THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 13

Beatrice shot Gordon a look. "That's called Murphy's Law, and you'd better believe it. If you end up single and come crying to me, don't expect any help! Unless, of course, you beg for it!"

She lifted her chin in mock arrogance, feigning indifference but secretly relishing the thought.

Oh, she couldn't wait for the day this stubborn kid would swallow his pride and come asking for her advice.

Just picturing Gordon heartbroken over some girl was enough to make Beatrice giddy with anticipation.

Gordon caught the dreamy look on his mother's face and cut in. "Mom, that sort of thing might happen to other people, but it'll never happen to me."

Honestly, he'd much rather spend his time making money than chasing after girls.

At least money could satisfy both his material needs and give him peace of mind.

Women? They'd just spend his money.

Why on earth should he work hard just to finance someone he wasn't even related to?

No way.

Absolutely not.

Of course, Gordon had no idea that one day in the future, he'd be more than willing to hand over every cent he owned for her sake.

But that's a story for another time.

"Don't act all high and mighty," Beatrice huffed, giving Gordon a swift kick. "Don't make me start using fancy phrases to put you in your place!"

Fancy phrases?

Skyler's eyes lit up in curiosity. "Grandma, how do you use fancy phrases to insult someone? Can you teach me?"

Beatrice pointed at Gordon. "Listen up, this is how it's done."

"Okay!" Skyler nodded eagerly.

Beatrice continued, "He panics when cornered, jumps around like a headless chicken, never learns from his mistakes, and cooks up trouble wherever he goes!"

Skyler burst out laughing, nearly doubling over.

Honestly, his grandma was a genius.

Probably only Beatrice dared to call Gordon out like that, right to his face.

And the best part? Gordon didn't even dare talk back.

"I'm Caitlin, Keeley."

"Caitlin?" He repeated the name, certain he'd heard it before, but when he looked at her face, he couldn't place her at all.

While Keeley was puzzling over it, Caitlin filled in the blanks. "Fortune Kensington is my grandfather."

Fortune Kensington!

Keeley's eyes went wide with surprise. "Wait, you're Catie? You're really Catie?"

"That's me." Caitlin smiled and nodded.

Keeley looked her over, still in disbelief.

Back when he'd seen Caitlin before, she was always caked in makeup and dressed in drab, ill-fitting clothes. She was barely in her teens, but somehow managed to look like a middle-aged housewife—aloof, unapproachable, and with a chip on her shoulder.

Honestly, Keeley had never had a good impression of her.

But the Caitlin standing before him now was different—her style had changed, her face was fresh and open, and even her attitude seemed transformed.

The old Caitlin would never have addressed a janitor like him as "Keeley."