THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 180

She really had just let her imagination run wild.

Jenny's blood seemed to rush backward in her veins. All the strength drained from her body in an instant, and her knees buckled—she crumpled to the floor, her dignity shattered alongside her composure. Embarrassment burned through her; she wished the ground would just swallow her up.

Naylor climbed into the car and took the passenger seat.

Gordon sat alone in the spacious back row, pulling out his well-worn copy of *Strolling Down Wall Street*. He flipped through the pages, his attention wholly absorbed.

From his vantage point, Naylor could see Gordon in the rearview mirror, catching the title on the book's cover. He couldn't help but feel a surge of respect.

No wonder they called him Master Ninth.

No wonder he stood at the very top of the financial world.

Even during a car ride, he was studying finance!

After reading for a while, Gordon lifted his gaze. "Naylor," he said, his voice low and resonant.

"Yes, Master Ninth?" Naylor straightened in his seat.

"Is there anywhere nearby that sells lipstick?"

Lipstick?

Naylor's eyes widened. Had he heard that right?

Master Ninth wanted to buy lipstick!

Who for? If the handbags earlier were for Skyler, was the lipstick for her too? But lipstick—Skyler could buy plenty back home. There was no reason for Gordon to go out of his way.

Unless…

Was there a new lady in his life?

Naylor knew better than to speculate about his boss. He zipped his lips, tamping down his curiosity, and glanced back at Gordon. "Master Ninth, there's a luxury cosmetics boutique just ahead."

"Have the driver take us there," Gordon replied calmly.

"Yes, Master Ninth."

Inside the boutique, Gordon found himself overwhelmed by the rows of products. He couldn't make sense of it.

Lipsticks were all red, weren't they? Why did there need to be so many shades? He honestly couldn't tell the difference.

The sales assistant smiled. "Sir, if you find it difficult to choose a color, we have this complete set. It contains every shade in the collection."

A complete set? That sounded… convenient.

Gordon, already exhausted from trying to tell one shade from another, nodded. "That'll do."

It saved him the trouble of picking one out.

--

Two days passed in a blur.

Before long, it was moving day for Caitlin.

The weather was glorious—sunny, but, thankfully, not too hot. The muggy air had finally cooled.

Fortune had piled up a mountain of things. "Catie, is it alright if I take all of this with us to the house?"

Most of it was sentimental junk, more or less the sort of stuff you'd find in a thrift shop's discard pile.

He'd spent his whole life being frugal, unable to part with anything. No matter where he went, his treasures went too.

Caitlin smiled, "Of course, Grandpa. The first floor's yours—put whatever you like wherever you like."

Just then, Fortune emerged from the building, pride shining in his eyes. "Buying! My granddaughter bought it herself with her own hard-earned money. She's the most devoted grandchild a man could wish for—you won't find another like her in a hundred miles."

Like every grandparent, Fortune wanted the whole world to know how wonderful his granddaughter was.

The driver's eyes went wide with shock.

Unbelievable. Never judge a book by its cover.

She looked so young, yet she'd achieved so much.

More than that, despite Caitlin's obvious success, there wasn't a trace of arrogance or superiority about her. They say when the poor strike it rich, they love to show off, but Caitlin wasn't like that at all. She was calm, unassuming, her elegance effortless and genuine.

Truly, the wealthy are always the most understated.

--

Meanwhile, at Silverhaven Airport, Gordon had just arrived.

Skyler came to meet him in person.

Gordon, dressed in a crisp white shirt, a black overcoat draped over one arm, wheeled his suitcase through the crowd. At nearly six-foot-three, he stood out easily, commanding every eye in the terminal.

Skyler waved him over eagerly. "Uncle Gordon, this way!"

Gordon spotted her and strode over.

Skyler grabbed his suitcase, unable to contain her excitement. "Did you get the bag I asked for?"

"I did," Gordon replied, his voice even and reserved.

"Thanks, Uncle Gordon!" Skyler grinned, then asked, "Did you get a birthday present for Boss Caitlin too?"

Gordon's face remained impassive. "No."