Chapter 7
David walked in, gripping the divorce agreement tightly.
His expression was grim, almost frightening.
Emily was on the couch.
She immediately stood up when she saw him.
"David, how did it go?
"Did Rachel agree to come back?" she pressed, sounding anxious.
David didn't even spare her a glance.
He walked straight into the study and slammed the door shut behind him.
Susan trailed behind him.
"David, say something.
"What did that bitch Rachel say?" Susan demanded, her tone full of contempt.
David dropped into his chair.
He slammed the divorce agreement down on the desk.
"She wants a divorce.
"She wants the house, and the kid too.
"And on top of that, she wants me to cough up 90 thousand dollars," David added, his voice tight with frustration.
Susan grabbed the divorce agreement.
She looked it over.
Her face turned bright red with anger.
"She must be dreaming.
"The house is under your name. Why should she get it?
"And the baby? That's my grandson. No way she's taking him."
David rubbed his temples, looking exhausted.
"Mom, the house is marital property now. She's entitled to half of it.
"The baby's only a month old. The court will almost always give custody to the mother.
"If this goes to court, we're probably going to lose."
Susan was stunned.
"What are we supposed to do now?
"Are we really going to just give her the house and the baby?" she protested, disbelief written all over her face.
David fell silent.
He remembered the way Rachel looked at him outside the Quinns' house.
Her eyes were icy and distant, as if she was staring at someone she hated—a total stranger, an enemy.
That gentle, loving wife he used to know was gone.
She'd changed completely.
A sudden panic gripped him.
Susan saw him just sitting there, not saying a word.
She was getting anxious.
"David, say something.
"Why don't you just go and say sorry to Rachel?
"Just coax her a little, get her to cool off.
"Once she's back, we can put her in her place," Susan said, her tone turning cold.
David looked up.
He looked at his mother.
"Mom, do you really think she'll ever trust me again?" David asked, his voice low and full of doubt.
Susan didn't know what to say.
David let out a bitter laugh.
"She's got every single transfer record of mine.
"And all our messages, too.
"That's all the proof she needs.
"If she really takes me to court for taking marital assets for myself, I'm screwed," David said, his voice full of resignation.
Susan's face went pale.
"Did you really give Emily all that 90 thousand dollars?" she asked, her voice trembling.
David nodded.
"I... I didn't realize it would be that much.
"Emily's just a young woman trying to make it on her own. It's not easy for her.
"I just wanted to help her."
"Help her?" Susan barked, her voice rising sharply.
Susan's voice rose sharply.
"Are you helping her or just screwing yourself over?
"That's everything you saved up for three years!
"And you just gave it all away to a stranger!
"Are you out of your mind?" Susan demanded, her voice rising.
David hung his head, too ashamed to say anything.
Susan was shaking with anger.
"I told you Emily was up to no good.
"She acts all sweet and innocent, but she's full of tricks.
"Look at the mess you've made now.
"Now you're losing the house, the kid, and all your money!
"Are you happy now?" Susan demanded, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
David finally looked up.
"Mom, weren't you the one always calling Emily so sweet and understanding?
"Now suddenly she's all scheming? Funny how fast you changed your tune," David said with a bitter laugh.
Susan was left speechless.
She really had always praised Emily.
Back when Rachel was still recovering after childbirth,
she'd even let Emily move right into their house.
But now, reality hit her hard.
Only now did she realize the truth.
Emily was nothing but trouble.
She was nothing but a disaster for their family.
Susan gritted her teeth.
"I'm going to find her right away.
"I'll make her return the money," she added, not backing down for a second.
With that, she spun around and marched out.
David tried to stop her.
"Mom, wait!" David called out, but it was too late.
Susan was already out of the study.
In the living room, Emily was scrolling through her phone.
She looked up as Susan stormed over, anger written all over her face.
She quickly stood up.
"Mrs. Scott..." Emily stammered, her voice trembling.
"Don't call me that," Susan snapped, her face cold as ice.
Her expression was icy.
"Emily, let me ask you—what about the 90 thousand dollars David transferred to you?
"When are you going to give it back?" she pressed, her eyes narrowing.
Emily's face instantly drained of color.
"Mrs. Scott, David gave me that money of his own accord..." Emily stammered, her voice shaking.
"Of his own accord?" Susan scoffed, sarcasm dripping from her words.
"That money belongs to both my son and his wife—it's their joint property.
"He had no right to give it to you without her permission.
