The Double Life of My Pregnant Ex-Wife (Carmen and Marco) novel Chapter 24

Carmen sat at the edge of Vincent’s dining table, poring over the last batch of files Vincent’s network had unearthed. The room was dim, lit only by the chandelier overhead and the faint glow from her laptop. Every document she sifted through painted a picture that was more dangerous than she had expected.

“She’s aligning the De Lucas,” Carmen murmured, her voice quiet but sharp as she flipped through a stack of handwritten notes—ledgers and messages Arianna had been careful to keep hidden.

Vincent leaned back in his chair across the table, glass of whiskey in hand. “It’s bold, I’ll give her that,” he said, though his tone was laced with disdain. “She’s not just turning Marco into a pawn—she’s preparing for the next step.”

Carmen looked up, her face pale but resolute. “She’s uniting what’s left of the De Luca family under her command. Once she has Marco fully isolated and desperate, she’ll orchestrate a final betrayal—blaming the De Lucas for everything while consolidating power for herself.”

“She’s using both sides,” Vincent mused, swirling his drink. “Arianna’s playing chess while everyone else is fumbling with checkers.”

Carmen ignored his smug tone, her mind racing. “Marco’s trust is the hinge. She needs him to believe in her until the very last second. That’s the moment she’ll twist the knife.”

Vincent’s eyes narrowed slightly. “So, what’s your plan? Because this little revelation of yours is worthless if Marco won’t listen to it.”

Carmen pushed back from the table, pacing as she chewed on her bottom lip, her hand protectively grazing her stomach. “He won’t believe me—not yet. Arianna’s too good at spinning the truth. We need to shake his confidence in her first. If he sees the cracks, if we give him something undeniable…”

Vincent raised an eyebrow. “You’re suggesting we frame her?”

Carmen stopped pacing, turning to him. “Not frame her. Expose her.”

Vincent’s lips curled into a faint smirk. “By planting fabricated evidence?”

She hesitated but nodded. “Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.”

________________

Luca stood on the back balcony of the estate later that night, the chill of the wind brushing against his face. He pulled his coat tighter as he heard footsteps behind him. Carmen appeared at his side, clutching the same leather folder she had brought earlier.

“Do you have everything?” Luca asked quietly, his eyes fixed on the darkened grounds below.

“Everything we need,” Carmen replied, holding up a small stack of carefully forged documents. “Vincent’s people duplicated Arianna’s handwriting, her signatures—everything. They’re perfect. When Marco sees this, he’ll have no choice but to question her.”

Luca took the documents, flipping through them with a discerning eye. They were damning—records of falsified shipments, private messages between Arianna and known De Luca allies, and fabricated plans for a final move against Marco. It was enough to shake even the deepest trust.

“And you’re sure these will work?” Luca asked, glancing at her.

Carmen’s voice was steady, though her face betrayed her exhaustion. “They have to. Arianna’s so close to winning, Luca. If we don’t act now, she’ll destroy him. She’ll destroy everything.”

Luca exhaled sharply, shoving the documents into the inside pocket of his coat. “How do you want to do this?”

“Arianna keeps a private office at her estate,” Carmen said, leaning against the railing as she spoke. “It’s where she stores sensitive documents, far away from Marco’s reach. If we can plant these there, make it look like evidence she was careless with, it’ll force Marco to confront her.”

Luca turned, frowning slightly. “It’s risky. If we get caught—”

“Then we’re dead,” Carmen finished for him, her voice soft but unwavering. “But this is the only way. We’re out of time, Luca.”