Chapter 5

After leaving the hospital, Scarlett drove straight to Scar-Bias Holdings.

She still remembered when she and Tobias chose the name together. Back then, it was just a dream. But thanks to her business acumen and sharp strategies, the company grew fast, elevating Tobias straight into the ranks of the elite.

As she approached the general manager's office, muffled laughter spilled into the hallway—light, playful, followed by a woman’s soft, teasing giggle.

Scarlett didn't bother knocking. She threw the door wide open.

There was Vernice, down on her knees in front of Tobias, moving in a way that left absolutely nothing to the imagination.

Vernice scrambled to her feet the second she saw Scarlett, backing away in a hurry. Her blouse was unbuttoned halfway down, exposing her chest through a plunging neckline. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair disheveled, and she flashed a sugary, sweet smile.

"Mrs. Aldama, you're here," she greeted, her tone dripping with flirtatious mock polite.

Tobias snapped his head toward his wife, the color draining entirely from his face.

"H-Honey?"

Scarlett remained frozen by the doorway, her gaze icy as she took in the scene. A surge of revulsion twisted her stomach.

"Did I interrupt something?" she asked, her voice dry. "Should I come back later when you two are finished?"

"What? No. My pen fell, that's all. She was just picking it up." Tobias rushed forward, spinning around to face Vernice. "Get out. Finish what I told you to do earlier."

Vernice didn't utter another word. She brushed past Scarlett, leaving behind a familiar trail of perfume, the same floral scent Scarlett had been smelling on Tobias for weeks.

The message couldn't have been clearer.

Tobias tried to play it cool, grabbing a glass and pouring himself some water. "Honey, I'm glad you dropped by. I'm actually starving. Let's grab lunch at your favorite place. I have so much to tell you."

"I'm not here for lunch, Tobias. I'm here to talk about our divorce."

Tobias gasped, his hand slipping completely. The glass crashed onto the tiled floor, shattering into pieces and splashing water everywhere.

He pressed a hand to his temple, as if fighting off a sudden migraine. "Scarlett, how long are you going to keep this up? Look, I get it if you've been in a bad mood lately, but if this is about Vernice, there is nothing going on between us. You're misinterpreting things. What you saw just now was nothing. If it bothers you that much, I'll fire her right this second."

Scarlett didn't even blink. She hadn't come here to argue. Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a folder and slammed it onto the desk.

"I'm not here to fight with you, Tobias. Once the divorce goes through, you can keep Scar-Bias Holdings. I won't contest it, and I won't fight you for it. But I want my money back. And I want you to hand over The C Alliance, that's the only legacy my mother left me."

Tobias's expression hardened, his jaw clenching as anger flared in his eyes.

"We're married. We're in love. How can you even talk about divorce!"

"Love?" Scarlett let out a bitter, lifeless laugh. He called this love? Claiming to give her his heart while sneaking around behind her back?

"I made up my mind a long time ago. I've brought up this divorce multiple times, but you refuse to listen. Just sign the papers, Tobias. Stop dragging this out." She shoved the folder firmly toward him.

Tobias stared at the documents, a flash of desperation breaking through his harsh gaze. "Scarlett, what are you doing? Are you really going to throw away everything we built? After everything we've been through?"

Her hope for their marriage had died weeks ago, the very night he chose another woman over her, on their wedding night. The night she accidentally ended up in his uncle's bed.

"Sign it, Tobias. Let's just end this."

"End this?" Tobias's voice cracked. "Just like that? After all these years, you can just walk away? I love you, Scarlett. I swore I'd take care of you."

Scarlett closed her eyes and took a slow breath before speaking, her voice quiet and firm. "Save the lines. I don't believe a word out of your mouth anymore. They're just empty promises I can't feel. My mind is made up. Give me back The C Alliance."

Tobias's face darkened again. "You gave me The C Alliance yourself. The company is struggling right now, the accounts are in the red, and I'm doing everything I can to save it. Once our major projects go through, I'll transfer it back to you. Just wait. And drop this divorce nonsense, because I'm not agreeing to it, no matter what you do."

The horrific truth settled over Scarlett in full force. Her worst fears were confirmed: her husband no longer held her late mother's company. Tobias had mortgaged The C Alliance, and getting it back wouldn't be easy.

"Tobias, you're shameless! How could you do that?!" Her voice shook with rage. He knew how much The C Alliance meant to her, yet he threw it away like it was nothing.

"Scarlett, we built Scar-Bias Holdings together! This should be our priority. You don't want to ruin everything we've worked for, do you? Using The C Alliance was just temporary. I'll get it back, don't worry. Please, let's stop talking about the divorce. I'll give you whatever else you want."

Tobias stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, burying his face in her hair to inhale her scent.

Revulsion surged through her. Scarlett shoved him off, spun around, and slapped him square across the face.

The force snapped Tobias's head to the side, red marks instantly rising on his cheek.

He slowly brought a hand up to touch his face, glaring at her through narrowed, twisting eyes. "What is wrong with you?! I'm trying to fix everything! What more do you want?!"

"I'm not the problem here, Tobias! You... you're the one who destroyed everything! There's nothing left of this marriage! It's over... We're done!"