Chapter 7
I turned to Matt. "So you're using the whole childhood sweetheart excuse to stick around him all day, and nobody's allowed to call you out for it?
"I'm the one who can't stand Elaine. Vera's just sticking up for me. If you've got a problem, bring it to me. Vera, let's go. Seeing them makes me lose my appetite."
Vera squeezed my hand tight. "Honestly, I'm full just from being angry. Let's go somewhere else."
I grabbed Vera's hand, walked past Matt, and headed straight for the front desk.
Pulling out my card, I slid it across the counter. "Check, please."
Just as the cashier was about to take it, Elaine offered her own card instead. "Let me pay. Consider it my apology for earlier."
I recognized that flashy gold card with the last four digits 6688.
Matt always joked, "6688 means good luck—my wife always hits the jackpot."
It had an unlimited balance.
When he kicked me out, he took it straight from my bag.
Cutting off his wife's cards, only to hand an unlimited one to another woman, just thinking about it was suffocating.
Why does he never get it?
I took the card, fiddled with it for a moment, and looked at Matt standing right behind her.
I smiled. "6688."
"I'll get you another card. You can have any number you want," Matt said, offering a perfect solution without a hint of guilt.
I didn't hesitate to fling the card right at his face.
"Rachel," Matt said coldly, angered by my action.
I ignored him, pulled out my old card, and handed it over. "Check, please."
Once the payment went through, I grabbed Vera's hand and walked out without looking back.
Matthew didn't follow us. Instead, he called out after us.
"I've got something to do tonight. After dinner, just call the butler and he'll send a driver to pick you up," he said.
Once in the car, Vera stayed quiet for a while before turning to me. "Did you even go back to Matt's place?"
Knowing I couldn't fool her anymore, I quietly admitted, "No."
"Then why did you lie to me?"
"I just didn't want you getting mixed up in all my drama with Matthew," I said, avoiding her eyes.
"Rachel!" Vera's voice suddenly spiked, her eyes reddening. "You're my best friend. We lived in the same dorm for four years. Am I really not someone you can rely on?"
Looking at her teary eyes, my nose stung, and I looked away. "It's exactly because you're my best friend that I don't want to drag you down. I've decided to divorce Matt, and I don't want him thinking you influenced my decision."
Matthew watched as Rachel walked out of the restaurant, not once looking back.
A sudden sense of panic washed over him.
It felt like something important was slipping through his fingers.
Whenever they patched things up before, Rachel would always ask for something—this time, she didn't ask for a single thing.
She left without so much as a backward glance.
'Did I really push her too far?' Matthew wondered, a wave of guilt washing over him.
Elaine stood beside him, her gaze fixed on the direction Rachel had gone.
"See? As long as you're tough enough, she'll have to back down," Elaine said confidently.
"Honestly, you indulged her way too much before," she added, a hint of smugness in her tone.
Matthew gave her a cold, indifferent glance.
"Pack your things and move out tomorrow. I'm signing the house over to my wife," Matthew said, his voice icy and absolute.
Elaine stiffened, frozen in place.
She clenched her fists so hard her nails bit into her palms.
Resentment and anger practically burned in her eyes, barely contained.
"You've learned a lot in the past six months. I'll have Mr. Miller help you set up your own company as soon as possible," Matthew said, his tone businesslike.
She knew Matt still cared about her.
A house was nothing; once she had her own company, she could buy as many as she wanted. Soon, she would have it all—wealth, beauty, and a thriving business.
Rachel, a mere housewife, was no match for her.
So what if Matt didn't love her right now? She stroked her stomach, her eyes shining with confidence.
As long as she could stay by his side, she firmly believed she would replace Rachel one day.
Elaine held herself together, forcing a gentle smile as she replied.
"Alright, whatever you say. You must be starving after everything today—why don't we grab a bite together?"
Matthew cut her off.
"Just eat by yourself. I've got things to do," he said coldly.
With that, he turned and strode out without another word.
Saying the word "divorce" out loud truly hurt.
Vera was stunned for a moment, then asked, "Is there really no room for reconciliation?"
"Yeah," I said quietly.
"From the way Matthew was today, he's not going to agree, is he?" Vera asked, her voice full of concern.
I rubbed my pregnant belly, feeling the reality sink in.
"His opinion doesn't matter—I'm divorcing him either way," I said, my voice unwavering.