Chapter 7

Eric's smile cracked. "What do you mean? You want a divorce?"

Not the reaction I expected. He didn't look smug—just pissed.

Vivien stiffened, but not before that flicker of glee slipped through.

Then she switched gears, all fake concern. "Hayley, seriously? You're so bad at handling emotions. Eric only brought up divorce to get you to chase after him, not because he meant it.

"Just take the papers back, okay? Don't stir things up. He's been working nonstop and just got back to Bellavaro—cut him some slack."

She made it sound like she was on my side, but I knew exactly what she was doing—poking the bear.

Vivien had pulled this move before—and it always worked. Eric once demoted me just to prove a point and even held back two months of my pay.

So yeah, I figured he'd blow up and sign the divorce out of spite.

But nope. His jaw locked. A beat later, he said, "I'm not divorcing you. Hayley, we've got too many shared interests..."

And there it was—money. That's what had him sweatin