THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 36

"Father Benedict never makes a wrong choice. Once he sees Apex's proposal, he'll know exactly who to pick!"

"The will of the Church is unfathomable! I suggest you stop trying to guess Father Benedict's thoughts—unless you want to…" The slightly overweight executive drew his finger across his neck in a silent warning.

At that, the others fell silent at once, not daring to utter another word.

After the video conference ended, Gordon made his way to the dining room.

He stopped at the sight of the dark, unrecognizable array of four dishes and a soup on the table, lost in thought.

But Alaina looked at him with hopeful anticipation. "Why are you just standing there? Come on, try your big sister's cooking!"

Gordon hesitated for a moment. Reluctantly, he picked up a fork, only to set it down again just as quickly. He pressed his lips together and asked, "Sis, you haven't told me what brings you here tonight."

Alaina propped her chin in her hands. "Eat while I tell you."

"Has Skyler tried any yet?" Gordon asked, shifting his gaze to his nephew.

Alaina turned to Skyler. "Oh, that's right! Skyler, you haven't tasted it yet! Give it a try. Not everyone gets the honor of eating my home cooking—your dad never had the privilege. You're even luckier than him."

Skyler kept a cheerful smile on his face but was screaming internally.

Some luck this is. Anyone else can have it.

He didn't want to be the guinea pig.

His uncle was ruthless, dragging him down with him at the first opportunity.

Skyler reluctantly grabbed a fork and was about to spear a piece of food when he abruptly changed the subject, glancing at Gordon. "Uncle, guess what? I saw that scam artist outside the coffee shop today—the one who tricked us in the elevator last time! She even tried to fool me again, saying your recovery is just a façade, and that you'd collapse tonight before nine o'clock! But look at you—almost nine, and you're perfectly fine. Isn't that nonsense?"

"You asked why Mom came over so suddenly? She was worried you'd pass out and no one would be around, so she came to check on you."

Gordon narrowed his eyes, his sharp angular gaze impossible to read, revealing nothing.

He glanced at the clock on the wall.

It was 8:55 p.m.

Five minutes to nine.

"See? It's not even nine yet. Enough talking—eat!" Alaina snapped, scooping up a forkful of something unidentifiable and stuffing it into Skyler's mouth.

Ding!

Just as he got up, the clock on the wall chimed the hour.

Nine o'clock.

"See, it's nine. Crisis averted." Skyler set down his fork, grinning triumphantly at Alaina. "Told you, Mom! Uncle's fine. Dr. Hackett's a miracle worker, and that woman is nothing but a fraud."

No sooner had the words left Skyler's lips—

Bang!

Gordon had just opened the wine cabinet and was reaching for a bottle when a sharp pain stabbed through his chest. The world went black; he collapsed to the floor, completely unconscious.

Two voices screamed out at once—

"Uncle!"

"Gordon!"