Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 3

Then she saw it.

A mansion.

Actual mansion with columns and big windows and gardens.

“You live here?” The words came out small.

“Yeah.” He parked in front of wide stone steps. “Come on.”

The front door was huge. Wood with carvings. He pushed it open.

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Inside was. She didn’t have words. Marble floors. A staircase that curved up. Paintings. A chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

“This way.” Alex led her through hallways. Past rooms she couldn’t look at properly. Her mind was too tired.

He stopped at a door. Opened it. “Guest room. The bathroom is through there.” He pointed. “Take a hot shower. I’ll find you something to wear.”

She walked in. The room was bigger than the bedroom she used to have.

Used to. Past tense.

The bed had white sheets. Fluffy pillows.

“Lucia.” Alex’s voice made her turn. “You’re safe here. Okay?”

He left. Closed the door.

She stood there. Dripping water on expensive carpet.

The bathroom. Right.

She walked through the door. Marble everywhere. A tub big enough to swim in. A shower with glass walls.

She turned on the water. Steam filled the space.

She peeled off her dress. It fell in a wet heap. She stepped into the shower.

The water burned her skin. She didn’t care.

She stood under the spray until her fingers pruned.

When she got out, there were towels. Big. Soft. White.

And clothes on the counter. A t–shirt. Sweatpants. Too big for her. Must be Alex’s.

She put them on. Rolled up the pants.

Back in the bedroom, she sat on the edge of the bed. Stared at her hands.

A knock on the door.

“Come in,” she said.

Alex walked in with a tray. A mug. Steam rising from it.

“Tea,” he said. “Chamomile. My daughter swears by it.”

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Chapter 3

Daughter.

Alex had a daughter.

Eighteen years. People had whole lives in that time.

“Thank you.” She took the mug. Wrapped her hands around it.

He sat in a chair across from the bed. “Do you want to talk about it?”

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“Marco left me.” The words tumbled out. “Tonight. At our anniversary party. In front of everyone. He’s been with someone else for two years. The kids knew. They wanted him to leave me.”

Saying it made it real. Made it hurt more.

“I’m sorry,” Alex said.

“Why were you on that bridge?” she asked.

He was quiet for a moment. “I was driving home. Saw someone on the railing. I stopped.”

“You didn’t know it was me?”

“Not until I grabbed you.” He leaned forward. “Lucia, what were you doing?”

She couldn’t answer that.

“I didn’t know where else to go,” she whispered instead.

“You can stay here. As long as you need.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

Because she’d already taken too much from people. Because she was a burden.

“Stay,” Alex said. “At least for a week. Figure out your next steps.”

A week.

Then what?

But she nodded.

“Try to sleep,” Alex said. He stood. Walked to the door. “I’m down the hall if you need anything.”

He left.

She put the mug on the nightstand. Lay down. Pulled the covers up.

The sheets smelled clean. Fresh. Nothing like before.

She closed her eyes. Didn’t think she’d sleep. But exhaustion pulled her under anyway.

When she woke, sunlight streamed through the windows. Bright. Harsh.

For a second she didn’t know where she was. Then it all came back.

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Chapter 3

She sat up. Her body ached. Her head pounded.

A clock on the nightstand said 9:47.

Her phone. Where was her phone?

She found it on the dresser. Alex must have brought it in.

She turned it on. Messages flooded in.

Marco. Seventeen of them.

She scrolled past those.

Then she saw one from an unknown number.

She opened it.

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“Hi Lucia! It’s Margaret. Marco gave me your number. Hope you don’t mind! Quick question, where do you keep your face products? I want to try your routine. Your skin always looked so glowy!”

Lucia stared at the screen.

Face products?

She hadn’t used face products in years. Just soap. Water. Whatever was cheap at the store.

But Margaret thought. Margaret assumed.

Another message came through.

“Also, do you have a specific brand for your hair? It always looked so shiny!”

Shiny.

Lucia touched her hair. Dry. Frizzy. Damaged from years of cheap shampoo.

She wanted to throw the phone. Wanted to scream.

But she did nothing. Just turned the phone off. Put it back on the dresser

A knock on the door.

“Come in,” she said.

The door burst open. A girl bounced in. Curly dark hair. Big smile. Energy radiating off her.

“Hi! You’re awake! Dad said not to bother you but I couldn’t wait anymore. I’m Lena!”

Lena. Alex’s daughter.

“Hi,” Lucia managed.

“Dad said you’re staying with us for a bit. That’s so cool. We never have guests. Well, we do but they’re boring business people. You’re different. I can tell.”

The girl talked fast. Bright. Bubbly.

“I’m Lucia,” she said.

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Chapter 3

“I know! Dad told me. He said you were friends a long time ago. Like before I was born.”

Lena sat on the edge of the bed. Uninvited but somehow not intrusive.

“How old are you?” Lucia asked.

“Fifteen. Well, fifteen and a half.”

Same age as Lucas.

The thought stabbed.

“Are you okay?” Lena’s smile faded. “You look sad.”

“I’m fine,” Lucia lied.

“Dad says that too. When he’s not fine. Adults always say they’re fine.”

Smart kid.

“I have kids,” Lucia said. Didn’t know why she said it. “Three of them.”

“Cool! Where are they?”

“They don’t want me.”

Lena’s face scrunched up. “That’s stupid. Kids always want their moms.”

If only.

“My mom died,” Lena said. Casual. “Cancer. I was five. I barely remember her.”

“I’m sorry.”

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“It’s okay. I mean it’s not. But I’m okay. Dad made sure.” Lena picked at the blanket. “He’s really good at taking care of people. Even when he’s sad. He was really sad after Mom died.”

Ten years. Alex’s wife died ten years ago.

“You live in this huge place,” Lucia said. “Just the two of you?”

“Yep. Well, and the staff. Maria cooks. Roberto does the gardens.” Lena shrugged. “It’s a lot of space. Gets lonely sometimes. But Dad works a lot. Building companies. I don’t really get it. Just know he’s really rich.”

Extremely wealthy. Looking around, it was obvious.

“Must be nice,” Lucia said.

“Sometimes.” Lena’s smile came back. “Other times it’s weird. People at school treat me different. They want to be my friend because of Dad’s money. Not because they like me.”

“That sounds hard.”

“It is. But you learn who’s real and who’s fake pretty fast.” Lena stood. “Anyway! Dad said to tell you breakfast is ready when you want.”

Lucia looked at the clock. Almost ten.

“Come down when you’re ready!” Lena headed for the door. Turned back. “I’m really glad you’re here. The house feels less

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