"Now Rachel wants a divorce and she's threatening to sue us for taking their money.
"You need to give the money back," she demanded, leaving no room for argument.
Emily's tears spilled over in an instant.
"Mrs. Scott, I... I don't have a single dollar left.
"I spent all 90 thousand dollars it's all gone," she sobbed, barely able to get the words out.
Susan was completely stunned.
"What did you just say?
"You blew through all of it?" Susan stared at her, eyes wide with shock.
Emily nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I... I bought designer bags, clothes, and rented an apartment.
"I really don't have anything left," she whimpered, barely able to speak.
Susan was so furious she nearly fainted.
"You—you absolute troublemaker!
"You spent all 90 thousand dollars?
"How could you blow through that much money?"
Emily cried even harder.
"I... I don't even know where it all went.
"David said I shouldn't worry about spending, just buy whatever I wanted.
"So I just... I just kept buying things..." Emily whimpered, barely able to get the words out.
Susan listened, her whole body shaking with rage.
She was so furious she could barely stand still.
She whipped around and shouted toward the study.
"David! Get out here now!" Susan yelled, her voice echoing through the house.
David walked out of the study.
He looked like he'd been hit by a truck.
"Mom..." David muttered, guilt written all over his face.
"You dare call me Mom after all this?" Susan snapped, her voice icy.
"Just look at what you've done!
"She spent every last dollar of that 90 grand!
"Rachel's divorcing you now—how are you gonna pay her what you owe?
"And now you're about to lose the house!" Susan shouted, her voice shaking with rage.
David looked at Emily.
"Emily, did you really spend all 90 thousand dollars?" David asked, his voice low and full of disbelief.
Emily nodded, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry, David. I... I never thought things would turn out like this," Emily sobbed, her voice trembling.
David suddenly felt exhausted.
He looked at Emily.
The woman he'd always wanted to protect.
Now, she seemed like a complete stranger to him.
"Emily," David said, keeping his voice steady.
"Just move out," he said, not a hint of hesitation in his tone.
Emily froze.
"What?" she blurted out, her voice trembling.
"I told you—pack your things and leave," David repeated, his tone unwavering.
"Having you here is only making things worse," he said, calm but firm.
Emily's tears streamed down her face.
"David, are you really telling me to leave?" Emily choked out, her voice trembling.
"I'm not throwing you out," David said, rubbing his temples.
He rubbed his temples, looking exhausted.
"I just need you to understand, things are a mess right now.
"It's really not a good idea for you to stay here," he added, his tone firm.
Emily looked at him, stunned.
"So what, you regret it now?
"You regret ever being good to me?
"You regret all the money you spent on me?" Emily's voice cracked, tears brimming in her eyes.
David said nothing, his silence hanging heavy in the air.
Emily let out a bitter laugh.
She laughed, tears streaming down her face.
"David, you know what?
"You're nothing but a coward.
"When your wife was pregnant, you treated me so well, spent money on me, and I was actually touched.
"Now that she's divorcing you, you're just going to kick me out?
"What kind of man are you, really?"
David's face went pale.
"Emily, please, don't do this," David pleaded, his voice low and desperate.
"Oh, and what exactly am I doing?" Emily shot back, her voice trembling with anger.
She stood up, her whole body tense.
"Tell me, am I wrong?
"When you were after me, you said you didn't love Rachel, that marrying her was a mistake.
"You said you'd divorce her and marry me.
"I believed you.
"And now?
"Now that Rachel's really divorcing you, suddenly you can't let go of the house and the kid?
"David, you're nothing but a liar," Emily spat, her words dripping with contempt.
Susan stood there, completely dumbfounded.
She was so shocked she couldn't even speak.
"You... you two..." She pointed at David and Emily, her hand trembling.
"What are you two, really? What's your relationship?" Susan demanded, her voice rising.
Emily looked at Susan.
She let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"Mrs. Scott, you still don't get it?
"David and I have been seeing each other for ages.
"Why do you think he gave me all that money?
"Why do you think he came to pick me up when Rachel was about to have her baby?
"Because I'm the one he loves, not Rachel," Emily said, her voice cold and unwavering.
Susan's face went ashen, all the color draining away.
"You... you two..." she stammered, her voice trembling.
She whipped around to face David. "David, is what she said true?"
David kept his gaze fixed on the floor. He couldn't meet his mother's eyes.
Susan suddenly lunged at him. She slapped him hard across the face. "You bastard!"