THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 269

Nineteen years.

A full nineteen years.

Not a day had passed without Keira longing to see her granddaughter again. There were times she’d convinced herself she never would—that fate had drawn a permanent line between them.

But today.

Right now.

She was standing face to face with her.

No one could possibly understand what Keira was feeling in that moment. Tears welled up, blurring her vision until the world became a haze of hope and disbelief.

Caitlin hadn’t said anything yet—hadn’t confirmed her identity—but Keira knew. She was certain. This was her. This was Freya.

That unbreakable bond of blood—no distance, no years, could erase it.

With a soft clatter, the garbage bag tumbled from Caitlin’s hands to the floor.

“You… you’re… are you… Keira?”

Keira?

The name barely left Caitlin’s lips before Keira broke down, her voice trembling through sobs. “Freya, my sweet Freya, I’m your grandmother! I’ve searched for you for so long, so painfully long!”

Caitlin just stood there, her eyes burning with emotion.

So this was her—this was the woman who had suffered so much. The Keira she’d heard about in whispered stories.

Once, Caitlin had pitied the old woman from a distance, hearing the tales of the Richards family’s misfortunes. Most people, at Keira’s age, were surrounded by family—children, grandchildren, laughter echoing through the house. But Keira? Her son was trapped in a hospital bed, unresponsive. Her daughter-in-law and granddaughter lost to the world. People said Keira had endured more than anyone should. Looking at her now, Caitlin could see it was true. She’d read online that Keira was only sixty-two—barely past her prime, the same age as Fortune. Yet Fortune seemed so much younger, more alive, than Keira did.

Only when she studied Caitlin’s face up close did she allow herself to believe this was real and not another fantasy. In her dreams, she could never make out her granddaughter’s features. But here—here was Freya, with her mother’s eyes, her father’s mouth, that strong, straight nose, and even the tiny red birthmark just below her right eye, exactly where Stuart had his.

The birthmark was so small you’d miss it unless you looked closely. Caitlin was beautiful to begin with, and that little mark made her even more striking—unique and unforgettable.

Keira didn’t need a DNA test to know the truth; every feature screamed of her family’s bloodline.

The more she looked, the more Keira’s heart filled with joy. She had a granddaughter. Her own flesh and blood!

Keira squeezed Caitlin’s hand, her voice hoarse with emotion. “Freya, my sweet Freya, you’ve suffered so much all these years. I’m so sorry, darling. I should’ve found you sooner.”

Every time she thought of her granddaughter’s hardships, pain squeezed Keira’s heart. She would have taken that suffering upon herself in a heartbeat, if only she could.

“Grandma, don’t say that,” Caitlin whispered, shaking her head through tears. “I haven’t suffered at all—not compared to you. Thank you for never giving up on me, all these years.”