Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 164

Chapter 164

The black SUVs pulled through the massive iron gates, winding up a long driveway lined with ancient oak trees. Lucia pressed her face to the window, her breath catching in her throat as their new home came into view. The mansion rose before them like something from a fairy tale. Towering stone walls, arched windows, and turrets that reached toward the cloudy sky.

“Oh my God.” Monica whispered from beside her, her art supplies clutched tightly in her lap. “It really does look like a castle.” Lena bounced in her seat, her face glowing with excitement. “Wait until you see the inside! There’s a grand staircase that splits into two, and the library has books all the way to the ceiling!”

In the SUV behind them, Ria sat with Lucas, both of them staring at their new home with wide eyes. The building was even more impressive than Alexander had described. Massive yet welcoming, imposing yet somehow warm.

“Are we really going to live here?” Lucas asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Alexander pulled up to the circular courtyard in front of the main entrance, where a fountain sprayed water high into the air. The sound was peaceful, musical, completely different from the tense atmosphere they had left behind.

As they climbed out of the vehicles, Lucia felt a weight lift from her shoulders. Here, surrounded by high walls and sophisticated security systems, her children could breathe freely. They could run and play without constantly looking over their shoulders.

“Welcome home.” Alexander spoke softly, taking her hand as they stood before the enormous wooden doors.

The entrance hall took everyone’s breath away. Marble floors gleamed under a crystal chandelier that hung from a ceiling painted with angels and clouds. Two curved staircases swept up to a second–floor balcony, their brass railings polished to perfection.

“This is incredible.” Ria breathed, turning in a slow circle to take it all in.

Lena grabbed Monica’s hand and pulled her toward the staircase. “Come on! Let me show you everything!”

But Ria stopped them before they could run off, her face serious despite the excitement dancing in her eyes.

“Wait.” She gathered her siblings around her in the center of the grand hall. “Before we explore, I want to say something.”

Lucia and Alexander exchanged glances, curious about what their eldest daughter had on her mind.

Ria looked at each of her siblings, then at her parents. “We’ve been through so much together. So much pain and fear and uncertainty. But look where we are now.”

She gestured around the magnificent hall, sunlight streaming through tall windows and casting rainbows on the marble floor.

“This place is beautiful, yes. But what makes it special is that we’re here together. All of us.” Ria’s voice grew stronger, more confident. “We’re going to create beautiful memories in this home. Happy memories. Safe memories. Because we’re together, and nothing can change that anymore.”

Tears filled Lucia’s eyes as she watched her daughter speak with such wisdom and strength. Ria had grown so much over

what truly mattered. the past months, transforming from a confused teenager into a young woman who understood “You’re absolutely right.” Alexander’s voice came thick with emotion. “This house is just walls and rooms until we fill it with love and laughter.”

“Forever and always.” Monica added softly, using their family motto.

“Forever and always.” The rest of them repeated in unison.

Lena clapped her hands together, breaking the emotional moment with her infectious enthusiasm. “Okay, now can we pick our rooms? I want to show everyone the best spots!”

The children exploded into motion, racing up the staircases like a pack of young animals finally let loose. Their footsteps echoed through the halls, mixing with shrieks of delight and calls of “Look at this!” and “Come see!”

Lucia followed more slowly with Alexander, her heart full as she listened to her children’s joy echoing from every corner of the house.

On the second floor, they found Lena leading a tour like a seasoned quide. “This room has the best view of the gardens.”

for reading.” She was explaining to Ria. “And this one gets m Successfully unlocked!

is this…?”

Monica had stopped in front of a room with huge windows racing notL “The art studio.” Lena grinned. “Dad had it specially designed for artists. Perfect light all day long.”

Chapter 164

Monice stepped inside, her hands pressed to her heart. The room was flooded with natural light, with built–in storage for supplics and space for multiple easels. It was everything she had ever dreamed of.

“It’s perfect.” The whisper came broken with emotion. “It’s absolutely perfect.”

Lucas appeared in the doorway of another room, this one fitted with built–in desks and bookshelves. “Is this really for me?” “Study space for the future college man.” Alexander confirmed. “With high–speed internet and video conferencing setup for your interviews.”

Ria had claimed a room with a large walk–in closet and a sitting area where she could work on her designs. Lena bounced between all of them, thrilled to have siblings to share her favorite house with.

As the afternoon wore on, they settled into their new home with surprising ease. The staff had already moved their belongings, and slowly each room began to feel personal as familiar items found new places.

