Rise of the Formidable Ex-wife (Lucia and Alex) novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

Chapter 97

tucas stared at the Westbridge Academy acceptance letter lying on his desk, the cream-colored paper now wrinkled from his nervous handling. The deadline for tuition payment was printed in bold letters at the bottom, seven days away. Seven days to secure funding for the education he trad-dreamed about since childhood, or watch his future slip away because his father could no longer afford the luxury of his children’s dreams.

“We have to try,” Monica said from where she sat on his bed, her voice barely above a whisper. “Even if she says no, we have to try.”

Lucas looked at his sister, seeing his own desperation reflected in her eyes. Just days ago, they had watched their mother on television, announcing her engagement to Alexander Kane with joy radiating from her face. She had looked so happy, so settled in her new life. A life that didn’t include them.

“What if she won’t see us?” Lucas asked.

“Then we’ll wait until she does,” Monica replied firmly. “This is your future, Lucas. Your entire life. We can’t let our mistakes destroy that too.”

The acceptance letter felt heavier than paper should when Lucas folded it carefully and slipped it into his jacket pocket. Every time he looked at it, he thought about all the late nights studying, all the applications he had filled out, all the dreams he had built around getting into Westbridge Academy.

“Dad said he couldn’t afford it,” Lucas said quietly. “When I showed him the letter, he just looked at it and said the money wasn’t there anymore.”

“Because of the business problems,” Monica added. “I heard him on the phone with his lawyers again last night. Something about audits and federal investigations.”

They both knew their family was falling apart, though they didn’t understand all the details. Their father seemed distracted and angry all the time. Margaret had been acting strange since their mother’s engagement announcement, either crying behind closed doors or snapping at everyone for minor things.

“Okay,” Lucas said, standing up. “Let’s go.”

The drive to Hart Industries felt endless. Neither sibling spoke, both lost in their own thoughts about what they would say to the mother who had rejected them, who had made it clear that they were no longer welcome in her life.

The receptionist looked surprised when they announced themselves. “Lucas and Monica Hart to see Lucia Smith,” Lucas said, his voice steadier than he felt.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but please tell her it’s urgent. About education,” Monica added quickly.

After what felt like an eternity, they were directed to the same conference room where Margaret had confronted Lucia just days earlier. Lucas could feel the ghosts of that conversation lingering in the air. Anger, desperation, threats.

Lucia entered the room exactly five minutes later, her presence commanding immediate attention. She wore a charcoal gray suit that spoke of success and authority, her hair pulled back in a style that suggested she had more important things to worry about than personal appearance.

“Lucas. Monica.” She acknowledged them with professional politeness, her voice giving nothing away.

“Thank you for seeing us,” Lucas said, his hands clasped tightly in his lap to keep them from shaking.

Lucia took a seat across from them, maintaining physical distance while her eyes studied their faces. “What’s this about?”

Lucas pulled the Westbridge Academy letter from his pocket and placed it on the table between them. “I got accepted to Westbridge Academy. Full academic program, advanced placement track.”

Lucia’s eyes flicked to the letter, and for just a moment, Lucas thought he saw something soften in her expression. Pride, maybe. Or the ghost of the mother who used to celebrate his achievements.

“Congratulations,” she said quietly. “That’s a significant accomplishment.”

“The tuition deadline is in seven days,” Lucas continued, his voice growing stronger. “Dad can’t afford it. The business is failing, and with everything that’s happening.”

He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence. How do you tell your mother that your father is facing criminal charges? That the family finances are in ruins because of fraud and poor decisions?

“You want me to pay for your education,” Lucia said. It wasn’t a question.

“I want to earn it,” Lucas corrected quickly. “I’ll work, I’ll take loans, I’ll do whatever it takes to pay you back. But I need help

Chapter 97

with the initial payment to secure my spot.”

Monica leaned forward. “We know we don’t deserve to ask you for anything. We know we hurt you terribly when we chose Dad over you. But Lueas has worked so hard for this. His grades, his test scores, his applications, he did everything right.”

