My Water Broke, But He Chose Her First

"Mom, Lettie just gave birth. Can't this wait?" Rhys pleaded, exhaustion dripping from every word.

"There is no later."

I cut him off. My second brother stepped forward and produced the divorce agreement he'd prepared days ago. I slapped the document onto the bedside table.

"I bought the house before the wedding. The car was part of my dowry. You get neither." My voice was flat. "Full custody of the child goes to me. Your salary and savings? Keep them. I don't want a single cent."

I stared him down. "Read it. Sign it."

Rhys froze. He'd clearly assumed my earlier threats were just postpartum hormones. But seeing the legal documents in black and white, reality finally crashed down on him.

"No... Honey, wait," he stammered, panic flaring in his eyes. "I just helped a neighbor park her car. How did we get to divorce? I don't agree to this!"

He reached for my hand, dropping his voice and putting on that pathetic puppy-dog expression he always used to manipulate me.

My eldest brother and Jack stepped in immediately, blocking his path like a human wall.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, a cold smile playing on my lips. "Rhys Abbott, you were just parking a car? Then explain the spicy hotpot stench clinging to your clothes."

The color drained from his face. His eyes darted around, guilt shattering his innocent facade. In the corner, Emily leaned against the wall and smirked, openly provocative.

Only Josephine looked completely bewildered—and furious.

"What parking? What hotpot?" she shrieked. "Don't think you can drag up random excuses to avoid splitting property with my son!"

She pointed a trembling finger at me. "Rhys has treated you like a queen these past few years! Every cent he earned was spent on you. He cooked, he cleaned... do you have any idea what a live-in nanny costs? Eight thousand a month! Why should you get away with giving nothing?"

"Because everything he has? I gave it to him."

I didn't care about Rhys Abbott's fragile ego anymore. I was done protecting him.

"Without me, do you really think a man with his mediocre degree would land a job at a Fortune 500 company?"

The humiliation hit him like a slap. His cheeks flushed crimson.

"Bullshit! I earned that!" he shouted, voice cracking. "The interviewers valued my talent! Once I passed probation, I closed deal after deal. Just last week, I signed the biggest order of the year with Winston Corp! The VPs are recommending me for the Outstanding Employee Award. How dare you say I relied on you?"

"Is that so?" I tilted my head. "Then let me clarify: cross me, and you're out. I can have you fired before sunset."

Rhys let out an incredulous laugh. He looked at me as if I were insane.

"Fire me? Scarlett, I know the Taylors have money. But money doesn't make you God. You can't manipulate everything."

He puffed out his chest. "I'm a top sales candidate bringing in tens of millions in revenue. Every executive fawns over me. You think you have the power to touch my job?"

Josephine chimed in, emboldened. "Exactly! My son is the big boss's favorite. Don't you even dream—"

Rhys's phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, smirked at me, and answered on speaker to prove a point. Before he could say a word, a furious roar erupted from the device.

"Rhys Abbott! Who gave you the nerve to provoke the Taylor family? They're our most critical client! Pack your things. Don't bother coming in tomorrow!"