Ryan scoffed, his disgust deepening. "Aria Henson, when did you become so calculating? Did that nouveau riche husband of yours leave you nothing? Money, money, money—you're truly vulgar beyond endurance."
Bile rose in my throat just looking at his face.
"Are you giving it or not? If you don't, I'll tear this agreement to shreds and sue for a split of the family estate tomorrow!"
"Give it to her!" Matthew shouted immediately.
Gritting his teeth, he pulled out a checkbook, scribbled the amount, and threw the check at me.
"Take the money and behave yourself. Georgia is about to represent the Henson Group at a major jewelry exhibition—don't you dare cause trouble."
I couldn't be bothered to waste another breath on him. I snatched the check and turned to leave.
Behind me, Georgia's voice drifted out, sounding aggrieved and tearful. "Brothers, is Aria still angry with me? Actually, I can give all of this back to her..."
"Give back what?" Ryan sneered, his gaze fixed on my retreating figure, specifically my lower abdomen. "Only you are worthy of your current status, Georgia. She's just a woman carrying a barbarian's bastard. What right does she have to be mentioned in the same breath as you?"
Cold air hit my face as I stepped out of the hotel.
Ryan's mocking words echoed in my mind.
*"Since you got what you wanted, hurry up and get lost—get as far away from the capital as possible!"*
*"No one here welcomes you, and no one wants to see the bastard in your belly!"*
Just then, the baby kicked. A strong, reassuring thump against my ribs.
I looked down at the curve of my belly, then at the check in my hand.
With calm deliberation, I tore the check into tiny pieces.
Tossed the confetti into a nearby trash can.
Five million?
Even the grocery bag Sebastian bought me cost more than that.
I only asked for the money to make them believe that was all I wanted. To lower their guard.
A convenience store glowed on the corner. I walked in and bought the cheapest loaf of bread I could find. The dry, tasteless crust scratched my throat as I chewed, but it was sustenance.
An engine roared behind me.
A red Ferrari screeched to a halt at the curb.
The window rolled down, revealing Georgia's face.
She no longer bothered to hide her smugness.
"Yo, sister. Have you fallen so low that you're gnawing on dry bread?"
She didn't even get out of the car. Just raised her phone and snapped a photo of me.