THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 319

Ann was, without a doubt, a prodigy.

She was still just a teenager, yet already pursuing her master’s degree. And not just at any university—she was enrolled in an integrated bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral program at one of the country’s top schools.

What really set her apart, though, was her performance on the college entrance exams. Ann had ranked third in the entire city. First in her district.

Compared to Caitlin, Yara much preferred that her son model himself after Ann.

People like Caitlin would only lead her son astray.

That sort of influence had to be nipped in the bud.

Upon hearing this, Harlan muttered under his breath, “I…I don’t like Ann…”

Not one bit.

Ann wasn’t as pretty as Caitlin.

She wasn’t impressive.

And she always had that fake smile plastered on her face to please everyone.

Harlan couldn’t understand why his mother insisted he should be more like her.

“What did you say?” Yara’s voice sharpened.

Startled by the sudden edge in her tone, Harlan shrank back. “N-nothing…”

He sighed inwardly.

Forget it.

Things would get better when he grew up.

Once he was an adult, he could like whoever he wanted.

Suddenly, the car lurched to a stop.

Liam immediately turned to the front. “Winslow, what’s going on?”

The driver, Winslow, glanced back at them. “Sir, I think there’s something wrong with the engine. I’ll step out and take a look.”

As soon as the car cut out, the heat vanished, and the interior quickly turned chilly. Liam and Yara climbed out as well.

“How does it look, Winslow?” Liam asked, frowning in concern.

Winslow closed the hood with a sigh. “Sir, there are several issues. I’ll call Jacob and have him come out.”

Jacob was the Somersets’ other driver.

“Alright,” Liam agreed.

Yara scowled. “Just my luck. Car breaks down on New Year’s Monday.” She pulled her coat tighter against the cold. And of course, the car was completely dead.

Just then, “Woof! Woof! Woof!” A thin, desperate yelping caught Harlan’s attention.

He spotted a tiny black puppy shivering by the roadside.

The air was bitterly cold. The poor pup was trembling uncontrollably.

Without thinking, Harlan scooped the puppy into his arms. “Mom, can I keep him?”

Yara spun around. The sight of her son clutching the dirty, scrawny animal made her shriek. “Disgusting! Put that thing down! Stray dogs are crawling with parasites. It’s filthy!”

“He’s not dirty, Mom. He just looks so pitiful.”

Yara’s lips thinned in anger. “I’m going to count to three!”

Caitlin was on her way home when something moving by the roadside caught her eye.

A wriggling, dark little shape against a backdrop of white snow.

“Earl, could you pull over?” she asked.

“Of course, Miss Freya.” Earl eased the car to the curb.

Keira looked at her, puzzled. “What’s the matter, Freya?”

Hannah glanced at Caitlin, equally confused.

“I think there’s a puppy over there. I’m going to check,” Caitlin replied, already opening the car door.

Sure enough, there in the snow was a tiny black puppy, probably no more than a month old.

She bent down and gently scooped him up. “Hey there, little guy. Who left you out here?”

He was all black, kind of adorable, except for his pronounced underbite. Caitlin’s heart ached at the sight of him shivering violently in the icy cold.

She tucked the puppy into her coat, rubbing him to warm him up. “Shh, don’t worry. I’ll take you home.”

Hannah and Keira had followed her out.

Caitlin turned to Keira. “Grandma, can we keep him?”

Keira beamed. “Of course, darling! If you want a dog, you could have a whole barnyard if you like!”

After all, the estate was huge. If Caitlin wanted to start a zoo, no one would stop her.

Caitlin grinned. “Then let’s make him part of the family.”