Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

A day into Germany, Alex knocked on her door.

“I have something planned for today,” he said.

Lucia looked up from her breakfast. “What kind of something?”

“A fresh start needs a fresh look.”

Two hours later, a procession arrived at the villa.

Lucia stood in the foyer watching. Three women. Two men. Cases and bags and garment carriers.

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“This is Marta,” Alex said. “Best stylist in Munich. Dr. Werner for skin. Klaus for hair. Sabine and Petra for makeup and nas.”

A team. An entire team.

“Alex, this is too much.”

“No. This is necessary.” He looked at her. Serious. “How you present yourself matters. How you feel when you walk into a

room.”

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How she felt when she walked into a room.

Invisible. That’s how. She’d always felt invisible.

“Okay,” she said quietly.

They took over the villa’s largest bathroom. Turned it into a salon.

Marta started with questions. Rapid fire.

“What colors do you usually wear?”

“Pastels. Beige. Neutral things.”

“Why?”

Lucia hesitated. “I was told they suited me.”

Marta’s lips thinned. “And what colors do you actually like?”

She thought about it. “Red. Deep red. Black. Navy blue.”

“Good. Power colors. Colors that command attention.”

Klaus circled her. Studying her hair.

“When did you last cut this?” he asked.

“Six months ago. Maybe longer.”

“Why so long?”

“I. I was told by Marco to keep it that way.”

Klaus made a sound. Disapproving. “We change everything. Something modern. Sharp. Something that says you’re in

14:17 Sat, May 30

Chapter 9

control.”

In control.

The opposite of what she’d been.

They started.

Dr. Werner examined her skin. Prescribed treatments. Said it was tired. Stressed.

Klaus washed her hair. Then the scissors came out. And he cut.

Lucia watched. Chunk after chunk falling away. Shorter. Shorter than it had been in years.

“Breathe,” Klaus said. “You’re holding your breath.”

She exhaled.

He kept cutting. Shaping. Then highlights. Rich tones. Depth.

Sabine worked on her face. Foundation. Contour.

“Your bone structure is excellent,” Sabine said. “You just never emphasized it.”

Petra did her nails. Clean. Sharp. Deep red.

Hours passed.

Then Marta returned with the wardrobe.

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Clothes Lucia had never worn. Structured blazers. Tailored pants. Silk blouses. Dresses that hugged curves she’d hidden.

“Try this.” Marta said. Handed her a black dress. Simple. Elegant.

Lucia put it on. The fabric felt expensive. The cut made her stand straighter.

“Ready?” Marta asked.

“I think so.”

She stepped out.

Marta smiled. First one she’d seen from the woman. “Perfect.”

Klaus nodded. Satisfied.

Petra clapped. “Incredible.”

“We should show Alex,” Marta said.

They went downstairs. Lucia’s heels clicked on the marble.

Alex stood in the living room. Looking at his phone. Lena sat nearby. Reading.

“Mr. Kane,” Marta called. “The transformation is complete.”

Alex looked up.

And stopped.

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Chapter 9

His phone lowered. His mouth opened slightly. His eyes fixed on Lucia.

She felt heat rise to her cheeks. But she held her ground.

“Well?” Marta asked.

Alex didn’t answer. Couldn’t seem to form words.

Lena looked up. Saw her father’s face. Grinned.

She stood. Walked over to him. Snapped her fingers in front of his face.

“Dad. You’re drooling.”

Alex blinked. Closed his mouth.

“I. Sorry. You look.” He shook his head. “Lucia. Incredible.”

“Thank you,” she managed.

Lena rolled her eyes. “He’s trying to say you look like a queen. But his brain stopped working.”

Lucia laughed.

Marta cleared her throat. “The rest of the wardrobe is upstairs. I’ll leave my card.“”

The team packed up. Said goodbye. Left.

The villa went quiet.

Lucia stood there. In her dress. Feeling like someone else.

Alex was still looking at her.

“I should change,” she said. “This is too formal for dinner at home.”

“Don’t.” The word came quick. “I mean. You don’t have to. You look. You should feel this way all the time.”

Her phone buzzed. On the table where she’d left it.

She picked it up. Notification. Instagram.

She should ignore it. She’d deleted the app. But somehow it was still sending alerts.

She looked.

And her stomach dropped.

Marco had posted. New photo. Him and Margaret. Dressed up. Fancy restaurant.

Caption: “Celebrating our engagement. Can’t wait to make it official.”

Engagement.

He was celebrating.

While she was here. Alone. Starting over from nothing.

The room tilted.

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14:18 Sat, May 30

Chapter 9

“Lucia?” Alex’s voice. Distant.

She stared at the photo. Margaret smiling. Wearing a ring. A big one.

Marco looking at her like she was everything.

He never looked at Lucia like that. Not once. Not in seventeen years.

Her hands shook.

“Lucia.” Alex again. Closer now.

She looked up. Vision blurry. “He’s engaged. To her. Already.”

Alex took the phone from her hands. Looked at it. His jaw tightened.

“He’s doing this deliberately,” Alex said. “Posting it where he knows you’ll see.”

“I deleted the app.”

“Doesn’t matter. He found a way.”

Of course he did.

Lena appeared beside her. “Don’t look at that garbage. He’s trying to hurt you.”

“It’s working,” Lucia whispered.

She thought she was past this. Thought she was moving forward.

But seeing them. Together. Celebrating. While she was.

What? Getting a makeover? Playing dress up?

Was any of this real? Or was she just pretending?

“Hey.” Alex’s voice. Firm. He stepped in front of her. Blocked her view of the phone. “Look at me.”

She looked.

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“This is what he wants,” Alex said. “He wants you to see this and break. He wants you to feel worthless. Small. Like you can’t survive without him.”

“Maybe I can’t.”

“You already are. You’re here. You’re transforming. You’re building something new.”

“Am I? Or am I just hiding in Germany playing pretend?”

“This isn’t pretend. This is preparation.”

Preparation.