.

“Yeah, kiddo?”

Monica picked at the grass, not looking up. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course. Ask me anything.”

The words came out in a rush. “Can I call you Dad?”

Everything stopped. Lucas froze mid-bite of pizza. Ria’s head snapped up. Lena’s eyes went wide. Lucia’s breath caught in her throat.

Alexander set down his pizza slice slowly. His face had gone very still, but Lucia could see the emotion swimming in his

eyes.

“Monica, you don’t have to…”

“I know I don’t have to.” Monica finally looked up at him. “But I want to. If that’s okay. Because you’re more of a dad to me than he ever was. You actually care if I’m okay. You sleep in my room when I have nightmares. You make me feel safe.”

Alexander’s jaw worked like he was trying to hold back tears. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” Monica’s voice came stronger now. “You’re my dad. The one who matters. The one who stayed.”

Alexander opened his arms, and Monica launched herself into them. He held her tight, his face buried in her hair. Lucia saw

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Chapter 150

s shoulders shake and knew he was crying.

“Of course you can call me Dad.” Alexander’s voice came thick with emotion. “Nothing would make me happier.”

Monica pulled back and smiled at him. A real smile. The kind Lucia hadn’t seen in months.

Thanks, Dad.”

The word hung in the air, precious and new.

Lucas cleared his throat. “Can I call you Dad too?”

Alexander’s head turned, surprise written across his face. “You want to?”

“Yeah.” Lucas shrugged, trying to look casual but failing. “I mean, you’ve been more of a father to me in a week than Marco Free was my whole life. You didn’t hit me when I made you angry. You didn’t make me feel like I had to earn your love. You just

gave it.”

“Lucas.” Alexander’s voice cracked.

“So yeah. I want to call you Dad. If that’s cool with you.”

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“That’s more than cool with me. That’s everything.”

Ria stood up, brushing grass off her shorts. “I want to too. Call you Dad, I mean.”

“Ria, you don’t have to feel pressured…”

“I’m not pressured.” Ria’s voice came firm. “I’m choosing this. I’m choosing you. Because you chose us first. You didn’t ask for three traumatized kids to move into your house, but you welcomed us anyway. You made us feel wanted.”

Alexander stood up and pulled all three of them into a group hug. Lena jumped up and wrapped her arms around all of them from the side.

“Best family ever!” Lena’s voice came muffled from the middle of the pile.

Lucia watched them, her heart so full it felt like it might burst. Her children. Alexander’s children now too. All of them together. All of them safe.

They pulled apart eventually, wiping eyes and laughing at how emotional they’d all gotten. The volleyball game resumed, but something had shifted. Something fundamental had changed.

Every time one of them said “Dad” to Alexander, Lucia saw his face light up. Every single time, like he couldn’t quite believe it was real.

When the sun started to set, they moved inside. The children scattered to their rooms to shower and change. Lucia found Alexander standing in the kitchen, staring out the window at nothing.

“Hey.” She touched his arm gently.

He turned to her, and she saw tears on his face again. “They called me Dad.”

“They did.”

“I never thought I’d have more kids. After Lena’s mom died, I thought that was it for me. One daughter. One chance at being a father. His voice broke. “And now I have four. Four kids who chose me.”

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Chapter 150-

You chuse them first” Lucia reminded him. “You opened your home and your heart without hesitation.”

“I love them. The words came simple, honest. “All of them. Like they’re my own.”

“They are your own now.”

Alexander pulled her close, and they stood like that for a long moment. Two people who had been broken by their past marriages, finding wholeness in each other. Bunding something new and good out of the ashes of what had been destroyed.

“Did something happen today?” Alexander’s question caue quiet. “You seemed upset this morning.”

Lucia hesitated, then decided he deserved to know. “Marco’s secretary called. He’s not fighting the custody petition. He told her he’s done being their father.”

Alexander went very still. “He actually said that?”

“Word for word.”

“Those kids deserve so much better than him.”

“They have better now. They have you.”

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