Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Chapter 91

The living room fell silent except for the sound of the television news anchor’s voice filling the space with words that cut through Marco like knives. The entire family sat frozen on the couch, watching the screen where Lucia and Alexander stood together, radiating happiness that seerned to mock everything Marco had lost.

“In other news today, business power couple Lucia Smith and Alexander Kane have announced their engagement,” the anchor said with a bright smile. “The couple, who have known each other for several years, will marry next month in what sources call an intimate ceremony.”

Marco gripped the remote so tightly his knuckles turned white. On the screen, Lucia looked stunning in a navy dress, her brown hair perfectly styled, her face glowing with contentment. The massive diamond on her finger caught the studio lights, sending sparkles across the screen like tiny daggers aimed at Marco’s heart.

Alexander stood beside her with his hand on her back, protective and possessive in a way that made Marco’s jaw clench with rage. The man looked at Lucia like she was the most precious thing in the world, like she belonged to him completely. “We’re very excited about this new chapter in our lives,” Lucia said to the interviewer, her voice calm and confident.” Alexander and I have built something beautiful together, and we’re looking forward to building our future as a family.” Monica made a strangled sound beside Marco, her hand flying to her mouth as tears began streaming down her face. “She’ s really doing it. She’s really marrying him.”

Lucas stared at the screen with hollow eyes. “She looks so happy.”

“She looks like she never loved us at all,” Ria whispered, her voice breaking.

Margaret, who had been sulking since her parents’ visit, suddenly perked up with interest. “Well, good for her. At least someone in this family is moving forward with their life. Though that dress is a bit plain for such a momentous occasion.”

Marco shot his wife a look of pure venom, but Margaret seemed oblivious to his fury. She was too busy studying Lucia’s appearance with obvious envy and criticism.

“I mean, if I were announcing my engagement on national television, I’d choose something with more impact,” Margaret continued. “And that hair style is so conservative. She could have gone for something more youthful.”

“Shut up,” Lucas said quietly.

Margaret turned to him in surprise. “Excuse me?”

“I said shut up,” Lucas repeated, his voice deadly calm. “Stop talking about our mother like that.”

On the television, the interviewer leaned forward with professional curiosity. “Lucia, you’ve had quite a transformation over the past year. From managing a household to becoming Chairwoman of Hart Industries. How has that journey shaped you?”

Lucia’s smile was serene but powerful. “I’ve learned that we’re all stronger than we think we are. Sometimes losing everything is actually finding yourself. I’m grateful for every experience that led me to this moment.”

The words hit Marco like a physical blow. She was grateful. Grateful for losing her family, grateful for being thrown away, grateful for the destruction of their marriage. It was like she was thanking him for setting her free.

“And Alexander,” the interviewer continued, “you two have an interesting business partnership as well as a personal relationship. How do you balance both?”

Alexander smiled, his eyes never leaving Lucia’s face. “When you respect someone completely, when you value their intelligence and trust their judgment, there’s no conflict between business and personal life. Lucia makes me better in every aspect of my life.”

Monica sobbed openly now, her shoulders shaking with grief. “He talks about her the way Dad used to talk about her. The way Dad should still talk about her.”

Lucas’s hands clenched into fists on his knees. “The way Dad never should have stopped talking about her.”

Both of Marco’s children turned to look at him with expressions of pure accusation. Their eyes held pain, anger, and something worse, disappointment so deep it seemed to hollow out their faces.

“This is your fault,” Monica said, her voice thick with tears. “All of this. We could have been a family, but you threw her away for that.” She gestured toward Margaret, who was still absorbed in critiquing Lucia’s appearance.

“Mom is marrying someone else because you decided she wasn’t good enough for you,” Lucas added, his voice deadly quiet. “You destroyed our family for nothing.”

Marco felt his world spinning out of control. “I didn’t know.”

“You didn’t care,” Monica cut him off. “You didn’t care that she loved you. You didn’t care that she supported your dreams.

Chapter 91

You didn’t care that she gave up everything for our family.”

And now she’s happy without us,” Lucas said, his voice breaking. “Look at her, Dad. Look how beautiful and confident she 45 Look how Alexarider looks at her like she’s a queen. You never looked at her like that.”

