THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 385

“All pursuits are inferior, only studying is supreme”? Seriously?

Hargrove never would have guessed that simply glancing at a beautiful woman would earn him a lecture from Master Ninth.

“Brilliant! Master Ninth, your wisdom is truly on another level. I can only dream of catching up to you!” Hargrove gave Gordon a thumbs-up, grinning.

Gordon shot him a look but said nothing.

Undeterred, Hargrove pressed on. “Master Ninth, can I ask you something?”

“Go ahead,” Gordon replied coolly.

Hargrove’s eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Have you ever fallen for a girl at first sight?”

He was genuinely curious.

Hargrove was several years younger than Gordon, and even he’d dated twice already. Most guys their age were married with kids, but Gordon was still single. Hargrove sometimes suspected Gordon might just be a lifelong bachelor.

After all, Gordon never showed the slightest interest in women.

“Never,” Gordon answered without hesitation.

Hargrove tried again. “So, have you ever liked any girl at all?”

“No.”

Hargrove let out a sigh. “I can’t wait to see what you’ll be like on your wedding day! Who on earth could possibly handle someone like you?”

Suddenly, a thought struck him and he burst out, “Master Ninth, rumor has it that all the men in your family end up totally henpecked. That won’t happen to you, will it? Haha!”

The Sylvester and White families had always been close. When Hargrove was a kid, he’d often hear about Old Mr. Sylvester being so thoroughly put in his place by Dowager Beatrice that he was afraid to go home.

“Henpecked?” Gordon let out a quiet, derisive laugh. “Do you think Mars will ever collide with Earth?”

“Of course not,” Hargrove replied, shaking his head.

Gordon’s tone was crisp and icy. “Then why would you ever think I’d end up like that?”

Hargrove scratched his head and looked up at Gordon.

In the sunlight, Gordon stood there, imposing as ever. Hargrove was a solid six feet, but Gordon still towered over him by nearly four inches. Just looking up at him made Hargrove feel the pressure—he could hardly meet Gordon’s gaze.

Fair enough. With a presence like that, how could Master Ninth ever be henpecked?

No way. Not a chance.

—

Caitlin had just reached the entrance of the restaurant when she brushed past someone leaving.

The man walked a few steps ahead, suddenly sensed something, and looked back. His face lit up instantly.

But Farrell pretended not to notice her meaning and whipped out his phone. “No problem, I’ll order a single meal too. We can share a table, right?”

With things at this point, Caitlin couldn’t reasonably refuse. “Alright, sure.”

She picked a window seat.

Farrell was actually already stuffed, but he forced himself to finish a whole meal, just to keep up the act in front of Caitlin.

After they ate, Farrell took out his phone. “Miss Kensington, shall we exchange WhatsApp?”

“Sure, but my phone’s almost dead,” Caitlin replied, pulling up her WhatsApp QR code anyway.

Farrell’s heart raced—finally, he’d get Caitlin’s contact. He hurriedly aimed his phone to scan her code.

Just as he was about to finish—

*Beep!*

Caitlin’s phone, battery critically low, shut itself off.

Farrell blinked in disbelief. Seriously?

He’d been *this* close to adding her on WhatsApp!

Caitlin tucked her phone away with a smile. “Maybe next time, Mr. Ryan. I’ve got something to take care of, so I’ll be heading off.”