THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 113

Dalton's eyes widened in disbelief when he spotted Caitlin.

He truly hadn't expected her to show up. In his mind, Caitlin had already moved on from Julian—she'd made it seem like he was nothing but a distant memory.

Yet here she was, standing right in the middle of Julian's engagement party.

Apparently, he'd given Caitlin too much credit.

Maybe Julian had been right all along—everything Caitlin did was just a game, a way to get under Julian's skin and reel him back in.

Dalton watched her with disappointment clouding his face.

He just couldn't understand it.

Why did Caitlin insist on clinging to Julian? Was it really impossible for her to live without him?

Showing up here tonight—of all nights—was just inviting humiliation.

Dalton glanced at Julian, shaking his head and letting out a low whistle. "Julian, you really do know her best. She's crazy about you—would do anything for you, won't she?"

Julian's expression turned smug, his satisfaction written plainly across his face.

Just wait, he thought. Soon Apex would be his.

If Caitlin had come to crash his engagement, she wouldn't come empty-handed. No doubt she'd already drawn up the paperwork to hand over her shares in Apex.

Veronica strode over, heels clicking across the marble floor. "Dalton, want to bet on what Caitlin's going to pull next?"

Dalton folded his arms, eyes locked on Caitlin as she made her way through the crowd. "She's predictable as ever—she'll make a scene, shed some tears, and maybe even threaten to do something drastic. Same tricks she always used back when she lived with the Chandlers."

"Exactly." Veronica pulled out her phone, readying the camera. "I'm going to record every shameless second and post it online. Let everyone see just how pathetically she chases after my brother."

The more Veronica thought about it, the more worked up she became. She wouldn't just capture Caitlin's humiliation—she'd make sure Caitlin apologized to her as well.

He was right.

Caitlin was here, but she didn't look desperate or heartbroken. She looked like she had somewhere else to be—like Julian was the last thing on her mind.

Veronica let out a harsh laugh, her eyes flashing with disdain. "Building B? Dalton, what are you talking about? Do you even know who's hosting that party? That's the Hayes family's gala—Celeste Hayes' eighteenth birthday. The Hayes family didn't even invite me. Why on earth would they invite some nobody from the sticks?"

The Hayes family were the real deal—old money, just relocated from The Port Metropolis to Silverhaven. Every powerful family in the city was dying to get close to them, but most didn't even get a foot in the door.

Thanks to Julian, Veronica had made a name for herself in high society. She'd made connections with plenty of socialites, but even she hadn't been invited to the Hayes gala. Caitlin? She was nothing compared to Veronica.

Caitlin was a nobody—she wasn't even worth a strand of Veronica's hair.

There was no way the Hayes family would invite her.

The idea was laughable—pure fantasy.