Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 190

Chapter 190

didn’t want it, but because she knew she was using this moment of vulnerability to get what she needed.

She kissed him back, pouring false emotion into the gesture. Leading him deeper into her manipulation. Within moments they were making love again, Marco whispering promises about their future while Margaret calculated how to turn this to her advantage.

Afterward, they lay tangled together in the rumpled sheets. Marco’s breathing had slowed, his body relaxed. This was the moment. Margaret knew she had to move carefully.

“There’s something else we need to talk about.” She spoke softly against his chest.

“What is it?” Marco sounded sleepy, content.

“My family. The money they asked for.”

Marco tensed immediately. “Margaret, I told you. I don’t have five million dollars.”

“I know.” She traced patterns on his skin, keeping her touch light and soothing. “I know the business is struggling. I know things are tight. But Marco, they’re going to come back. My father made threats. Josh threw my dead baby in my face to manipulate me.”

“I know they did.” Marco’s voice came angry on her behalf. “I know they’re awful to you.”

“I can’t face them empty-handed.” Margaret let tears fill her voice. “They’ll destroy me. Make my life even more miserable than it already is.”

“What do you want me to do?” Marco asked, and Margaret could hear the defeat in his voice.

“Find the money. Somehow. Somewhere. I know you have assets Investments. Things you could liquidate.” She kept her voice gentle, reasonable. “It’s not about the wedding. It’s about getting them off my back so we can focus on building our family. On bringing a baby into a peaceful environment.”

“Five million dollars will ruin me.” Marco spoke quietly. “The business barely has that much liquidity. If I pull that kind of money out, I might lose everything.”

“But you’ll have me.” Margaret lifted her head to look at him. “You’ll have our future children. You’ll have a family that actually loves and appreciates you.”

Marco closed his eyes, his jaw clenched with tension.

“Please, Marco.” Margaret let desperation creep into her voice. “I’ve lost so much already. My baby. My dignity. Please don’t make me face my family’s cruelty alone. Help me. One last time. Then we can focus on us.”

The silence stretched on for so long that Margaret thought she’d pushed too far. But then Marco opened his eyes and looked at her with an expression that broke her heart even as she used him.

“Okay.” His voice came broken. “Okay. I’ll find the money.”

“Really?” Margaret sat up, genuine surprise in her voice.

“Really.” Marco pulled her back down against him. “I’ll liquidate some investments. Take out loans. Whatever it takes. You’re my wife. I can’t let your family abuse you.”

Margaret felt triumph surge through her. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“But this is it.” Marco’s voice came firm. “After this, we cut ties with your family. Completely. They don’t get to demand things from us anymore.”

“Of course.” Margaret agreed easily, already planning how to delay that conversation until she needed more

money.

“And we focus on us. On building our family. On being better than we have been.”

“Yes” Margaret kissed him softly. “On being better.”

Marco held her close, believing he was making a noble sacrifice for his wife. Believing he was protecting her from her abusive family. Believing they could somehow build something good from the wreckage of everything he’d destroyed.

And Margaret let him believe it. Let him think she loved him enough to deserve this sacrifice. Let him empty

Chapter 180

his accounts to fund her brother’s ridiculous wedding while his own business crumbled.

Because she didn’t care about Marco’s business. Didn’t care about his financial ruin. Didn’t care about anything except getting what she wanted and making Lucia pay for daring to be happy.

Five million dollars would solve her family problem. And a baby would tie Marco to her forever. Would give her leverage. Would create another weapon to use against Lucia when the time was right.

Margaret smiled against Marco’s chest, her mind already working through the next steps of her plan.

Marco thought he was building a future.

But Margaret was building an arsenal.

And soon, very soon, she would use it to destroy everything Lucia loved.

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Chapter 190

Chapter 190

The mall buzzed with the usual Saturday afternoon chaos. Lucia pushed a shopping cart through the crowded aisles of the office supply store, her list clutched in one hand while Ria, Lucas, Monica, and Lena debated which notebooks looked best.

“Mom, do we really need three-ring binders?” Lucas held up two different sizes. “Can’t we just use regular folders?”

“The school supply list specifically says three-ring binders.” Lucia checked her list again. “Trust me, it’s easier to just get what they ask for than to fight about it later.”

Monica wandered toward the art supplies, her eyes lighting up at the display of colored pencils and sketch pads. “Can I get the professional grade pencils? The ones I have at home are running out.”

“Put them in the cart.” Lucia smiled at her daughter’s enthusiasm. It still amazed her how far Monica had come. A year ago, the girl could barely look at art supplies without breaking down. Now she was asking for professional materials.

Lena joined Monica at the art display, and soon the two girls were comparing different brands and discussing which papers worked best for watercolors versus acrylics.

Ria stood beside Lucia, checking items off the list on her phone. “We still need rulers, protractors, and

scientific calculators for Lucas.”

“The calculators are in the electronics section.” Lucia steered the cart in that direction. “Let’s grab those next.”

They were halfway down the aisle when Lucia saw her.

Margaret stood near the end cap display, wearing jeans and a simple sweater that made her look smaller than usual. Her blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail. No makeup. Dark circles under her eyes.

She looked broken.

Lucia’s hand tightened on the shopping cart. Her first instinct was to turn around, to get her children away from this woman who had caused them so much pain.

