Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 182

Chapter 182

Margaret sat at her kitchen table surrounded by rejection letters. Actual physical letters some of them, printed on expensive letterhead. Others were just emails she’d printed out herself, needing to see the words in black and white to believe they were real.

Every single media outlet had turned her down.

The New York Times. The Washington Post. CNN. Fox News. Local news stations. Even the tabloids that usually ran any story with enough scandal attached to it.

All of them had refused to publish her story about how Lucia and her children had caused her miscarriage.

Margaret’s hands shook as she read through them again. Some were polite. “We appreciate you reaching out, but this doesn’t fit our editorial standards.” Others were more direct. “There’s no evidence to support these claims.” One editor had been brutally honest. “Ma’am, we’ve reviewed the court transcripts and the video those children made. You and Mr. Hart were found to be abusive. We’re not running a story that blames abuse victims for your personal tragedy.”

But the worst one, the one that made Margaret’s blood boil every time she looked at it, came from a journalist she’d thought would understand. Someone she’d gone to college with who now worked for a major news

network.

“Margaret, I’m sorry for your loss. But what you’re suggesting is delusional. Lucia Kane didn’t cause your miscarriage. Your husband pushed you. That’s documented fact. I can’t help you rewrite reality to make yourself feel better about what happened.”

Delusional.

The word burned in Margaret’s mind like acid. She wasn’t delusional. She was seeing things clearly for the first time. Lucia had orchestrated everything. Had turned Marco’s children against them. Had created the situation that led to the fight that led to the push that led to the baby dying.

It was all connected. All Lucia’s fault. Why couldn’t anyone else see that?

Margaret crumpled up the letter and threw it across the room. It bounced off the wall and landed on the floor among the other rejected attempts to get her story out there.

The doorbell rang.

Margaret froze. She wasn’t expecting anyone. Marco hadn’t been by in days. Her friends had stopped calling after she’d screamed at the last one who’d tried to offer sympathy.

The doorbell rang again, followed by sharp knocking.

“Margaret! Open up! We know you’re in there!”

Her father’s voice. Margaret’s stomach dropped. She hadn’t talked to her family since the miscarriage. Hadn’t wanted to deal with their particular brand of support, which usually involved telling her what she was doing wrong and how she needed to fix it.

But ignoring them would only make things worse. Her father wasn’t the type to give up and go away.

Margaret walked to the door and opened it.

Her parents stood on the porch looking older than she remembered. Her father, Josh Sr., wore an expensive suit that didn’t quite hide the extra weight he’d put on. Her mother, Marie, had her hair done in the same style she’d worn for twenty years, blonde and perfect and frozen in time.

Behind them stood Josh, Margaret’s younger brother. He grinned when he saw her, but it wasn’t a friendly expression. It was the smile of someone who knew they were about to get something they wanted.

“Well, don’t just stand there.” Her father pushed past her into the house. “We need to talk.”

Margaret’s mother followed, giving Margaret a quick once-over that clearly found her lacking. “You look terrible, dear. When was the last time you’

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Chapter 182

Josh came in last, closing the door behind him. “Nice place. Marco’s money paying for all this?”

Margaret felt her jaw clench. “What do you want?”

“That’s no way to greet family.” Her father settled into the living room couch like he owned it. “We came to check on you. Heard about the baby. Shame, that.”

“A shame.” Margaret’s voice came out flat. “That’s what you call it?”

Her mother perched on the edge of a chair. “Well, what else would we call it? These things happen. You’re young enough to try again.”

The casual dismissal of her grief hit Margaret like a slap. But she shouldn’t have been surprised. Her family had never been good with emotions that didn’t serve their purposes.

“Is that why you’re here?” Margaret crossed her arms. “To tell me to try again?”

“Actually, we’re here about Josh.” Her father gestured to her brother, who was examining a picture frame on the mantle. “He’s getting married.”

Margaret blinked. “What?”

“To Amanda Rothschild.” Josh turned around, his grin wider now. “You know, the Rothschilds? The banking family? Her father owns half of Connecticut.”

“Congratulations.” The word came out mechanical. Margaret didn’t care about Josh’s engagement. Didn’t care about anything except the baby she’d lost and the revenge she was planning.

“Yes, well, congratulations are nice.” Her father leaned forward. “But what we really need is five million dollars.”

The number hung in the air like a bomb.

“Excuse me?” Margaret stared at her father. “Five million?”

