Chapter 5

True to his word, Alistair had his lawyers rush the paperwork through. Once I had the divorce decree in my hands, I stared at it for a long time. Then I let out a long breath.

It was finally over. Alistair and I had nothing to do with each other anymore.

Alistair's expression only grew darker. "Now that we're divorced, don't ever use my money again."

I opened my wallet and pulled out every card he had given me. I snapped each of them in half and tossed them into the trash. "Is that good enough?"

The corner of his mouth twitched. "Look at you, suddenly growing a backbone. Too bad everything you're wearing was bought with my money."

I glanced down at my coat, then took it off and threw it at him.

The mockery had not even left his face before I raised my hands and started unbuttoning my blouse.

"Eden Whitlaw!" He lunged forward, pinned my hands down, and pulled my collar closed. "Have you lost your mind?"

I looked up and smiled at him. "I've always been this crazy. You're only figuring that out now?"

He went rigid and stared at me blankly, as if he were seeing me for the first time.

I shoved him away and fastened my buttons. "Since you won't let me take it off, I'll consider this blouse a gift from you. Goodbye."

I meant it as goodbye forever.

I had thought all of our entanglements would end there, but Scarlett stepped right into my path.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Gra—"

She paused on purpose and gave me a smug smile. "Oh, wait, that's not right. It's Ms. Whitlaw now. I'll take good care of Mr. Graves from here on out."

I slapped her across the face. The sharp crack of it was deeply satisfying.

Scarlett clutched her cheek and stared at me in shock and fury. She clearly had not expected me to hit her.

I shook out my stinging hand. "Remember this, Scarlett. If we did not live in a world where everyone is supposed to be equal, a two-bit actress like you would not even get the chance to stand in front of me and talk."

"You hit me! And now you're insulting me!" She screamed and lunged at me, reaching for my face.

I shoved her away.

She stumbled back two steps, and her lower back slammed into the edge of the table. She doubled over in pain and burst into tears.

Alistair rushed to catch her, then whirled around and roared at me. "Give you an inch and you take a mile, is that it, Eden? You just start hitting people without a word? Don't you know Scarlett is pregnant? Are you trying to kill her and the baby?"

I froze, and my gaze dropped to Scarlett's stomach.

She was pregnant too.

Without thinking, I touched my own stomach, then quickly pulled my hand away.

For the past two months, I had been torn apart inside. I hated him, yet I could not let go of the tenderness of those five years, or of our child. I had even considered swallowing all the pain from before for the sake of this baby.

All the while, he had been rolling around in bed with another woman, and now she was carrying his child too.

It was laughable.

I actually laughed out loud.

Alistair eyed me with suspicion, completely on guard. "What are you up to now?"

"Nothing."

I took a deep breath. "Congratulations. I hope you two have a whole house full of kids."

His expression shifted, as if he wanted to say something to me.

I had already turned around and pushed through the door.

His furious shout followed me out. "Eden Whitlaw! You have no money and no status now. Let's see how you survive once you walk out that door! I'll be waiting for you to regret this! I'll be waiting for you to come crawling back!"

I did not even look back. I took the divorce decree and went straight to my lawyer.

Within a few days, the first payment of the special distribution from the trust landed in my account. I glanced at the balance, turned off my phone, and checked into a private suite at the hospital.

After my follow-up exam, the doctor scheduled the procedure.

When I went to sign the consent form, she asked me one more time, "Are you sure about this?"

I lowered my head and rested a hand on my stomach.

There was a time when I had looked forward to this baby being born. I had imagined what he would look like and what I would name him. Now, though, I did not want to keep anything that tied me to Alistair.

"I'm sure."

I signed my name.

As I lay down on the operating table, I slowly closed my eyes.

Before the anesthesia took hold, Alistair's voice echoed in my ears.

"Eden Whitlaw! I'll be waiting for you to regret this! I'll be waiting for you to come crawling back!"

A tear slid from the corner of my eye.

I had not begged Alistair five years ago, and I would not beg him now. I would never, ever regret this.