Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 155

Chapter 155

Chapter 155

The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of Lucia’s home office as she reviewed financial reports from Phoenix Holdings. The numbers blurred together on the page as her mind wandered to the beautiful volleyball game with the children just two days before. Her heart still felt full from hearing them call Alexander “Dad,” from watching her family heal together.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

“Come in.” Lucia looked up from her desk.

Mrs. Chen, the maid, entered carrying a manila envelope and wearing an expression that immediately put Lucia on alert.

“Mrs. Kane, this just arrived by special courier. It’s marked urgent and requires your immediate attention.”

Lucia’s stomach dropped. Urgent legal documents delivered by courier were never good news. She took the envelope with steady hands, though her heart rate had already begun to increase.

“Thank you, Mrs. Chen. That will be all for now.”

Mrs. Chen nodded and quietly left the office, closing the door behind her with a soft click.

Lucia stared at the envelope for a long moment. The return address showed a law firm she recognized. Blackwell & Morrison. Marco’s attorneys. Her hands trembled slightly as she tore open the seal and pulled out the official documents inside.

The words hit her like physical blows.

PETITION FOR JOINT CUSTODY

MARCO JOSEPH HART vs. LUCIA MARIE KANE

Motion to Restore Parental Rights

Lucia’s vision tunneled as she read through the legal language. Marco was challenging her sole custody petition. He was demanding joint custody of Monica, Ria, and Lucas. He was claiming that the children had been illegally removed from his home and that Lucia had manipulated them against him.

The papers included character witness statements from Margaret, claiming that Lucia was an unfit mother who had abandoned her children for months. There were allegations that Alexander was using his wealth to “buy” the children’s affection. There were even suggestions that Lucia’s business dealings were questionable and that she fouldn’t provide a stable environment.

Every word was carefully crafted to paint Marco as the wronged father fighting to save his children from their manipulative mother and her wealthy husband.

Lucia’s hands shook as she set the papers down on her desk. After everything Marco had done. The affairs, the abandonment, the physical abuse. He still wanted to control their children’s lives. Even after telling his secretary he was “done being their father,” even after giving up without a fight, he was coming back.

The office door opened, and Alexander walked in with two cups of coffee. He took one look at Lucia’s pale face and the legal

down. documents scattered across her desk and immediately set the cups

“What is it?” His voice came tight with concern.

“Marco is fighting for custody.” Lucia’s voice barely rose above a whisper. “He’s challenging my petition. He wants them

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Alexander moved around the desk and picked up the papers, his jaw tightening as he read through the allegations. “This is insane. After everything he’s done to those children?”

“Look at what Margaret wrote.” Lucia pointed to one of the witness staternents. “She’s claiming I’m mentally unstable. That I kidnapped the children from their loving home.”

Alexander’s face darkened as he read Margaret’s sworn statement. According to her testimony, Lucia had manipulated the children with expensive gifts and false promises. She claimed that Marco had never abused anyone, that the bruises on Lucas were from a sports injury that Lucia had twisted to suit her narrative.

“This woman has no shame.” Alexander set the papers down with controlled force. “She’s lying under oath.”

“But will a judge believe that?” Lucia stood up and began pacing behind her desk. “Marco’s lawyer has painted this perfectly. The devoted father trying to save his children from their unstable mother and her wealthy husband who’s trying to buy a ready-made family.”

“Lucia, you have evidence. Photos of the abuse. Witness statements from the children themselves.”

“Marco’s claiming the children were coerced. That we pressured them into lying about him.” Lucia’s voice was rising now, panic creeping in. “What if the judge believes him? What if they think I really did manipulate them?”

Alexander moved closer and took her hands in his, stilling her frantic pacing. “Look at me, Lucia. Look at me.”

She met his eyes, seeing the determination and love reflected there.

“Marco Hart will not take those children away from us. I won’t let it happen.”

“Alexander, you don’t understand. Family courts can be unpredictable. Marco has money, connections, a pregnant wife who can testify about what a wonderful father he’ll be to their new baby.”

“And we have the truth. We have the children themselves, who can speak about what really happened in that house. We have medical records documenting Monica’s self-harm, which started while she was living with Marco and Margaret.”

Lucia pulled her hands free and resumed pacing. “But what if that’s not enough? What if Marco convinces a judge that the children are better off with their biological father? What if they have to go back to that house?”

The thought of Monica returning to Margaret’s cruelty, of Lucas facing Marco’s anger again, of Ria being manipulated by a woman who hated her. It was unbearable.

“I won’t let that happen.” Lucia’s voice grew stronger. “I will fight for my children with everything I have. Every resource, every connection, every weapon at my disposal.”

“Our children,” Alexander corrected gently. “And I’ll be standing right beside you through every moment of this battle.”

Lucia stopped pacing and looked at him. “Alexander, this could get ugly. Really ugly. Marco will try to destroy both of us in court. He’ll attack your business, your reputation, your relationship with Lena. Are you sure you want to put yourself through this?”

“Lucia, those children are my family now. Monica calls me Dad. Lucas asks for my advice about college. Ria trusts me to protect her. Lena loves having siblings.” Alexander’s voice was firm, unwavering. “Marco Hart can come at me with everything he has. I’m not backing down.”

“This could cost millions in legal fees.”

“Then we’ll spend millions.”

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could take years

“Then we’ll fight for years.”

“Marco could try to turn public opinion against us, make this a media circus.”

“Let him try. We have nothing to hide.”

Lucia felt tears start in her eyes, but these weren’t tears of fear. They were tears of gratitude for this man who was willing to fight the world to protect their family.

“I love you.” The whisper came broken.

“I love you too. All of you. And I promise you, Marco Hart will not destroy what we’ve built.”

Unknown to either of them, Monica stood frozen in the hallway outside the office door. She had been coming to ask Lucia about her art supplies when she heard her parents’ raised voices. The partially open door had allowed her to hear every word of their conversation.

Marco was trying to take them back.

Monica’s hands began to shake as memories flooded through her mind. The constant tension in Marco’s house. Margaret’s cruel words. The feeling of walking on eggshells every day. The cuts on her arms that had finally healed.

She pressed her back against the hallway wall, her breathing becoming shallow and rapid. Just when she had started to feel safe, when she had begun to believe that her nightmare was over, Marco was trying to drag them back into it.

Through the crack in the door, she could see Alexander holding her mother, promising to fight for their family. She could hear the determination in his voice, see the love in his eyes.

But what if it wasn’t enough? What if Marco won? What if they had to go back to that house where Margaret was waiting to make their lives miserable?

Monica closed her eyes and tried to use the breathing techniques her therapist Dr. Patterson had taught her. In for four counts, hold for four, out for four. But the panic was building anyway, threatening to overwhelm her fragile sense of security.

She heard footsteps approaching in the office and quickly moved away from the door, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping. But as she hurried toward the stairs, one thought echoed in her mind over and over.

What if they had to go back? What if Marco won?

What if everything they had built together was about to be destroyed?

Inside the office, Lucia picked up the custody papers again, her jaw set with determination.

“Call our lawyers.” Her instruction came fierce. “All of them. I want the best family law attorney money can buy. I want private investigators to dig into Marco’s finances, his relationship with Margaret, everything.”

“Already on it.” Alexander pulled out his phone.

“And Alexander?”

“Yes?”

“Marco Hart has no idea what he’s just started. He thinks he can intimidate me, manipulate me, control me like he did for seventeen years.” Lucia’s eyes blazed with fierce maternal protectiveness. “But I’m not the same woman he threw away. I’m

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Stronger now. Have resources he can’t imagine. And I will burn down everything he’s built before I let him hurt my

children again.”

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