At dinner, they gathered around a table that could seat twelve but felt intimate with just the six of them. The dining room had tall windows overlooking the gardens, and soft music played from hidden speakers.

“This feels like home already.” Monica spoke while cutting into her chicken with careful precision.

“It does.” Ria agreed. “Different from our old house, but still… right.”

Lucas had been quieter than usual during the meal, and Lucia noticed him glancing around the room with a thoughtful expression.

“What’s on your mind, sweetheart?” She asked gently.

Lucas set down his fork and looked directly at Alexander and Lucia. “I’ve been thinking about what Ria said earlier. About taking care of each other.”

He straightened his shoulders, looking older than his fifteen years.

“I want you both to know that I’ll look after my sisters. All of them.” He glanced at Lena, including her without hesitation. “I know I’m the only man among the kids now, and I take that responsibility seriously.”

Lucia’s heart clenched at the seriousness in her son’s voice. Lucas had already been forced to grow up too fast, taking on responsibilities that should have belonged to the adults in his life.

Alexander leaned forward, his expression gentle but firm. “Lucas, I appreciate what you’re saying. But looking after your sisters isn’t your job. It’s mine and your mother’s.”

“But I’m the oldest boy…”

“You’re a fifteen–year–old who should be thinking about college applications and hanging out with friends.” Alexander interrupted kindly. “Not worrying about protecting everyone else.”

Lucas’s face showed confusion and a little frustration. “Then what’s my role? What am I supposed to do?” Alexander stood up and moved to stand behind Lucas’s chair, placing his hands on the young man’s shoulders.

“Your job is to be happy.” The words came simple. “To laugh with your sisters, to pursue your dreams, to make mistakes and learn from them. To be a teenager, not a bodyguard.”

“But someone has to…”

“Someone does.” Alexander spoke firmly. “Me. Your mother. The security team. The adults whose actual job it is to keep you safe.” He squeezed Lucas’s shoulders gently. “You’ve been carrying burdens that were never yours to carry. It’s time to put them down.”

Lucas’s eyes filled with tears that he tried to blink away. “I just want to help. I want to do something useful.”

“You are useful.” Lucia reached across the table to take his hand. “You’re useful by being yourself. By being the kind, intelligent, caring young man you are. By being a good brother without sacrificing your own happiness.”

“The best thing you can do for your sisters is show them what it looks like when a man is allowed to be gentle and vulnerable and human.” Alexander added. “You don’t have to be a warrior, Lucas. You can just be yourself.”

The tears Lucas had been fighting finally spilled over. “I was so scared in our father’s house. Not just for me, but for Ria and Monica. I felt like if I wasn’t strong enough, if I didn’t protect them, something terrible would happen.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” Lucia’s whisper came broken as her own tears started.

“But you’re not in that house anymore.” Alexander spoke quietly. “You’re here, where being strong means asking for help when you need it. Where being a man means being kind, not just tough.”

Lena got up from her chair and moved to hug Lucas from the side. “You’re the best brother ever. But Dad’s right. You don’t have to take care of us. You just have to love us.”

Chapter 164

“Which you already do” Monica added softly.

More than enough“Ria agreed.

Lucas wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, looking around at his family with a mixture of relief and lingering uncertainty.

“So I can just be a kid?”

“You can be whatever makes you happy.” Alexander’s response came firm and loving. “Student, artist, athlete, dreamer. Whatever brings you joy.”

Lucia watched this exchange with a full heart. This was what healing looked like. Not just the absence of pain, but the presence of permission to be vulnerable, to be imperfest, to be human.

As they finished dinner and moved to the living room for a movie, Lucia felt something she hadn’t experienced in years. Almost complete peace.

Her children were safe, loved, and finally free to just be children again. They had a home that felt like a fortress but looked like a fairy tale. They had each other, and they had time to heal completely.

For the first time in months, Lucia allowed herself to believe that their story might have a truly happy ending after all.

But even as they settled onto the large sectional couch, Monica curled against her side and Lucas stretched out on the floor with his head on a pillow, Lucia couldn’t completely silence the voice of doubt whispering in her mind.

They were safe here. Protected. Surrounded by security.

But Marco was still out there.

Still angry. Still dangerous. Still planning.

And walls, no matter how high, couldn’t keep out a determined man forever.

Lucia pulled Monica closer, feeling her daughter’s steady breathing against her arm.

They had won the custody battle.

They had escaped to a safer place.

They had built a beautiful new life.

But the war wasn’t over

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify