THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 27

Caitlin caught every flicker of emotion in Bonnie's eyes.

She gave the briefest nod in response.

Caitlin was simple, really.

Treat her kindly, and she'd return the favor.

That much was obvious.

Bonnie had made her hostility clear—so Caitlin had no intention of lowering her guard.

Iliana turned to Bonnie. "Bonnie, go bring out some of those treats we brought back from Amberhold last month. Let your grandpa and Catie have a taste."

"Sure, Mom," Bonnie replied, and headed toward her room.

Ernest handed Caitlin a cup of freshly brewed tea, making small talk before sliding in, ever so casually, "Catie, why didn't you bring your husband along today? Come to think of it, ever since you two got married, he's never visited us."

Iliana's face lit up with anticipation. "Exactly, Catie! Next time, bring him over. We'd love to have him as a guest."

Julian was the rising star of Silverhaven's finance world.

Their family, as it stood, would've never brushed shoulders with someone of his stature.

But that had changed.

Now that Julian was Caitlin's husband, their own standing had risen right along with hers.

Caitlin lowered her eyes.

So that's what this sudden warmth toward Fortune was about.

The reason was clear.

Fortune looked like she was about to say something, but Caitlin met her gaze and spoke up, calm and straightforward. "Uncle, Aunt Iliana, Julian and I are divorced."

Divorced.

The word seemed to freeze the air in the room.

A long, stunned silence followed before Iliana finally found her voice. "C-Catie, you're joking, right? Why would you suddenly get a divorce?"

Ernest stared at her. "Catie, you must be kidding."

"I'm not," Caitlin replied, her tone as flat as if she were discussing what to have for breakfast. "The papers are signed. It's done."

Iliana swallowed hard and turned to Fortune, searching her face.

Fortune nodded, confirming every word Caitlin had said.

Bonnie returned with a bag of snacks just in time to catch the news. Her expression, so often twisted with resentment, now bloomed into a rare smile.

Divorced.

Perfect.

She'd always known that a man like Julian—handsome, wealthy, born to privilege—would never settle for someone plain and awkward as Caitlin.

Fortune leapt up, positioning herself between Caitlin and Iliana. "Iliana! You've gone too far!"

Iliana pressed her fingers to her temple, seething.

Of all times, Fortune Kensington had to make things worse!

The tension in the room was straining to the breaking point.

Ernest finally stepped in. "Iliana, Dad—let's all calm down." He turned to Caitlin, softening his tone. "Catie, you too. Try to see it from your aunt's perspective—divorce isn't a small thing. You should have said something to the family. And don't you realize? It's not easy for a young woman to shake the reputation of a divorcee. Tell me—why did you leave your husband?"

"Julian was seeing another woman," Caitlin answered simply.

That was all it took?

Ernest's temper flared, but he forced himself to sound reasonable. "Catie! This is the real world. Even ordinary men have affairs—how much more so someone like your husband? A man of means keeps a mistress or two—it's to be expected! There's not a man alive who doesn't stray now and then. Do you realize how lucky you were to marry into a family like the Chandlers? You're being ungrateful—throwing it all away for something so trivial?"

To Ernest, Caitlin was blowing things out of proportion.

She was ruining his daughter's future.

If he could, Ernest would drag Caitlin to Julian that very instant to beg for forgiveness.

A mistress? Was that really worth all this drama?

"Ernest, do you even hear yourself?" Fortune snapped, her eyes blazing. "Have you lost your sense of right and wrong? Julian broke his vows—of course Catie should divorce him! Our Kensington family may be small compared to the Chandlers, but at least we have integrity. We don't stoop to that kind of filth."

She turned on Iliana. "And you! Put yourself in Caitlin's shoes for once. If Ernest had cheated on you, would you be so calm? It's easy to ignore pain until it's your own."