THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 28

Fortune was never one to lose his temper—certainly not in front of his son and daughter-in-law. But now, his sudden outburst left Ernest and Iliana frozen in place, too shocked to utter a word.

It was a long moment before Ernest found his voice. He turned to his father, stammering, "Dad, I didn't mean it like that…"

"Then what did you mean?" Fortune sighed, his frustration simmering beneath a veneer of patience. "Ernest, listen, a man can be poor, but he can't be without ambition. Sure, our family isn't as wealthy or respected as the Chandlers, but I believe that if we work hard, if we keep striving, there's nothing stopping us from surpassing them someday."

Iliana scoffed, arms crossed. "Dad, you make it sound so easy! Do you even realize how hard it is for ordinary people to change their lot in life? Never mind, talking to you is pointless—you just don't get it."

Who were the Chandlers, really? And who were they? How could they ever hope to surpass a family like that? What did they have—Caitlin, the clueless country girl who could barely fend for herself?

Not in this life—or the next, or the one after that—would Caitlin ever amount to anything close to the Chandlers.

The very thought that Caitlin, now divorced, might somehow rise above that family made Iliana's head ache. She pinched her temples, exasperated.

"There's nothing hard about it." The soft, even voice cut through the tension.

"What did you say?" Iliana and Ernest both turned, not sure they'd heard right.

Caitlin looked Ernest and Iliana straight in the eyes, enunciating each word. "I said, surpassing the Chandlers isn't hard at all."

To Caitlin, it wasn't even a challenge.

Iliana burst out laughing, unable to contain her disbelief. Even Bonnie, who'd been quietly watching from the side, couldn't hide the sneer in her eyes.

Did Caitlin even know what she was saying? Did she really think that just because she'd once married into a wealthy family, she was something special? Now she was just a cast-off—damaged goods.

Look at her now! She'd be lucky to marry any decent man at all, never mind someone rich. What respectable man would want a divorced woman like her? And yet, here Caitlin was, still dreaming of overtaking the Chandlers.

Delusional.

Before this, Ernest and his wife had been living in a cramped, rundown apartment in Silverhaven, barely making ends meet.

Iliana was livid. Move into her house? Over her dead body. That old man could dream all he wanted—she'd never let Caitlin, an outsider, live under her roof.

Sure, the house had been a wedding gift for Caitlin, but so what? Jarvis was dead now, and the deed had her and Ernest's names on it. As far as Iliana was concerned, Caitlin had no claim to the place.

Now Caitlin wanted to move in and stake her claim? Not a chance.

Fortune caught the hesitation in his daughter-in-law's eyes. "Don't worry, Iliana. Catie's a good kid. Once she gets into college and makes something of herself, she'll be grateful for everything you two have done. She'll take good care of you."

College? Success? Caitlin? Iliana could barely keep a straight face. She'd be lucky to get into a community college, let alone a university.

"Dad, aren't you working as a janitor over at the apartment complex?" Iliana shot back, her tone sharp. "If Catie really needs something to do, why not get her a job at the front desk, filing paperwork or answering phones? She could make a couple thousand a month, and at least she wouldn't be sitting at home dreaming up these ridiculous fantasies." She looked Caitlin up and down, her words biting. "She doesn't exactly strike me as college material, anyway."