You gave me nothing

YOU GAVE ME NOTHING 

Scarlet

"Mrs Co–" the lawyer, Mr. Park, caught himself as I sat in front of him, my hands folded in my lap. "Ms. Scarlet. Welcome."

I nodded slightly, my eyes taking in his office. Cramped, with files stacked in every corner and a dying plant on his desk. It was very different from the sleek, modern offices Lucas's lawyers occupied.

I sighed. It was all I could afford anyway.

"I've reviewed your case," he started carefully, flipping through papers. "I have to say, this won't be easy."

My heart thumped. Of course I knew it wouldn't. It was me against a man with enough resources to destroy everything I had in seconds. But I couldn't let fear stop me now.

"I know."

He raised a brow, studying me. "Your husband has the best legal team in the city—enough resources to fight you on everything."

I took a long breath. "I'm not asking for much. I just want out."

Mr. Park leaned back. "You don't understand. You have rights. You're entitled to more than you realize. Ten years of marriage, Ms. Scarlet. That's enough to claim half of what he's worth—"

"And I don't want it," I snapped, my voice harsher than intended. I closed my eyes, steadied myself, then opened them again. "I just want the marriage dissolved."

Their words rang in my head.

“You're defective."

"Your sister gave him what you never could!"

"You're a failure."

"You wouldn't survive a day without us."

The lies bled into my brain, making my chest tight.

"Ms. Scarlet?" Mr. Park's voice pulled me back. He looked at me with pity. "Even if you're not asking for anything, they'll still make this difficult. It's going to be a long fight."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"If your husband cooperates, this could take a few months. If he doesn't..." He paused, flipping through the file. "It could take years."

"Years?" I gasped, my hand instinctively touching my stomach. By then, I'd have given birth. They'd know about the baby.

No. I couldn't let them find out. I couldn't let them destroy my child the way they destroyed me.

"Isn't there a way to expedite the process?" My voice cracked.

"I'll do my best. But Ms. Scarlet, you need to prepare yourself for the worst."

I closed my eyes, my hands folding into fists.

Years. How was I supposed to hide a pregnancy for years?

****

Two weeks and three days after that meeting, I stood in front of the mansion for what I hoped would be the last time.

I'd been summoned to meet Lucas and his lawyer for the next stage of the divorce. My lawyer had offered to come, but I'd refused. I needed to face this alone.

My parents insisted we handle everything privately—afraid the divorce would damage their precious reputation.

I walked into Lucas's study, the familiar gray walls unchanged. My eyes lingered on the empty space where our wedding photo used to hang.

It was gone.

Of course it was.

I sat down, feeling Lucas's eyes on me. His lawyer, Chris Davidson, cleared his throat.

"Let's begin."

Chris slid papers across the desk. "This is straightforward. You waive all claims to assets, properties, and investments—whether purchased individually or jointly. Mr. Cole keeps everything. You leave with only your personal belongings."

My stomach dropped. "What?"

"You have no rights to any settlements. Not even the investments or properties you contributed to during the marriage. That includes vehicles, electronics, everything. You leave with your clothes and nothing else."

I turned to Lucas, whose eyes held a cold, calculating gleam.

This was his plan. Strip me of everything. Make me feel worthless. Force me to crawl back.

"Do you agree to these terms, Ms. Scarlet?" Chris asked.

I stared at the papers, my vision blurring slightly.

Then, with a steady breath, I said, "Yes, I do." 

The word burned coming out. The same word I'd said ten years ago when I thought I was being rewarded for loving him. Now I was using it to end everything.

I signed quickly, giving away the little I owned.

Lucas leaned forward, his expression unreadable. "You know this is your fault, right?"

I looked up, confused. "What?"

"All of this." His voice was calm, almost gentle—the tone he used to use when we first started dating. "You pushed me away, Scarlet. You made me feel inadequate. A man needs to feel like a man in his own home, and you couldn't even give me that."

My chest tightened. "Lucas—"

"I tried," he continued, his eyes softening just enough to make me doubt myself. "God knows I tried. But you were always so... distant. Cold. I needed warmth, affection, and a partner who made me feel valued. And you couldn't do that."

For a moment—just a brief, terrible moment—I felt guilt creep in.

Had I been cold? Distant? Had I driven him to this?

"Maybe if you'd tried harder," he said quietly, "things would've been different. Savannah... She makes me feel alive. She makes me feel like a man. Like I matter."

The words hit me like a slap, and I felt tears prick my eyes.

Maybe he was right. Maybe I hadn't had enough. Maybe—

"She's pregnant like you know," Lucas added casually. "Three months along. Finally, I'll be a father. Finally, I'll have the family I always wanted."

And just like that, the spell broke.

I stared at him—really looked at him—and saw the truth.

He was manipulating me. Twisting everything to make me feel like the failure when he was the one who'd betrayed me.

"You're unbelievable," I whispered.

His fake sympathy vanished, replaced by cold indifference. "Excuse me?"

"You cheated on me with my sister. You got her pregnant while I was desperately trying to fix our marriage. And now you're trying to make me feel guilty?"

"You couldn't give me a child—"

"Because I was barren, Lucas? Is that what you're going to say?" My voice rose. "You blamed me for something I couldn't control, then used it as an excuse to fuck my sister!"

Chris shifted uncomfortably. Lucas's face went red.

"You gave me nothing," he snarled. "Six years, and you gave me nothing. No children. No warmth. No reason to stay."

"I gave you everything." My voice cracked. "My entire life. My future. I gave up my dreams, my ambitions, my body, everything—for you."

"Your body doesn't count if it can't produce a child!" he shouted. "You brought nothing but disappointment into my life! And I promise, you'll be nothing without me!"

The words sliced deep, bleeding me dry.

I almost touched my stomach—almost revealed the secret growing inside me—but I caught myself.

Instead, I slowly pulled off my wedding ring and placed it on the desk between us.

"I hope she makes you happy," I said quietly.

I grabbed the signed papers and walked toward the door.

"Don't expect to see me at the finalization hearing," Lucas called after me. "Savannah and I are getting married soon. I'll be taking her to shop for her wedding dress that day."

I didn't respond. Just closed the door quietly behind me and walked down the front steps.

The cold air bit into my skin, but I wasn't sure if I was shivering from the weather or from the weight of what just happened.

As I reached the street, I felt it—the strange sensation of being watched.

I turned.

A black car idled at the curb. Through the tinted window, I could just make out a figure.

Our eyes met for a brief second—his dark and dangerous, mine wide with uncertainty.

Then the car drove off, disappearing into the night.

I stood there, confused and unsettled.

"Why is my husband's brother watching me?"