Chapter 2
I picked up.
He jumped right in. "Evelyn, did you sell the houses?"
"That's right," I replied.
"Who told you to sell them?" he demanded.
"Mr. Grant, you must be joking. These are my houses. Why would I need anyone's permission?" I shot back.
He tried to keep his temper in check. "Those were the homes we shared after we got married."
"So just because we lived there, you think you own them?" I retorted.
"Evelyn, don't talk like that."
He softened his tone.
"Blue Ridge is in a mess, and I need that money fast. Just let me use the cash from selling those houses. Once the company gets back on its feet, I'll pay you back."
I scoffed, "Pay me back? With what?"
"I'll write you an IOU," he offered.
"You already owe the bank, your suppliers, and your shareholders. Jonathan, you seriously want to add me to your debt list too?"
He went quiet.
I said, "Go ask Lily. Isn't she Mrs. Grant now?"
"She just had a baby."
"So she gets to enjoy the good life, and I'm the one left to clean up your mess?"
Jonathan said, "Don't make it sound so harsh. We were together for ten years. Are you really going to let me watch everything fall apart?"
"As long as you're alive, I'll have plenty of time to settle the score," I said.
I could hear Jonathan's heavy breathing on the other end.
"Evelyn, are you really going to burn every bridge?"
"I'm not the one burning bridges. You're the one who slammed every door shut first."
I hung up.
Half an hour later, the doorbell started ringing like crazy.
I peeked through the peephole and saw Jonathan standing outside.
He was yelling, "Evelyn, open up!"
I didn't open the door.
"You can hide today, but you can't hide forever!" he shouted.
I sat back down at my desk and kept an eye on Blue Ridge's stock price.
He kept pounding on the door for a long time.
My phone buzzed with another message.
He texted: "Evelyn, let's meet. Just five minutes."
I deleted it.
The next morning, I barely stepped out the door when Jonathan was already waiting downstairs, blocking my path.
His suit was wrinkled, and there were dark circles under his eyes.
"Evelyn," he called, his voice rough.
"Move," I said coldly.
"We need to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about."
He stepped right in front of me, blocking my path.
"Where's the money?" he snapped.
"Spent it," I shot back.
"Seriously? We're talking over 30 million here. How the hell could you blow through that much?"
I stared him down.
"And why should you care?"
He balled his fists, knuckles white.
"Just treat it as a loan. If Blue Ridge pulls through, I'll pay you back double."
"Fine."
He stepped in, his eyes bright with hope.
"Really?"
"Go divorce Lily, then come back and beg for forgiveness. Maybe I'll consider it."
Jonathan's expression darkened.
"Evelyn, don't humiliate me."
"Did you ever think about humiliation when you threw your wedding right next door to our old home?"
He gritted his teeth.
"Lily and I have a child."
"So you tricked me into a divorce?"
"I didn't have a choice."
"Jonathan, you always find a way to hurt me, but you never find a way to take responsibility."
He stared at me for a long moment.
"Did you know this was coming?"
"All I know is, everyone has to pay the price for what they've done."
I walked right past him.
He called after me, "Don't regret this."
I stopped.
"Jonathan, my only real regret is that I ever believed you."
After I said that, he didn't come after me again.
I headed to my studio.
As soon as I stepped inside, my assistant Summer Lee hurried over.
"Ms. Stone, a few of our partners just suddenly pulled their orders."
"Why?" I asked.
"Someone's spreading rumors. You supposedly siphoned off marital assets, and they're saying your jewelry studio only survives because Mr. Grant bankrolls it," Summer said, looking worried.
I set my bag down.
"Who sent it?"
Summer handed me a screenshot.
No name attached, but every single line talked about Lily just having a baby, and claimed I was pushing the Grant family to the brink.
"Give me the list of all the clients who canceled their orders," I said.
Summer looked anxious. "Ms. Stone, we've already scheduled this season's new collection. If even one client drops out, it'll be a real headache."
"Trouble is exactly what I need."
She looked confused.
I picked up my phone and called Attorney Clark.
"Get me a copy of the divorce agreement."
Attorney Clark asked, "Are you planning to go public with it?"
"Not yet," I replied.
"So, what's your plan?"
"If they're trying to use the Mrs. Grant card against me, I'll show them just how heavy that title really is."
That afternoon, Lily showed up.
She was dressed in a light-colored dress, holding her baby, with two of her socialite friends trailing behind her.
She lingered at the doorway, not stepping inside.
"Sis, I know you hate me," she said.
I looked up.
"Don't call me that. I'm not your sister," I said, my voice icy.
She glanced down at her baby.
"I'm not here to argue. I'm begging you. Please, help Jonathan. The baby is still so young, he can't grow up without his father," Lily pleaded.
One of her friends immediately chimed in.
"Miss Stone, can't you show a little mercy? You're just a divorcee. What good is all that money going to do you?"
Summer, clearly pissed, snapped, "This is Ms. Stone's studio. Please leave."
Lily's eyes welled up with tears.
"Evelyn, if you don't want to help, I won't hold it against you. But you can't just sell off all the Grant family homes."
I stood up.
"Lily, be specific. Which one of those houses was ever really the Grant family's?"
She clearly hadn't expected me to call her out like that.
"I... just Jonathan told me," she stammered.
"So, did he tell you I'm still Mrs. Grant, or did he say our divorce was just a sham?"
Lily hugged her baby tighter.
The two women exchanged glances.
I set the divorce agreement on the table.
"See the date? Your wedding was barely a month later.
"So, remind me. Who's the one who really needs to beg for a little dignity now?"
Lily hurried out.
Before leaving, she tossed over her shoulder, "Evelyn, you're going to drive Jonathan mad."
I replied coldly, "Whether he goes crazy or not, that's got nothing to do with me."