THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 34

So, the first thing Alaina needed to do was track down Caitlin and get to the bottom of this.

"Mom, what are you even talking about?" Skyler sighed, exasperated. "Uncle Gordon and I took the prescription she wrote to see an actual doctor. The doctor said Uncle Gordon is perfectly healthy—just a little too much internal heat, that's all."

"Which doctor did you go to?" Alaina immediately pressed.

"Hackett. Dr. Shepherd," Skyler replied.

At the mention of Hackett, Alaina's tense shoulders relaxed a bit. "Oh, Dr. Shepherd! That's a relief."

Dr. Shepherd was a legendary physician in Silverhaven, well-known for curing all sorts of rare and complicated illnesses. Alaina had heard his name more times than she could count in her circle of friends.

"Skyler, are you absolutely sure you saw Dr. Shepherd at Hackett?" Alaina asked again, needing to be certain.

Skyler nodded and pulled up the appointment record on his phone to show her. "Look, Mom. Here's the confirmation. Now can you finally stop worrying?"

Yet even with the proof right in front of her, Alaina couldn't quite let go of the anxiety twisting in her chest. Her eyes were clouded with concern, as if she had a premonition that something terrible was about to happen.

Noticing her unease, Skyler patted her on the shoulder, half-amused, half-resigned. "Mom, you and Uncle Gordon are exactly the same. You believe whatever anyone tells you. Do you really think Dr. Shepherd knows less than some random girl?"

If he hadn't stopped Gordon, the man would've actually taken Caitlin's so-called medicine.

They kept talking as they walked, and when they reached the entrance to City Supermarket, Alaina tugged Skyler's arm. "Hold on, Skyler."

"What is it, Mom?" Skyler turned back.

"We need to pick up a few things, then stop by your uncle's place," Alaina insisted. "If he really does faint tonight and there's no one around, that would be dangerous."

Gordon preferred solitude. Other than the two nights a month he spent at the family estate, he lived alone. Even the cleaning staff only came by at scheduled times; there was no one living in.

If something happened, there might not even be anyone to call an ambulance.

He frowned. "That's odd. Maybe Uncle Gordon isn't home?"

Alaina looked at him, worry etched across her face. "Skyler, do you think something's actually happened to your uncle?"

"Of course not, Mom. Please don't scare yourself," Skyler replied, trying to sound reassuring. "I'll call him, okay?"

"Alright." Alaina nodded.

Skyler took out his phone and dialed Gordon's number.

Ring after ring—no answer.

Now Alaina was truly panicked. Her face went pale, and her voice shook. "He's not answering the door, and he's not picking up his phone. He must've fainted! Quick, call an ambulance!"