Lucia was quiet for a long moment, her gaze moving between the letter and her children’s faces. Lucas could see her internal struggle, the mother who wanted to protect her child’s future warring with the woman who had been deeply betrayed by these same children

“Why should I care about Lucas’s future?” Lucia asked finally. “When I was thrown out of your lives, when I was told I wasn’t wanted anymore, did either of you care about my future?”

The words hit Lucas like physical blows. “We were wrong.”

“You were children,” Lucia cut him off. “But old enough to make choices. Old enough to understand consequences. You chose your father and Margaret over the woman who raised you. You chose material comfort over family loyalty.”

“We know,” Monica said, tears starting to flow down her cheeks. “We know we were wrong. We know we can’t undo what we did. But please don’t let our mistakes destroy Lucas’s chance at a good education.”

Lucia stood and walked to the window, looking out at the city spread below. “Do you know what I was doing fifteen years ago, Lucas?”

Lucas shook his head, though she couldn’t see him.

“I was giving up my own chance to go back to school,” Lucia continued. “I had been accepted to graduate programs, had opportunities to build my own career. But your father needed support for his business, and we needed someone to manage the household, and I chose to sacrifice my dreams for the family’s stability.”

She turned back to face them. “I told myself it was temporary. That once the business was established, once you children were older, I would have my turn. But that turn never came, did it?”

Lucas felt shame wash over him as he remembered how his mother had always been there, helping with homework, attending school events, managing their schedules while his father focused on building his empire.

“You took my sacrifice for granted,” Lucia said quietly. “All of you. You assumed I would always be there, always be available, always put everyone else’s needs before my own. And when your father decided he was bored with our life, you helped him throw me away like I was nothing.”

“We didn’t understand,” Monica started.

“You didn’t want to understand,” Lucia corrected. “Because understanding would have required effort. It would have required questioning your father’s version of events. It would have required choosing the harder path.”

The room fell silent except for the sound of Monica’s quiet crying. Lucas stared at the Westbridge Academy letter on the table, wondering if his dreams were about to die because of choices he had made months ago.

“But,” Lucia said, her voice softening slightly, “you’re still my son.”

Lucas’s head snapped up, hope flaring in his chest.

“You’re still the little boy I helped with science projects and math homework. You’re still the teenager I drove to debate tournaments and college interviews.” Lucia moved back to her chair. “And I won’t let your father’s failures or your poor choices destroy your potential.”

“Mom,” Lucas whispered, the word slipping out before he could stop it.

“I’ll cover your tuition,” Lucia said, her voice businesslike despite the emotion in her eyes. “Full payment for all four years, as long as you maintain your grades and stay out of trouble.”

“Thank you,” Lucas breathed. “Thank you so much. I’ll pay you back, I promise.”

“This isn’t a loan,” Lucia interrupted. “Consider it an investment in your future. The future your mother always wanted fox you, even when you didn’t want her.”

Monica was sobbing openly now. “Mom, I’m so sorry. We’re both so sorry for everything we did to you.”

“I know you are,” Lucia said quietly. “But sorry doesn’t undo the damage. Sorry doesn’t heal the wounds you helped create.”

“What can we do?” Lucas asked desperately. “How can we prove that we’ve learned from our mistakes?”

Lucia studied their faces for a long moment. “You can live better lives. You can make better choices. You can become the people I raised you to be instead of the people fear and selfishness turned you into.”

She stood, signaling that the meeting was coming to an end. “You can also understand that this gesture doesn’t mean everything is forgiven. It doesn’t mean we’re a family again. It means I refuse to let your education suffer because of adult failures.”

Chapter 97

Lucas nodded, understanding the boundaries she was setting. “I understand.”

hly assistant will contact Westbridge Academy directly about the payment,” Lucia continued. “You won’t have to worry about the deadline.”

As they prepared to leave, Monica hesitated at the door. “Mom? Could I… could I hug you? Just once? Before we go?” Lucia’s expression softened almost imperceptibly. For a moment, Lucas saw the mother he remembered, the woman who had comforted them through nightmares and celebrated their victories.

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