Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2

KIRA

Lucia didn’t plan to walk to the bridge. Her feet just took her there.

The river below was black. Angry. Water rushing fast and loud.

She gripped the railing. Metal cold. Wet. Slippery.

How did she get here? Just walking. Walking. Then the bridge.

The water below looked like it could swallow everything. All the hurt. All the pain.

Her phone buzzed.

Marco.

“Where are you? People are asking questions. You’re embarrassing me.”

She stared at the screen. Her fingers shook.

Embarrassing him.

Another buzz.

“Answer me, Lucia. Don’t make this worse than it already is.”

She didn’t respond.

Her phone kept buzzing. Message after message.

“If you’re trying to get attention, it won’t work. I’m done with your drama. Answer me now.”

“You’re being childish.”

“Grow up, Lucia.”

“Think about the children. You’re embarrassing them too.”

The children.

But Marco was worried about embarrassing them?

She looked at the railing. At the gap between the bars.

55 vouchers

No job. She stopped working when Ria was born. Marco said they didn’t need her income. Said she should focus on the family.

So she did.

No career. No money of her own. Nothing.

Where was she supposed to go?

The house was Margaret’s. Everything in Marco’s name.

Her friends? Couple friends. Marco’s work friends and their wives. They’d pick his side.

Her family? Her parents died five years ago. Car accident. She had no siblings.

14:14 Sat, May 30

Chapter 2

No one.

The river kept rushing below.

Her phone buzzed again.

55 vouchers

“Fine. Don’t answer. But you’re signing more papers tomorrow. My lawyer will contact you. Don’t make this difficult.”

She turned the phone off. Shoved it in her pocket.

Before Marco, there was someone else. Not a boyfriend. A friend.

Alexander.

Alex.

Her best friend since she was seven. They grew up on the same street. Rode bikes together. Did homework together. Told each other everything.

When she got engaged to Marco, Alex stopped talking to her. Just like that. One day they were best friends. The next day he was gone.

She tried calling. Texting. He never answered.

That was eighteen years ago. She hadn’t seen him since.

Another person who left her.

Who would want her now? No job. No skills. No money. Three kids who hated her.

No one.

She climbed onto the first bar of the railing. Her bare feet slipped. She gripped tighter.

The water looked closer. Darker.

Her heart pounded against her ribs.

Ria with tiny fingers wrapped around her thumb. Lucia used to sing lullabies. Made up songs.

That baby told her to leave tonight.

Lucas scared of shadows. Loud noises. Dogs. Lucia held him through it all.

That boy said everyone knew Marco was unhappy. Except stupid Lucia.

Monica. Pink and screaming and perfect when she was born.

That girl laughed when Lucia signed the divorce papers.

How did she lose them?

The rain fell harder. Her dress stuck to her skin. Heavy.

She climbed higher. Second bar. Her feet barely fit. She wobbled.

The water roared below.

What would happen if she jumped?

14:14 Sat, May 30

Chapter 2

Marco would be relieved. No messy divorce. He’d comfort Margaret. Play the grieving husband.

Poor Marco. So tragic.

The kids would be fine. They had Margaret.

They didn’t need Lucia.

Nobody did.

What was the point? Get a job at a store? Rent a tiny apartment? Start over?

Her bones hurt. Her heart hurt. Everything hurt.

Maybe it was easier to just stop.

She looked down at the water. It didn’t look scary anymore. It looked peaceful. Final.

She let go with one hand. Held on with just the other.

The wind pushed against her.

She closed her eyes. Took a breath.

Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad.

She let go with the other hand.

For a second she just stood there. Balanced.

Then her foot slipped.

Wet metal. No grip.

She was falling.

No.

Wait.

Her arms flailed. Reaching for anything.

Just air.

The water rushed up.

Wrong wrong wrong.

She wanted to scream but her throat closed.

Falling. Fast.

A sound behind her. Footsteps? Running?

She didn’t have time to look.

The wind howled in her ears. Or was that her own breath? Her own terror?

Faster.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify