Chapter 4

On the way to the hospital, I came across another one of Scarlett's posts.

[All I want is a normal relationship. Why is that so hard?]

Right after that, a swarm of gossip accounts jumped in to stir things up. They claimed that Alistair and Scarlett were in a stable relationship and that I was a delusional mistress who had been clinging to him for years.

The comments instantly filled with insults.

The moment I stepped out of the car, a crowd of reporters closed in on me.

"Ms. Whitlaw, you knew Mr. Graves had a girlfriend. Why do you keep chasing him?"

"We heard you threatened Scarlett Delacroix with a knife last night. Is that true?"

"Do you plan to keep harassing Mr. Graves?"

Their cameras and microphones were practically shoved in my face.

I raised a hand and pushed them away. "If Scarlett likes picking through trash, let her. Don't drag me through the mud. Now move."

The words had barely left my mouth when someone in the crowd shrieked.

"You're the other woman, and you're still this arrogant? Have some shame!"

A water bottle came flying and struck me square in the forehead.

I stumbled. Before I could steady myself, others started hurling things at me too.

"Apologize to Scarlett!"

"Stay away from her boyfriend, you bitch!"

I shielded my head and tried to make my way toward the outpatient lobby, but someone deliberately blocked my path. Amid all the pushing and shoving, I was knocked to the ground.

Another wave of plastic bottles and rotten vegetables rained down on me.

It was not until someone shouted, "The police are here!" that the mob finally scattered.

By the time a nurse helped me inside, my knees were scraped open, my arms were covered in bruises, and the side of my forehead had swollen.

Once my wounds were treated, the doctor looked over my test results. "You're not in any condition for surgery right now. Rest for a few days, and we'll schedule it after a follow-up exam."

I nodded and left the exam room.

I printed out the divorce agreement Mr. Pell had drafted and went straight to find Alistair. He and Scarlett were having afternoon tea at a harborside restaurant.

When he saw the injury on my forehead, he set down his teacup and frowned. "What happened to you?"

I did not answer. I tossed the agreement down in front of him. "Sign it."

The moment he read the title, his expression changed. "What is this supposed to mean?"

"I'm not putting a toothbrush someone else used back in my mouth."

I looked at him and said calmly, "Alistair, I want a divorce."

He stared at me, uncertain and a little panicked. "Eden, have you remembered something?"

I gave him a faint smile. "What would I remember?"

He sat up straighter. "Nothing. I just—"

Scarlett shot me a vicious glare and cut in. "Eden, you're not just playing hard to get, are you?"

I glanced at her. "Not everyone has a taste for filth like you do."

Alistair's face darkened completely. "You think I'm dirty?"

"Yes. I think you're filthy."

I uncapped the pen and set it on the agreement. "Hurry up and sign."

He did not move.

I turned to Scarlett. "Talk some sense into him. If he doesn't sign today, I'm taking our marriage certificate to the press. Let everyone see who the actual wife is—and expose you two for the cheating scum you are."

Being called cheating scum stung Alistair.

He slammed his hand on the table and shot to his feet. "Eden Whitlaw! I really have spoiled you rotten! You think threatening me with divorce will make me back down? You think I don't have the nerve to actually go through with it?"

I pushed the agreement closer to him. "Then sign it."

He glared at me and snatched up the pen. "Fine. I'll sign it right now so you can watch."

The pen tip scraped hard across the paper.

Once he had signed his name, he flung the agreement in front of me and picked up his phone. "I'm calling my lawyer right now to have the divorce filed today."

His eyes never left me, as if he were still waiting for me to change my mind and throw myself at him to stop him.

I only lowered my head to check the signature and tucked my copy away.

His jaw tightened as he jabbed at the number. "Fine, Eden. We'll see which one of us ends up regretting this."