He Left Me For His Pregnant Ex, So I Took Everything Chapter 02

He Left Me For His Pregnant Ex, So I Took Everything Chapter 02

Over the next year, Garrett and Ruby flooded the news.

“Garrison Group CEO Garrett Vance and new wife attend gala.”

“Ruby Rivera gives birth. The Vance family expands.”

“CEO Vance purchases lakeside villa for beloved wife.”

I never clicked a single headline.

I only watched one number climb.

Thirty percent.

Forty percent.

Fifty-one percent.

Until today, when the bank called.

I knew—Garrett was running out of runway.

Lawyer Davis asked, “Do you want to go public?”

“Not yet.”

“Then what’s your move?”

“Someone wants to use the ‘Mrs. Vance’ title to pressure me. I’ll let them feel the weight of it first.”

That afternoon, Ruby showed up.

She wore a pastel dress, cradling her baby. Two society wives flanked her like backup.

She stood at the doorway, refusing to come inside.

“Scarlett, I know you hate me.”

I looked up.

“You’re wrong. I don’t hate you. I just don’t know you.”

She looked down at her child.

“I’m not here to fight. I’m begging you—please, save Garrett. Our son is too young to lose his father.”

One of the women jumped in. “Ms. Stirling, don’t you think you’re going too far? You’re a divorced woman—what do you even need that much money for anyway?”

Summer, my assistant, snapped. “This is Ms. Stirling’s office. Get out.”

Ruby’s eyes reddened. “Scarlett, if you won’t help, I understand. But you can’t just sell off all the Vance family properties.”

I stood up.

“Ruby, tell me something—which one of those properties ever had the Vance name on it?”

She hadn’t expected me to confront her directly.

“I—I just heard Garrett say—”

“Heard him say I’m Mrs. Vance? Or heard him say our divorce was fake?”

Ruby clutched the baby tighter.

The two women exchanged glances.

I placed the divorce decree on the table.

“Date’s right here. Your wedding was a month later.”

“Now, do you want to tell everyone who’s the one begging for dignity?”

Ruby left fast.

But before she went, she threw out: “Scarlett, you’re going to drive Garrett insane.”

I shot back, “Not my problem.”

The next day, it became everyone’s problem.

Someone had posted a video of Ruby showing up at my office, baby in tow, into a few of the society wives’ group chats.

The caption was vicious: [Ex-wife sells off Vance assets, forces newborn’s father into bankruptcy.]

Summer’s hands were shaking as she held up her phone. “Ms. Stirling, they’re tearing you apart.”

“Let them.”

“But clients are seeing this too.”

I scrolled through the comments, then sent one message:

[How much can we close today?]

The reply came fast: [Small float plus two minority shareholders—we can hit sixty-two percent today. Miles Montgomery still has five points. He wants to see you.]

Miles Montgomery was Garrison Group’s second-largest shareholder. He’d climbed the ranks with Garrett and knew exactly which way the wind blew.

I replied, [Tonight.]

Summer asked, “Ms. Stirling, aren’t you going to defend yourself?”

“Defend myself to who?”

She froze.

I said, “You defend yourself to reasonable people. They’re not. So I’ll show them results instead.”

That evening, Mrs. Vance arrived.

She walked in and dropped her bag on the conference table.

“Scarlett Stirling, you’ve really outdone yourself.”

I didn’t get up.

“Mrs. Vance, sit down if you want, but don’t block the staff.”

Her voice shot up. “What did you just call me?”

“Mrs. Vance.”

“I’m Garrett’s mother!”

“Not mine.”

She jabbed a finger at me. “I haven’t even settled accounts with you about those properties. Now you’re bullying Ruby and the baby? Do you have any conscience left?”

I asked, “Did Garrett send you?”

“I came myself! Garrison Group is the Vance family’s foundation. You have money, so you help.”

“No, I don’t.”

“You were part of this family for five years! We fed you, we gave you a roof over your head.”

I slid a statement across the table. “Wedding expenses—my family paid. The marital home—mine. Those jewelry sets you got every birthday—I paid for those too.”

She didn’t even glance at it. “Don’t throw papers at me. I’m telling you—a divorced woman should know her place and stay out of sight. You keep making a scene like this, who’s ever going to want you?”

I laughed. “Mrs. Vance, I’m not a used commodity. I don’t need anyone to ‘want’ me.”

Her face went red. “You can’t give Garrett a child. What’s wrong with him finding Ruby?”

The office fell dead quiet. A few staff members hovered by the door.

Ruby appeared too, baby in arms, standing just behind Mrs. Vance like a shield.

Mrs. Vance puffed up. “Ruby gave us a grandchild. What have you done besides spend money?”

I opened another file on the desk.

“Made money.”