But it was too late. Margaret had seen them.

Their eyes met across the crowded aisle. For a moment, neither woman moved. Then Margaret took a step

forward.

“Lucia.” Her voice came quiet. Hesitant.

Ria noticed first, her head snapping up from her phone. “Mom?”

Lucas and the girls turned to see what had caught Ria’s attention. Monica’s face went pale. Lena moved closer to Lucia instinctively.

“What do you want?” Lucia kept her voice cold, positioning herself between Margaret and her children.

Margaret stopped a few feet away, her hands clasped together in front of her. “I know you don’t want to talk to me. I know I’m probably the last person you want to see right now.”

“Then why are you here?” Ria stepped forward, her voice sharp with anger. “Why can’t you just leave us alone?”

“I’m not here to cause trouble.” Margaret’s eyes were red-rimmed, like she’d been crying. “I just saw you and I thought maybe this was a sign. A chance to say something I should have said a long time ago.”

“We don’t want to hear anything you have to say.” Lucas moved to stand beside his mother, protective and

tense.

“Please.” Margaret’s voice broke. “Just give me one minute. One minute and then I’ll walk away. I promise.”

Lucia felt her children looking at her, waiting for her decision. Every instinct screamed at her to refuse, to protect them from this woman’s manipulation.

But something in Margaret’s expression stopped her. She looked different. Not angry or bitter or full of rage.

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Chapter 190

She looked defeated.

“One minute.” Lucia’s words came firm. “Then you walk away and you don’t approach us again.”

Margaret nodded, her throat working as she swallowed hard. “I’m sorry.”

The words hung in the air. Simple. Stark.

“I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to you and your children.” Margaret’s voice grew stronger, more certain. “I’m sorry for taking your husband. I’m sorry for destroying your family. I’m sorry for treating your kids like they were obstacles instead of children who needed love.”

Lucia stared at her, too shocked to respond.

“I’m sorry for throwing away Monica’s artwork. For slapping Ria. For being cruel and jealous and making your lives miserable.” Tears were streaming down Margaret’s face now. “I’m sorry for blaming you when my baby died. For threatening you. For being so consumed with rage that I couldn’t see the truth.”

Monica made a small sound, her hand going to her mouth.

“What are you planning?” Lucia finally found her voice. “What is this? Some new manipulation?”

“I’m not planning anything.” Margaret wiped her eyes with shaking hands. “The death of my child made me realize what kind of person I’ve become. What kind of person I’ve been all along. And I hate it. I hate who I am.”

“We don’t buy this.” Ria spoke firmly, stepping protectively in front of Monica. “You’ve threatened us. You’ve stalked us. And now you expect us to believe you’ve suddenly changed?”

“I don’t expect you to believe me.” Margaret’s voice came raw. “I wouldn’t believe me either. But I needed to say it anyway. I needed you to know that I see what I’ve done. I see the pain I’ve caused.”

“Then stay away from us.” Lucas’s voice came hard. “If you really want to make things better, leave us alone.”

“I will.” Margaret nodded. “I promise I will. And I’ll make sure Marco stays away too. No more confrontations. No more threats. No more trying to force his way back into your lives

Lucia felt her heart pounding. This couldn’t be real. Margaret didn’t apologize. Margaret didn’t admit fault. This had to be some kind of trick.

“Why should we trust anything you say?” Her question came sharp.

“You shouldn’t.” Margaret spoke simply. “I’ve given you no reason to trust me. But I’m going to prove it anyway. I’m going to show you that I’ve changed. That I can be better than I was.”

“How?” Ria demanded. “How exactly are you going to prove that?”

“By leaving you alone. By keeping Marco away. By not causing any more pain.” Margaret took a step backward. “By being the person I should have been from the beginning.”

She looked at each of the children in turn. “Ria, I’m sorry for making you feel like you weren’t good enough. You’re beautiful and talented and strong. I was jealous because I knew I could never measure up to you.”

Ria’s eyes filled with tears despite her anger.

“Lucas, I’m sorry for standing by when your father hit you. You deserved protection, not abuse. You deserved a home where you felt safe.” Margaret’s voice broke. “Monica, I’m sorry for destroying your artwork. For crushing your spirit. You have so much talent and light, and I tried to dim it because I was threatened by it.”

Monica was crying now, Lena’s arm around her shoulders.

“I can’t undo what I’ve done.” Margaret finished, her own tears flowing freely. “But I can stop making it worse. I can step back and let you heal without me hurting you anymore.”

Lucia wanted to believe this was genuine. Wanted to think that maybe grief had actually changed Margaret into someone capable of remorse.

But she’d been manipulated too many times to trust easily.

“You need to leave now.” Her voice came steady despite the emotions churning inside her. “You said your piece Now go

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Chapter 100

“I’m going” Margaret wiped her face one more time. “But I want you to know something. I know you probably don’t care. I know you have no reason to care. But I want you to know anyway.”

She looked directly at Lucia. “You’re a better woman than I’ll ever be. You’re a better mother. A better person. And your children are lucky to have you.”

Then she turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd of shoppers without looking back.

Lucia stood frozen, her hands still gripping the shopping cart, her mind trying to process what had just happened.

“Mom?” Monica’s voice came small. “Was that real?”

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