9. Alexa Has A Plan!

“Influential business mogul and CEO of Milton Empire, Justin Milton, announced the launch of his new company. This was shortly after a brief meeting at the—”

I didn’t even wait to finish the headline before my fingers curled into tight fists. My whole body tensed. Appetite? Gone.

Lucas had barely shown me the screen, but that one glimpse was enough.

Mom threw me a strange look from across the table, her brow creased with suspicion. She could probably sense my sudden shift.

“Are you okay, Alexa?” she asked.

I forced a dry, fake smile. “Yes, Ma. I’m fine. Thanks.”

She returned the smile and went back to eating, but I just sat there, stiff and boiling. Rage surged inside me, trembling beneath my skin like an untamed storm.

Dad finished his meal in a rush, wiping his hands before grabbing his phone.

“I’ll be heading to the office. I have a conference with some foreign investors.”

Mom stood up to hug him, and he reached out to rub my head gently.

“I’m leaving now, Alexa. Please don’t hesitate to call me if anything bothers you.”

I nodded quickly, doing everything I could to hide the flames crawling up my throat. “I will, Dad. Don’t worry.”

He turned to leave, and Mom followed to walk him to the car.

The moment the door shut behind them, I stood from the dining table like a loaded spring and walked straight into my room.

I slammed the door hard enough to shake the frame and dropped to my knees, pounding my fist against the cold tiled floor.

The headline flashed through my mind again. The image was still vivid—Justin, holding Gia’s hand, the two of them smiling like the world was perfect.

Not a shred of concern on his face. No guilt. No shame.

I’m still his wife. We’re not even divorced. I didn’t spend the night at home, and he hasn’t called. Hasn’t even tried.

If it were Gia who had gone missing, he would’ve turned the city upside down. He would’ve searched every corner, apologized a thousand times.

But me? I guess I don’t matter.

He doesn’t care if I live or die.

The door creaked open.

Lucas stepped in quietly and closed the door behind him, not bothering to knock. He walked over with a glass of water in hand and didn’t say a word as he approached.

“Here,” he said, offering it to me.

I didn’t even look at the glass. My eyes were still red with anger.

“I’m not thirsty, Lucas. I said I don’t want water.”

Without a word, he set the glass down on the vanity beside the mirror. The room wasn’t much—simple and clean, with pale cream walls and soft lighting from the corner lamp.

A small chest of drawers sat below the mirror, half cluttered with my perfume bottles and hairpins. Lucas leaned back against it, resting both arms on either side. His posture was relaxed, but his gaze was serious, tracking my every move like a shadow waiting to pounce.

“I didn’t show you that flyer to hurt you,” he said finally. “I didn’t want you to blame yourself or sink into guilt. I showed you so you’d see how the people who broke you are out there—living, smiling, thriving—like they did nothing wrong.”

I turned my head and shot him a cold glare.

“I don’t care why you showed me that, Lucas,” I snapped. “I don’t care if it was meant to inspire me or piss me off. That flyer reminded me of them. It reminded me that they’re still out there enjoying life while I’m in here trying to breathe.”

My voice cracked, but I kept going.

“They deserve to suffer, not to be launching new companies like everything’s fine.”

Lucas’s eyes dropped for a moment. When they lifted again, they zeroed in on my left hand.

He froze.

His face went pale, like he’d seen something he wished he hadn’t.

I followed his gaze and looked down at my hand—and there it was. My wedding ring, still shining faintly under the soft bedroom light.

Shit.

I quickly moved to hide my hand behind the other, pretending like nothing happened.

But Lucas was faster.

He stepped forward and grabbed my wrist, holding it up in front of me.

“And this?” His voice was low and cold. “Why is this still on your finger, Alexa? Don’t tell me you’re putting on a show for your parents. Don’t tell me you’re pretending that you’ve moved on when you're still clinging to this.”

“Hold it right there, Lucas!” I snapped, yanking my hand from his grip. “My life and the way I live it is none of your concern! You don’t get to tell me how to deal with my pain. You don’t know why I still have this ring on, and you sure as hell don’t get to question my intentions!”

His face twisted, rage flashing in his eyes. He took a step closer, not backing down.

“So what exactly are you trying to prove?” he asked. “That you’re still married to Justin Milton? That he still matters to you? Is that it?”

I shook my head slowly, a bitter smirk tugging at the corner of my lips.

"Justin and I are still married, Lucas. Legally, we’re still a couple. The court hasn't signed off anything. We’re not divorced yet."

Lucas’s expression shifted. It wasn’t just surprise—I saw something like relief hiding in his eyes.

I stepped back, jaw clenched. “That’s why I’ll be at the Milton company launch. I plan to give them the worst surprise of their lives.”

Before I could turn away, Lucas stepped closer and gently grabbed my hand. He rubbed my fingers with both hands, like he was calming a storm.

“I’m with you in this, Alexa. I told you before. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you.”

I didn’t say anything. My mind was racing, still unsure what his true intentions were.

He gave me a soft smile. It was the first time I saw him smile that way. It wasn’t forced. It wasn’t fake.

“I’ll walk this path of revenge with you,” he said. “I’ll help you make them pay for what they did to you. That’s my decision. Not because I expect anything back, but because you deserve it.”

I didn’t return the smile. My voice was sharp.

“I don’t know why you’re doing all this, Lucas. But don’t expect anything from me. Not my heart. Not my body. I’m not the kind of woman who gives something back just because someone offered help.”

He gently touched my lips with his finger and held my gaze. His eyes didn’t waver.

“I’m not doing this for a reward, Alexa. Don’t belittle me by thinking I want your body. That’s not what this is about. Not now, not ever.”

For a moment, my heart felt still. His words had a way of cutting through the noise in my head.

He dropped his hand and stepped away, reaching into his suit pocket. He pulled out a phone—brand new, still untouched.

“This is from Father. He asked me to give it to you. It has the contact of a few trusted business partners. They know the Duke's daughter has arrived, but they don't know what you look like yet.”

He walked to the desk near the mirror and glanced at the stack of documents beside it.

“The servants will bring the company’s books soon. Go through them and learn what we do at ABC Companies. And if you're interested, you're free to join the Fernando Group. In the next three days, you'll complete your training on how to speak, move, and carry yourself like a billionaire.”

He turned back to me, picked up the glass of water he had offered earlier, and handed it to me again.

“Take the water, Alexa. And let me know if you need anything.”

I took the glass. My fingers brushed his. He didn’t say another word as he turned and walked out of the room.

I stood there, watching his shadow fade down the hallway.

Then I sat on the edge of the bed, picked up the phone, and dialed the only number I still remembered by heart.

“Hello… Yana?”

A pause. Then her voice came on.

“Who is this?”

“It’s Alexa. How are you?”

She gasped so loud it nearly pierced my ear. “You’re alive? Alexa, oh my God, you’re alive!”

It took a while to calm her down.

Yana wasn’t just my best friend. She was my sister in every way that mattered. We’d known each other since the days I lived with my foster parents.

After I married Justin, everything changed. He locked me away from the world. No job. No calls. No visits. I became a full-time housewife, cut off from the only people who truly cared about me. The only time I spoke to Yana was during quick runs to the market or shopping.

Her voice brought me back.

“What’s going on, Alexa? You called out of nowhere. Is everything okay?”

“No. Nothing’s okay,” I said.

“Talk to me,” she urged. “What happened?”

I clenched my fists and stared at the floor.

“Justin is launching his new company in four days. And I need you to do something for me.”

My voice was cold. I didn’t care if it sounded harsh. I meant every word.

Yana didn’t hesitate.

"I heard what you said, Alexa! Consider the Job DONE!"