Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77

Chapter 77

The email came at exactly eight in the morning.

Marco was already in his office. He had not slept much. Maybe two hours. Maybe less. His head was heavy. His eyes ourned. The coffee in front of him had gone cold, but he had not even taken a sip.

His phone buzzed once.

Then again.

Then his laptop chimed.

He frowned and reached for the mouse.

Company-wide email.

Subject line.

Mandatory Financial Audit.

His chest tightened before he even opened it.

He clicked.

He read it once.

Then again.

Then slower.

Every word pressing into him like weight.

Effective immediately, Hart Industries will undergo a full financial audit conducted by Preston and Associates. All

departments are required to provide complete access to financial records, vendor contracts, expense reports, and banking statements dating back seven years. Full cooperation is mandatory.”

Signed.

Lucia Smith.

Chairwoman.

Marco stared at the screen.

Seven years.

Seven.

His fingers tightened on the edge of the desk.

That was not a normal audit.

That was not routine.

That was not checking numbers.

That was digging.

That was searching.

That was exposure.

His throat went dry.

He leaned back slowly, staring at nothing now.

Seven years.

That covered everything.

Every move he made to keep the company alive when things started slipping.

Every decision he told himself was necessary.

Every shortcut.

Every hidden transaction.

Every lie dressed up as strategy.

His heart started beating faster.

Too fast

Chapter 77

No.

No, no, no.

He grabbed his phone and called his CFO.

It rang once.

Twice.

“Sir.”.

“Did you see the email?” Marco’s voice came out tight.

“Yes. I just saw it.”

“What is this?” Marco snapped. “Seven years? Forensic auditors? This is not normal.”

There was a pause.

Then a careful voice.

“It is not normal, sir. This is… serious.”

Marco stood up abruptly, pacing.

“Can we delay it?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Find a way.”

“Sir, she is the Chairwoman now. Majority shareholder. If she orders an audit, we comply.”

Marco stopped walking.

“She can’t just walk in and tear everything apart like this.”

“She can, sir.”

Silence.

Marco’s jaw clenched.

“This will expose things,” he said quietly.

Another pause.

“Sir… if there is anything in the records… anything questionable… forensic accountants will find it.”

Marco closed his eyes.

Of course they would.

That was their job.

To find what people tried to hide.

To connect what others tried to separate.

To see through what looked normal.

“I need options,” Marco said.

“There are none, sir.”

The line went quiet for a moment.

Then softer.

“You need to prepare.”

The call ended.

Marco lowered the phone slowly.

Prepare.

For what?

For questions?

For explanations?

For prison?

His chest tightened again.

Chapter 77

He turned sharply and walked out of his office.

he hallway felt different now.

Colder

Like everyone knew something he didn’t.

Like the walls were watching him.

He walked straight to the Chairman’s office.

No.

Lucia’s office.

The nameplate hit him again.

Lucia Smith.

Chairwoman.

His hand hovered near the door for a second.

This used to be his space.

His decisions.

His control.

Now he had to knock.

He knocked.

“Come in.”

Her voice was calm.

Too calm.

He pushed the door open.

Lucia sat behind the desk like she had always belonged there.

Files open in front of her.

Reading glasses low on her nose.

Focused.

Composed.

Untouchable.

She did not even look surprised to see him.

“Mr. Hart,” she said without looking up. “What do you need?”

Mr. Hart.

Not Marco.

Not even a glance of familiarity.

Just distance.

Just authority.

“The audit,” he said.

She turned a page.

“What about it?”

“Seven years is excessive.”

Now she looked up.

Her eyes were steady.

Cold.

“Is it?”

“Yes. It is. One year is standard. Two at most. Seven is unnecessary.”

She studied him for a moment.

Chapter 77

Not angry.

Notenutional

Just watching.

“Or,” she said quietly, “you are afraid of what seven years might show.”

Marco felt something twist in his chest:

“I am not afraid.”

“Then there is no problem.”

She looked back down at her file.

Dismissed.

Just like that.

Marco stepped closer.

“This is disruptive,” he said. “You will shut down operations. The entire finance team will be tied up. Productivity will drop.”

“That is acceptable.”

“Acceptable?” His voice rose. “This company is already struggling.”

“And I intend to find out why.”

“You already know why. Market shifts. Supplier losses.”

“Do I?”

She lifted her head again.

Slow.

Controlled.

“Or is that what you told yourself?”

Marco swallowed.

“You are overreacting.”

“No,” she said softly. “I am finally reacting properly.”

Silence filled the room.

Marco’s hands clenched.

“You don’t need this,” he said. “You have control now. You have the company. What more do you want?”

Her gaze sharpened.

“The truth.”

That word hit harder than anything else.

Marco looked away for a second.

Then back.

“There is nothing to find.”

She tilted her head slightly.

“Then you should not be worried.”

“I am not worried.”

“You are sweating.”

Marco froze.

His hand went to his collar without thinking.

Damn it.

He dropped it quickly.

“It is hot.”

“It is not ”

She held his gaze.

Chapter 77

Too steady.

60 knowing.

Preston and Associates specialize in uncovering hidden financial activity,” she continued. “Offshore accounts. Layered transactions. Inflated reporting. They are very good.”

Each word felt like a knife.

She knew.

Or she suspected enough.

Marco forced a laugh.

“You are being dramatic.”

“Am I?”

“Yes.”

She leaned back in her chair.

Calm.

“Then in six weeks, we will both have our answers.”

Six weeks.

The number hit him hard.

“Six weeks?” he repeated.

“Yes.”

“That is too long.”

“Only if you have something to hide.”

Marco slammed his hand on the desk.

“Stop saying that!”

Lucia did not flinch.

Not even a little.

Her calm made it worse.

Much worse.

“I built this company,” he said, his voice shaking now. “I kept it alive when it should have collapsed. I made hard decisions. Necessary decisions.”

“And now we will review those decisions,” she said.

“You do not understand what it takes.”

She leaned forward slightly.

“I understand more than you think.”

His breath caught.

“I was there, Marco,” she said quietly. “For every late-night call. Every deal. Every problem. You spoke. I listened.”

“You did not understand.”

“I did.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“I did.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Sharp.

“I just never mattered enough for you to care that I did.”

That landed.

Deep

Marco looked at her properly now.

Chapter 77

And for a second. something twisted in his chest.

Hegret.

But it was gone just as fast.

Replaced by fear.

“What do you want from me?” he asked.

“The truth.”

“I told you.”

“No You lied.”

His jaw tightened.

“I am not a criminal.”

“Then you have nothing to fear.”