Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Harper drove me back to her apartment, her face full of concern.

"What's your next move?"

I took a sip of hot tea, completely calm.

"I'm going to make them tear each other apart from the inside out."

The next afternoon, I showed up at the high-end medspa in the Gold Coast where Linnea Weaver spent her afternoons.

Just as expected, she was reclining in the VIP lounge.

When she spotted me, her hand immediately drifted down to stroke her flat stomach, her eyes gleaming with unconcealed triumph.

Linnea smirked, her voice dripping with mock sweetness.

"Well, well. Look who it is. Former Mrs. Archer."

She theatrically covered her mouth with a delicate chuckle.

"Oops, I shouldn't call you that anymore. You and Corbin are officially divorced, and you walked away with nothing. Can you even afford a treatment here? You're not planning on skipping out on the bill, are you?"

I offered a tranquil smile.

"What happens between my husband and me is none of your concern. By the way, aren't you supposed to be cripplingly depressed? You look remarkably lively to me."

I let my gaze drop slowly to her midsection.

"That bump is starting to show. Where's the father? Corbin told me he needs to take extra care of you. Don't tell me this poor baby is going to grow up without a dad in the picture?"

My words hit a raw nerve instantly. Linnea lunged forward as if to slap me, but her friend quickly caught her arm.

I seized the moment to drive the wedge deeper.

"Besides, who told you I left with nothing? Corbin and I have a decade of history together. Do you really believe he'd leave me out in the cold? If it weren't for…"

I trailed off deliberately, letting my eyes linger meaningfully over her belly.

"Anyway, just focus on keeping that baby healthy. We'll both make sure it gets everything it needs."

Linnea stood frozen in place, her eyes widening with sudden doubt and suspicion.

I knew Corbin intimately. A man that selfish would never hand over his real financial ledger to anyone.

Linnea had no clue how much wealth he actually held, which meant she couldn't be sure if I was bluffing.

Corbin had undoubtedly told her that I was infertile, which was why getting pregnant made her feel invincible.

Now, my subtle insinuations made her suspect Corbin was merely using her as a surrogate incubator to secure a child for our family.

Paranoia would inevitably take root between them.

The more erratic they became, the more legal ammunition they would hand me on a silver platter.