Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 78

Chapter 78

Chapter 78

The message same at seven in the evening.

Lucia had just stepped out of the shower. Her hair was still darnp, falling over her shoulders. The bathroom mirror was fogged, hiding her reflection, and for once she was grateful for it. She did not want to look at herself. Not tonight.

Her phone buzzed on the bed.

She almost ignored it.

Almost.

Then she walked over, slow, tired, like her body was heavier than usual, and picked it up.

Alexander.

“Wear something comfortable. I’m picking you up in an hour. No questions.”

Lucia stared at the words.

No questions.

A small breath left her.

The day had been too much. Too loud. Too sharp.

Marco’s face when she announced the audit. The way his hands shook even when he tried to hide it. The fear in his eyes. Real fear. Not anger. Not arrogance. Fear.

Margaret’s attack replaying over and over in her mind. The scream. The hate. The look in her eyes when she tried to hit her. Not just anger. Something uglier. Something desperate.

And then the video. The comments. The endless noise.

Lucia pressed her fingers to her temple.

She was tired.

Not just physically.

Something deeper..

Her mind would not stop moving. Planning. Calculating. Watching for the next move. The next strike. The next weakness

to use.

She had become too sharp.

Too aware.

Too ready to hurt.

And now Alexander wanted to take her somewhere.

Somewhere without questions.

She closed her eyes.

For a second, she wanted to say no.

She wanted to stay here. Stay in control. Stay in her world where everything made sense because she controlled it.

But another part of her was so tired of that control.

So tired of always being strong.

She typed back.

“Okay.”

She dropped the phone on the bed and stood there for a long moment.

Then she opened her closet.

Rows of designer clothes stared back at her. Expensive. Perfect. Powerful.

Armor.

That was what they were now.

Every dress chosen to make a statement.

Every suit chosen to intimidate.

Successfully unlocked!

Chapter 78

Every detail chosen to remind the world she was not weak anymore.

She reached for a black dress

Stopped.

Then slowly pulled her hand back.

No.

Not tonight.

She moved to the other side of the closet. The part she had not touched in months.

Softer things.

Simpler things.

She pulled out a navy blue dress.

Soft fabric.

Light.

Nothing special.

Nothing that screamed power.

Just something she could breathe in.

She changed slowly.

No heavy makeup.

No sharp lines.

Just enough to look like herself.

Or maybe someone she used to be.

When she stepped out, she paused by the mirror.

The fog had cleared.

She looked at herself.

For a moment, she did not see the Chairwoman.

She did not see the woman who destroyed people.

She saw someone… quieter.

It scared her.

The doorbell rang.

Her heart jumped.

She grabbed her bag and walked out before she could change her mind.

Alexander was already outside when she stepped out.

He leaned against the car.

No suit.

No tie.

Just a light linen shirt, sleeves rolled up, and dark pants.

Relaxed.

Different.

And somehow more dangerous than ever.

Not because of power.

Because he looked… real.

His eyes lifted when he saw her.

For a second, he just stared.

Then something softened in his face.

“You look…” He stopped.

Chapter 78

Lucia felt her chest tighten.

What?

“Like you,” he said quietly.

Her breath caught

He opened the passenger door for her.

No more words.

Just that.

She got in.

The drive was quiet.

Not uncomfortable.

Just… quiet.

The city lights moved past them.

Lucia leaned her head back slightly, watching them blur.

She did not ask where they were going.

She trusted him.

That realization came suddenly.

And it unsettled her.

She had not trusted anyone in a long time.

Not like this.

The car slowed.

Then stopped.

She looked outside.

The harbor.

The smell of salt hit her first.

Then the sound of water.

Soft.

Gentle.

Nothing like the noise in her head.

Alexander stepped out and came around to her side.

“Come,” he said, holding out his hand.

She took it without thinking.

His hand was warm.

Steady.

Grounding.

They walked down the dock together.

Boats moved softly in the water. Lights reflected in small broken patterns. The air was cooler here. Cleaner.

Lucia took a deeper breath.

Then another.

Her shoulders dropped without her realizing it.

Alexander led her forward.

Then she saw it.

The yacht.

It was beautiful.

Not loud.

Chapter 78 Not flashy.

Just elegant

Lights glowed softly along the edges. The deck looked warm, inviting. Like it was meant for quiet nights, not parties.

“When did you get this?” she asked.

“Last week.”