“For the wedding.” Her mother spoke like this was completely reasonable. “Josh and Amanda want something spectacular. Plus they’ll need a new house. Something befitting their status. And cars. And Josh needs seed money to start a proper business now that he’s marrying into such an important family.”

Margaret laughed but it came out harsh and broken. “You came here to ask me for five million dollars? While I’ m grieving my dead baby?”

“Don’t be dramatic.” Her father’s tone sharpened. “Your tragedy doesn’t change the fact that your brother needs support. Family takes care of family.”

“I don’t have five million dollars.”

“But Marco does.” Josh spoke up, his voice smug. “And you’re his wife. Just ask him for it.”

“I’m not asking Marco for money for your wedding!”

“Why not?” Her mother looked genuinely confused. “You married him for his money, didn’t you? Might as well put it to good use.”

The casual cruelty of the statement took Margaret’s breath away. “I married him because I loved him.”

Josh snorted. “Right. Just like you loved David.”

Margaret’s whole body went rigid. “Don’t.”

“David who?” Her father looked between them.

“Our sister’s husband.” Josh’s grin turned vicious. “The one Margaret was sleeping with before she moved on to Marco.”

Her mother’s face remained impassive. “Ancient history. What matters now is that Margaret is married to a very wealthy man who can afford to help his new brother-in-law.”

“I’m not asking Marco for five million dollars!” Margaret’s voice rose. “We’re barely speaking! Our marriage is falling apart! Our baby just died!”

“All the more reason to secure your position.” Her father stood up, moving closer. “You need to make yourself useful to Marco. Show him you’re worth keeping around. Getting money for your family would be a good start.”

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Chapter 182

“This is insane.” Margaret backed away. “You’re all insane. I just lost my baby and you’re here demanding money?”

“We’re here because family matters.” Her father’s voice turned cold. “And you’ve always been the disappointing child, Margaret. The one who caused problems. The one who made messes. Your only value to this family is that you married someone who has the resources to help us.”

The words hit like physical blows. Margaret had heard variations of this her entire life, but it never stopped hurting.

“Josh is the important one.” Her mother stood as well, flanking Margaret from the other side. “He’s always been the smart one. The successful one. The one we can be proud of. Your job is to support him.”

“My job?” Margaret’s voice cracked. “I’m not his bank!”

“You’re his sister.” Her father stepped closer, his presence looming and threatening. “And sisters support their brothers. Especially when they’ve been as much of a disappointment as you have.”

Josh moved in too, boxing Margaret into the corner of her own living room. “Come on, Maggie. It’s not like you’ re using the money for anything important. Your baby’s dead. You don’t need a nursery fund anymore.”

The cruelty of the statement made Margaret gasp. Her own brother. Throwing her dead child in her face to manipulate her into giving him money.

“Get out.” Her voice came quiet but deadly. “All of you. Get out of my house.”

“We’re not leaving until you agree to help.” Her father’s hand shot out and grabbed Margaret’s arm, his grip tight enough to bruise. “You’re going to call Marco right now and ask him for the money.”

“Let go of me!” Margaret tried to pull away but his grip was too strong.

“Dad’s right.” Josh moved closer, his face inches from hers. “You owe us, Margaret. You’ve been nothing but trouble your whole life. Sleeping with David and destroying your sister’s marriage. Getting pregnant by a married man and helping him destroy his family. You’re a homewrecker and a disappointment. The least you can do is make yourself useful.”

Tears streamed down Margaret’s face. “I said let go!”

Her father’s grip tightened. “I will deal with you if you don’t get us that money. Do you understand me? I have spent my entire life cleaning up your messes and I’m done. You will do this one thing for your brother or I will make your life even more miserable than it already is.”

“Your only use is supporting Josh.” Her mother’s voice came matter-of-fact, like she was stating an obvious truth. “You’ve never been good for anything else. Not smart enough. Not pretty enough. Not successful enough. But you married well, even if it was by stealing someone else’s husband. So use that marriage to help the family member who actually matters.”

Margaret looked between the three of them. Her father with his bruising grip and threatening voice. Her mother with her cold assessment of Margaret’s worth. Her brother with his smug grin and casual cruelty. This was her family. The people who were supposed to love her unconditionally. Instead, they saw her as nothing more than a potential source of money for the golden child.

“I hate you.” The words came out broken. “I hate all of you.”

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