Marco forced himself to watch the screen, where Lucia was laughing at something Alexander had said. The sound of her genuine joy was like actd in his veins, He had forgotten how beautiful her laugh was, how it used to light up rooms and make everyone around her smile.

“She deserves this,” Ria said quietly from the doorway: “She deserves someone who appreciates her.”

“She was my wife!” Marco exploded, his composure finally cracking completely. “She belongs with me! With our family!”

His children stared at him in shock. Margaret finally looked up from her phone, alarmed by the rage in his voice.

“She belongs with someone who loves her,” Monica said, her voice steady despite her tears. “Someone who doesn’t throw her away when a younger woman pays attention to him.”

“Someone who doesn’t replace her like she meant nothing,” Lucas added coldly.

Marco’s face twisted with fury. “I made a mistake.”

“You made a choice,” Ria corrected sadly. “You chose Margaret over the woman who gave you everything.”

Margaret shifted uncomfortably on the couch, finally understanding that this conversation was about more than just Lucia’ s engagement.

The interviewer’s voice cut through their family drama as the segment continued. “The wedding is planned for next month. Any details you can share about the ceremony?”

Lucia’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “We’re keeping it intimate. Just close family and friends. We want to focus on the commitment we’re making to each other and to our daughter Lena.”

“Our daughter Lena,” Marco repeated through gritted teeth. “She’s calling that girl our daughter.”

“Lena is more her daughter than we ever were,” Monica said bitterly. “At least Lena chose to love her instead of abandoning

her.”

The camera zoomed in on Lucia’s face as she spoke about their plans. Her skin was flawless, her expression radiant, her entire demeanor that of a woman who had found her place in the world. She looked nothing like the broken woman who had been humiliated at their anniversary party.

“She’s replaced us,” Lucas said hollowly. “Completely. She has a new family now.”

“Because we gave her no choice,” Ria added. “We made it clear we didn’t want her.”

Marco stood up abruptly, unable to watch anymore. “Turn it off.”

“No,” Monica said firmly. “We need to see this. We need to see what we lost.”

The interview was winding down, with final congratulations and well-wishes from the anchor. As the camera pulled back for a final shot, Alexander lifted Lucia’s hand to his lips and kissed her ring finger, the gesture so tender and loving that it made Marco want to put his fist through the television screen.

“Thank you for sharing your happiness with us,” the interviewer said. “We wish you both a lifetime of joy together.”

As the segment ended and commercial music began playing, Marco grabbed the remote and clicked off the television. The sudden silence felt deafening.

Margaret was staring at him with obvious suspicion. “What did Ria mean about offshore accounts? What fraud? Marco, what are they talking about?”

But Marco wasn’t listening to his wife’s questions. His mind was consumed with images of Lucia’s face, glowing with happiness as she stood beside another man. Alexander Kane, who had stolen everything from him.

“I need some air,” Marco muttered, stalking toward his study.

“Dad,” Monica started.

“Leave me alone,” Marco snarled, going into his office and slamming the door behind him.

The darkness was suffocating, but it did nothing to calm the rage burning in his chest. He paced the room like a caged animal, his mind replaying every moment of that interview, every smile on Lucia’s face, every tender look Alexander gave her. Somewhere out there, Lucia was celebrating her engagement to another man. Somewhere out there, she was planning a wedding that should have been impossible because she should still be his wife. She was choosing a future that didn’t include him or their children.

“She belongs to me,” Marco whispered to the darkness. “She’s mine. She’ll always be mine.”

Chapter 91

The rational part of his mind knew how insane he sounded. Lucia had every right to move on, to find happiness with

mone who valued her. But rationality had no place in the hurricane of fury and jealousy tearing through him.

–Alexander Kane had taken everything from him. His wife, his company, his children’s respect, his reputation. The man had

orchestrated Marco’s destruction-with surgical precision, all so he could claim the prize he had wanted all along.

“You think you’ve won, Marco said to the empty room, his voice gaining strength and conviction. “You think you can steal my life and make it yours. But you’re wrong.”

His phone buzzed with a notification. Against his better judgment, he looked at the screen and saw that social media was exploding with congratulations for the happy couple. Photos of Lucia and Alexander from tonight’s interview were being shared thousands of times, each post accompanied by hearts and celebration emojis.

Marco scrolled through the comments, each one a dagger to his pride:

“They’re perfect together!”

“She deserves this happiness after what she went through!”

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