The Ex-Wife's Triumph novel Chapter 166

After grumpily cursing, she deflated with a pout and mumbled, "Too bad I don't have the leverage yet. I still have to serve them."

She stood up, left the office, and headed straight for the pantry. Grabbing an Iced Americano from the fridge, she returned to her workstation and took a deep breath to relax.

Just as she took her first sip of coffee, the internal line on her desk rang. Lucy pressed the speaker button, and Jules's steady voice filled the office. "I just found out Kingsley is a partner in David's project. Will that make things difficult for you?"

Lucy swirled her coffee cup, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather. "It's fine. No issues so far. He's not rotten enough to deliberately pick fights professionally yet. I'll stick with the project. It's too big a piece of meat to let go of just like that."

Reasonance of Jules's low laughter came through the phone. "Alright, as long as you know what you're doing. If he dares to make things difficult, tell me immediately."

"Mhm, gotta go. I have to rush some drawing revisions."

Lucy took another sip of coffee. This time, the bitterness of the unsweetened brew spread straight across her tongue, causing her nerves to snap tight.

By noon, David finally replied: [If the drawings are revised, I suggest meeting this afternoon—Kingsley may be leaving Switzerland tomorrow. If they aren't ready, we'll have to postpone.]

Lucy's fingers paused over the screen, then she quickly typed back: [Drawings are done. Just let me know the time you decide on.]

That afternoon, Lucy drove Emma to David's company. Just as she neatly slid the car into a parking spot, she saw Kingsley stepping out of the car next to hers, his gaze falling directly on her.

He spoke up. "Your driving has improved."

Emma and Xavier stood by, barely daring to breathe, trying desperately to reduce their presence. Private matters like tearing each other apart, marriage fraud, confinement... these weren't things they should be hearing.

Kingsley's Adam's apple bobbed. For the first time, he offered a proactive explanation. "...I never intended to divorce. I wanted a child just to keep you."

"That's your idea of keeping someone? Locking them in?" Lucy's voice was cold and sharp, each word finding its mark with cruel accuracy.

That sentence struck like a thunderclap. Kingsley lost all color in an instant. He looked as if his soul had been sucked out, leaving him muttering, "Keep you..."

The elevator arrived. Lucy withdrew her gaze, pulled Emma inside first, and didn't look at him again.