She turned to him, surprised.

“For me?”

“For us,” he said.

Something in her chest tightened again.

They stepped on board.

The yacht moved slightly under her feet.

She instinctively grabbed his arm.

He smiled faintly.

“I’ve got you.”

The engine started.

Low.

Smooth.

The dock slowly moved away.

The city started to fade.

Lucia walked to the railing.

She watched Manhattan shrink behind them.

The lights that once felt powerful now looked small.

Distant.

Her world.

Her war.

Her battles.

All of it felt… far.

For the first time in months, her mind quieted.

Not completely.

But enough.

Alexander came to stand beside her.

He handed her a glass.

She looked at it.

Champagne.

She took it.

Their fingers brushed.

That small touch sent something warm through her.

“I thought you needed this,” he said.

She looked at him.

“Needed what?”

“A break.”

Her throat tightened.

“You’ve been fighting nonstop,” he continued. “Every day. Every hour. You don’t stop. You don’t breathe. You don’t rest.”

His voice softened.

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“You don’t get to just be.”

Her eyes burned

No one had said that to her.

No one had noticed.

Or maybe no one cared enough to say it.

“I don’t know how to stop,” she admitted quietly.

“I know.”

They stood there in silence for a while.

Just watching the water.

Listening to the soft movement of the yacht.

Lucia took a sip of champagne.

It tasted light.

Different from the sharp bitterness she had grown used to.

The yacht slowed.

Then stopped.

They were alone now.

Surrounded by water.

The city far behind them.

The sky above was clear.

Full of stars.

Lucia had not looked at stars in a long time.

She forgot they existed.

Dinner was already set on the deck.

Simple.

Soft lighting.

Nothing overwhelming.

They sat across from each other.

Close.

Too close.

But she did not move away.

They ate slowly.

Talking about small things.

Not business.

Not revenge.

Just… things.

Normal things.

Lucia found herself laughing once.

Then again.

It felt strange.

Like using a muscle she had not used in years.

After dinner, Alexander stood.

“Come with me,” he said.

She followed.

He led her to the back of the yacht.

Chapter 78

“Look,” he said.

She frowned slightly, then looked down.

At first she did not understand.

Then she saw it.

The name.

Painted clearly.

Elegant.

THE RISE OF LUCIA

Her breath stopped.

Her fingers lifted slowly, touching the letters.

Her name.

Her story.

Written on something real.

Something that moved.

Something that carried her away from everything.

“You…” Her voice broke. “You named it after me?”

He did not answer immediately.

He just watched her.

“You rose,” he said finally. “From everything they tried to bury you under.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“You were never nothing. They just refused to see what you were.”

A tear slipped down her cheek.

She did not wipe it.

“I saw you,” he said.

Another tear fell.

“I see you.”

She turned to him.

Her heart was beating too fast now.

Too loud.

He stepped closer.

Not rushing.

Not pushing.

Just… there.

‘I should have told you sooner,” he said.

His voice was quieter now.

More careful.

“But I didn’t want to take anything from you. Not your focus. Not your strength. Not your control.”

Lucia’s hands trembled slightly.

She knew

She knew what he was going to say.

And it scared her.

More than anything else had scared her.

“I love you,” he said.

The words landed softly.

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But they shook her.

#Tove you,” he repeated. “Not the woman who destroys. Not the woman who wins. Just you.”

Her breath caught.

“I love the way you fight. The way you survive. The way you feel everything so deeply even when you hide it.”

He stepped closer.

“I love all of it.”

Lucia felt like something inside her was breaking open.

“I don’t expect anything from you,” he said. “I just needed you to know.”

Silence.

The world felt still.

Too still.

“I’m not… whole,” she whispered.

Her voice shook.

ト

“I’m not the same person anymore. I don’t even recognize myself sometimes.”

Her eyes filled again.

“I hurt people now. I plan it. I use their weaknesses. I don’t hesitate.”

She looked at him.

“How can you love that?”

Alexander reached out slowly.

He touched her face.

Gentle.

“You didn’t become something else,” he said. “You became more.”

She shook her head.

“I became harder.”

“Yes.”

“I became colder.”

“Yes.”

“I became someone who destroys.”

“Yes.”

His hand stayed on her face.

“And I still love you.”

Her breath broke.

“Because you didn’t lose yourself,” he continued. “You just stopped letting people walk over you.”

A tear slid down.