THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 160

Hudson joined in mocking Jasper, sneering, "If you'd known it would come to this, why did you do it in the first place? If I were Mr. Winslow, I wouldn't forgive a snake like you either."

Jasper's steps faltered. He looked up at Babur and Hudson, a cold, bitter laugh escaping his lips. "Don't kid yourselves—you're just as much traitors as I am. Do you really think Mr. Winslow will forgive you two? Dream on!"

"We're all finished—Babur, Hudson, you're done for, just like me!"

He burst into manic laughter, his face twisted with hysteria.

Babur frowned in distaste. "Spare me. We're nothing like you. Mr. Winslow and us—we're real brothers."

Hudson straightened, adding, "That's right!"

Jasper ignored them and stumbled away, half-mad, out of the building.

Babur and Hudson took the elevator to the top floor.

Ding.

The doors slid open, and there was Victor, deep in conversation with a group of employees.

Without a word, Babur and Hudson rushed over. As if on cue, they dropped to their knees before Victor.

"Mr. Winslow, we know we messed up. We're sorry. Punish us however you want, just please—"

"Yes, we really are sorry. Please, give us one more chance."

Babur, tears streaming down his face, choked out, "Mr. Winslow, as long as you give us another chance, I'll do anything you ask."

Hudson nodded frantically. "Mr. Blake is right, Mr. Winslow. For the sake of our years together, please—give us another chance. We swear, from now on, whatever happens, we'll never betray you again."

Babur knew Victor well; usually, if he humbled himself this much, Victor's heart would soften, and he'd relent.

But today, Victor just looked at them, his expression icy.

A chill ran down Babur's spine.

Then Victor spoke. "I already told you—everyone gets one chance. Regret won't change anything."

"And besides, you're not here to apologize. You haven't even realized what you did wrong. The only reason you're kneeling here today is because you're afraid of losing your comfortable lives."

Hudson and Babur went pale with panic.

What now?

From the look on Victor's face, he wasn't going to forgive them.

Were they really about to lose everything?

No. No, this couldn't be happening.

Desperate, Hudson threw himself at Victor's legs, sobbing. "Mr. Winslow! Please, one more chance. I have a family to support—I can't lose everything. Please, have mercy!"

Victor shook him off in disgust. "Funny, you didn't think about this when you were hiring a chauffeur to drive your precious puppy to and from doggy daycare. And you," he said, turning to Babur, "isn't your family looking for a new gatekeeper? Why don't you go home and apply for that job, instead of wasting my time here?"

Every humiliation Babur and Hudson had inflicted on Victor the night before, he returned in full.

They both went ashen, their regret overwhelming.

If only they'd known it would end like this, they never would have treated Victor that way.

But now?

When morning came and Gordon threw back the covers, he could hardly believe what he saw.

Images from last night's dream flashed through his mind.

He'd never experienced anything like it before.

The strangest part? The girl in his dream had Caitlin's face, and even her voice sounded the same...

Gordon's face flushed a deep red.

Knock, knock, knock—

Just then, someone knocked at the door.

"Who is it?" Gordon's voice was hoarse, a rough edge betraying his nerves.

"It's me, sir," came the housekeeper's voice from outside. "I'm here to collect the laundry."

"No need," Gordon replied, struggling to sound normal. "I'd like to sleep in a little today."

The housekeeper paused in surprise.

Sleep in?

That was unheard of! In all her years working at Sylvester Gardens, Gordon had always been the picture of discipline, never one to indulge in laziness. What on earth had gotten into him?

But she didn't pry. "Of course, sir. I'll come back later."

Once the housekeeper left, Gordon climbed out of bed, bundled up the sheets, and carried them to the bathroom. He filled the tub with water and, lacking laundry detergent, poured in some body wash instead, then bent over and began to scrub the sheets himself.