Chapter 12
Eric dealt with billion-dollar deals daily, so it wasn't surprising when business partners gifted him ridiculously expensive luxury items.
Just last year, someone had given him a pair of cat's-eye gemstone earrings. Not cheap at all. He tossed them to Amelia, and she'd actually been really happy about it. Later on, she lost one at a party, and was so upset she couldn't even eat for days—only to get mocked by Eric for being dramatic.
What he never understood was, the reason she cared so much was because it came from him.
Now that she thought about it, to Eric, that gift was probably just some useless trinket someone gave him, handed over to her without thinking and with zero emotion. He didn't care.
Amelia shut the jewelry box and shoved it toward him. "We can split it when we divide assets after the divorce. No point in me having to return it later."
Lucas was stunned, like he'd just overheard some top-secret intel.
Eric's expression darkened in a flash. "Amelia! Are you for real? You think you have the right to bring up divorce? Talk about splitting assets? Everything you wear, eat, use—it's all paid by me! You think you can survive without all this? You wouldn't even last!"
Her fingers twitched. Every time she thought she'd built up enough immunity to his words, he'd hit the exact spot to remind her just how worthless she was in his eyes.
Seeing her stay quiet, Eric softened just a bit. His voice dropped to a cooler tone. "Just admit you were wrong. Let's not drag things on. You can still stay as Mrs. Reeves, and whatever you want—"
"How generous of you," she cut him off with a cold chuckle before he could finish. "Am I supposed to throw myself at your feet and cry with gratitude?"
Eric frowned. "I'm giving you a chance here. Don't be passive-aggressive."
"Oh, thank you so much for your benevolence," she said, sarcasm cutting like a blade. "But I'm not exactly blessed enough to take it. Better save your offers for someone who actually needs you."
That snapped something in him. "Amelia! I've been way too patient with you. Know when to stop! Don't push your luck!"
"I've always been someone who pushes," she said, her eyes steady and calm in a way that unsettled him. "Let's make a bet, Eric—see if I can survive a divorce or not."
"Fine," he snarled, bitter laugh bubbling up, "I'd love to see how you drown without me holding you up. Lucas, pull over!"
Lucas's hands trembled as he quickly steered the car to the curb.
"Get out," Eric said coldly, no emotion left in his voice. Amelia glanced at the desolate road, wind howling, not a single soul in sight, and her heart sank a little.
The air in the car turned stiff. Lucas tried to ease the tension, lowering his voice, "Mr. Reeves, it's hard to get a cab out here. Maybe wait till we're back in the city?"
Eric let out a cold snort. "Didn't she want to prove she can survive without me? Well, here's her shot. If she can't even walk this distance, she has no right to talk about capability."
Amelia's pride took a massive hit. Really, nothing stings more than being looked down on by someone you once cared about.
She didn't say a word. Just unbuckled her seatbelt, opened the door, and before stepping out, looked back at Eric. "When are we settling this?"
Eric stared at her like he'd breathe fire, and after a few seconds, spat out coldly, "Three tomorrow afternoon."
"Three it is. See you at the Family Division." With that, Amelia got out and walked off along the side of the road, eyes forward, back straight—steady, not looking back once, not hesitating.
Eric sat tight, jaw clenched, fingers slowly curling into fists.
"Drive."
Lucas hesitated, clearly worried. "Mr. Reeves, this area's still under development. Barely any security cams on the roads. It's not safe for her to be out here alone, maybe we should—"
"Drive. I don't want to repeat myself," Eric cut him off, voice icy.
Lucas shut up instantly.
Amelia had gone maybe a hundred meters when she heard a car engine rev behind her. Then came a loud "thud". Something hit the ground. A second later, Eric's car zoomed past her and disappeared down the road.
She turned to look. The bag Eric had shoved into her arms earlier was now lying on the pavement, box and all, flung right out. The bag had even bounced out of the box and rolled a good distance away.
She halted for a beat, turned back around and kept walking, but after about ten meters, she bit her lip, spun around, and marched back.
Three hundred grand. And he just... chucked it? Had Eric finally lost it? She picked up the bag, carefully inspected every inch. Aside from a bit of dust, it was fine.
Was it okay to just take it? But hey, he tossed it out himself. That counts as giving it up, right? Plus it was a gift from a client, which technically made it part of their marital assets. So she was entitled to half. Taking it was only fair. Worst case, she could sell it and split the money with him.
Yeah, that made sense.
Thinking of it like that, she suddenly felt totally justified—and walked off with it, no guilt whatsoever.
"OH MY GOD!"
Samantha let out a full-on scream, nearly knocking the hair dryer out of Amelia's hand.
"Holy crap! Nearly three hundred K?!"
She pointed at the bag, fingers trembling. "This thing? Three hundred grand? Am I even worthy of being in the same room as it?"
