Divorced, Then He Inherited a Fortune Chapter 2

"Allie, I came over today because I want to renegotiate custody of Toby."

I stared at him blankly.

The folder in my hands suddenly felt like it was on fire. I practically threw it back at his chest.

"In your dreams!"

Internally, I was panicking. If Fred really wanted to fight me for custody now, I would lose without a shadow of a doubt. I just wanted a little bit of his newfound cash, but this guy was coming for my actual life!

"In my dreams?" Fred let out a dry, mocking chuckle. "With my current resources, Allie, I assure you it is very much a reality."

My heart did a terrifying stutter. "Don't you dare! Fred, Toby is only three years old. He needs his mother."

"He needs his father too." Fred took a step forward. His presence was completely overwhelming. I instinctively shrank back. "And as his actual flesh and blood, I will obviously treat him better than whatever new stepdad you try to bring into the picture."

I rubbed my nose awkwardly, forcing the most pathetic smile I could muster. "If you are worried about my dating life, I will break up with him. I will break up with him right now! Tomorrow! It is done!"

Fred clearly had not expected me to offer up a breakup so easily. He froze, completely thrown off guard.

I immediately took advantage of the silence, keeping that sickeningly sweet smile plastered on my face. "I heard your biological parents found you. Congratulations."

Fred let out a soft scoff through his nose.

It was the absolute truth. His sudden transformation into a trust-fund heir felt like a wild hallucination.

He reached up and pulled off his sunglasses. Those deep, expressive eyes stared down at me for a long moment before he let out a contemptuous laugh. "What, are you regretting it now?"

"Regretting it so much I could die." I nodded, laughing softly. "So Fred, how about we go down to City Hall and get remarriage papers?"

"Keep dreaming." His face instantly went ice-cold. He turned his back on me, walking straight into the apartment to scoop a sleepy Toby right out of his bed.

He announced he was taking Toby out for the day. Obviously, I was not going to let that happen. If the man had motives to steal my custody, I was not letting my kid out of my sight for a single second.

Thankfully, Toby was on my side. He rubbed his little eyes and instantly burst into tears the second he saw me. "Mommy! I want Mommy!"

Toby always seemed to naturally clash with his dad. Ever since he was born, Fred found the little guy mildly annoying. He complained Toby took up too much space in bed and made too much a fuss at dinner. It was almost as if Fred was just a slightly older kid, constantly throwing a jealous fit because his exclusive attention had been stolen away.

So Toby thrashed in his arms, reaching out to me with big, watery eyes full of tears.

Left with no other option, Fred let out a defeated sigh and shoved the boy into my arms.

Sitting in the backseat of Fred's luxury car, Toby looked up at the roof with massive confusion in his tiny eyes.

"Mommy, the car lost its hair." He pulled a chubby little finger out of his mouth to point.

Fred scoffed from the driver's seat. He pressed a button, and the convertible roof smoothly slid into place.

"Whoa!" Toby scrambled up from my lap, his eyes sparkling like stars. "Daddy, Daddy!"

Fred finally cracked a smile. "At least you remember how to call me Daddy. Good to know someone in this car has a conscience." He let the words hang in the air for a second before adding quietly, "Unlike some people."

My smile faltered. I knew Fred just needed to take a few jabs at me to feel better, so I let it slide. It did not matter. His words barely had any real sting to them anyway.

Honestly, I knew exactly what today was about. Fred just wanted to make me uncomfortable and flash his wealth in my face out of pure spite.

Whatever Toby pointed at, Fred bought without blinking. Snacks, toys, anything the kid desired. He even rented out an entire floor of a high-end steakhouse right in the middle of the day.

Look at me, Allie. I am filthy rich now.

Every single movement he made screamed that exact sentence. It was incredibly annoying.

That money was not mine, and it was stressing me out. I propped my chin on my hand, frantically trying to brainstorm a game plan.

Right in the middle of my scheming, a terrible sense of dread washed over me. My chest tightened for absolutely no reason.

And then I looked up and saw my supposed rich boyfriend standing in the restaurant lobby, screaming his head off at the manager while his current girlfriend stood right beside him.

In that exact moment, Fred stiffened up like a cornered beast.