Emily let out a suppressed whimper. "Scarlett... I did it. Can you forgive Rhys now?"
Before I could answer, Rhys roared into the phone.
"Scarlett Taylor, are you insane?"
His voice was laced with venom. "Emily is just a kid! She just graduated! I helped her with a parking spot, and you force her to slap herself? Is this how petty you've become? You're acting like a shrew!"
First time in eight years he'd ever raised his voice at me like that. And he did it for her.
Emily coughed lightly in the background, playing the martyr. "Rhys, stop... She's pregnant. Don't yell at her because of me. I'll feel guilty."
Her act worked perfectly. Rhys's tone softened instantly. "Em, you're too kind. People walk all over you because you let them. But I won't let you be bullied. I'm getting justice for you."
Then his rage turned back to me.
"Listen carefully, Scarlett. If you want to keep me as your husband—if you want that child to have a father—you will apologize to Emily. Immediately."
He paused, letting the threat hang. "Or we divorce."
Even though I'd already made up my mind, the ultimatum struck a nerve. He was willing to throw away eight years and his unborn child for a neighbor he'd known two months.
People really do change, I thought. Or maybe he was always this way, and I was just too blind to see it.
"Is that a promise?" I asked, my voice steady.
Rhys faltered. "What?"
"Fine. As you wish." I cut through his confusion. "We divorce."
His breathing hitched. He clearly hadn't expected me to call his bluff. But the words were out, and with Emily standing right there, his ego wouldn't let him back down.
"Fine!" he snapped. "Divorce it is. Don't come crawling back when you realize what you've lost!"
"I'm returning those exact words to you. I hope you won't regret this."
I ended the call and turned to Jack, who was supporting my weight. His face was dark with suppressed rage.
"Jack," I said, my voice steady despite the pain radiating through me. "Pull the project you gave Rhys. Reassign it immediately. He doesn't deserve a scrap of your charity."
Jack nodded, jaw set. "Consider it done. I'm calling President Zhou right now."