Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Wife You Never Wanted: Kabanata 11 - Kabanata 20

Jared's head snapped up.Lucia... wanted a divorce?He stood there, frozen, the words barely sinking in—before the press pounced."Mr. Dawson, is the divorce because of Alice Lynch?""Ms. Lynch, wasn't stealing Lucia Lynch's place in the family enough? Now you're taking her marriage too?"Flashes fired. Mics shoved forward.Security jumped in, rushing to shield Jared and the others, ushering them out fast.***Meanwhile—Lucia had just touched down in Italvia.As she stepped out of the VIP terminal, two neat lines of men in black suits flanked the walkway. The moment they spotted her, they shouted in perfect sync:"Welcome home!"Giovanni and Francesca rushed forward, sweeping her into a hug."Lucia!" Giovanni beamed. "If you'd given me more time, I would've booked every plaza in Europe to celebrate!"Lucia let out a soft laugh. "Dad, you're so over the top."It was exactly that over-the-top flair that made her keep them away from Khelmark all these years.But even as s

Eric was about to book the jet when Joanne's call came through."Jared! Where are you? Do you even know Alice just tried to kill herself?!"Jared's hand froze around the phone.The jet would take time to prep, so he told Eric, "Get it ready. I'll be at the airport in an hour.""Understood. Which city in Italvia?"Jared paused.He had no clue.Lucia's adoptive parents were in Italvia, yeah—but the city? No idea.Maybe she'd said it once, but he'd never really listened.The thought grated at him."Check every flight to Italvia today," he snapped. "Find out where she went.""Yes, sir."***When Jared got to the hospital, Alice was in full meltdown."You should've just let me die! Everyone knows I'm a fake now. What's the point of living?"In the past, this side of Alice—broken, desperate—used to hit him hard.But today? All he felt was a dull irritation.Lucia flashed through his head.She never made a scene. No matter how bad things got, she took it. Quiet. Dignified. E

Jared's face just kept getting darker.The laughter around him grew louder—until a sleek black Lincoln glided to a stop beside them.It wasn't just any car. A limited-edition beast that made the rest of the luxury lineup look basic.The crowd fell quiet.Then the door opened, and a woman stepped out in a champagne gown that shimmered under the lights.Gasps popped like fireworks."That's Chanel haute couture! It hasn't even dropped yet—I saw the sketches online!""No way... that's gotta be the Loredan heiress!"Heads turned. Whispers flew.Even Jared looked. He couldn't not.The second Jared saw her face, he froze.Around him, the shock rippled. Joanne gasped,"Lucia?"Yep. It was her—the missing wife, back like a drop-the-mic moment.She didn't even notice them. Too busy on the phone. "I know, Mom. I just left the orphanage... Yeah, I've changed. I'm at the entrance now."A few days back, Giovanni and Francesca had mentioned a trip to Khelmark for business. Lucia came a

Francesca's tenderness hit like a bomb. No one moved.Alice broke first."Lucia, your adoptive parents... are the Loredans?!"Francesca finally looked up, her tone ice-cold."Adoptive? To us, Lucia is our real daughter."One line. Game over.Everyone froze.Especially Jared's buddies—the ones who used to clown on Lucia nonstop. Their faces drained of color.The "bumpkin"... was actually the Loredan heiress.Reality hit hard. Panic kicked in.They scrambled."Lucia, we—we were just messing around! It was all jokes, nothing serious!""Yeah, please don't take it to heart. You're way above that!"Lucia frowned, about to shrug it off—until Francesca cut in, ice in her voice."People should pay for their mistakes. Don't you know that?"Silence. Again.Francesca's tone sharpened."Anyone who insulted Lucia—bring your parents and apologize. In person."Then she turned to Michael, Joanne, and Jared.Her smile was slow. And deadly."As for you three..."She didn't blink."L

"What did you say?!"Jared's whole expression shifted.The doctor stammered through the full story. How it all went down that day. How Lucia had made the decision.When he finished, he rushed to explain, panicked."It's not like I wanted to hide it—Ms. Loredan bought the entire hospital. I had no choice. I was just following her orders."He kept talking, trying to save face—but Jared wasn't hearing a word.He took a shaky step back.Lucia... she'd already decided to leave him that day?But why?Why had she suddenly cut him off?Jared couldn't take it. He rushed to the hotel where she was staying—and waited.Three whole days and nights.Finally, on the day Lucia and the Loredans were leaving Khelmark, he saw them.The second Giovanni and Francesca spotted him, they went to call security.But Lucia raised a hand."I'll talk to him."She stepped forward.Jared looked wrecked—unshaven, eyes red, barely standing.His voice was rough, eyes locked on her."Lucia... can we s