THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 416

Gordon glanced at Beatrice. “Mom, I’m heading out.”

“Go on,” Beatrice nodded.

As soon as Gordon left, Raven grew anxious. “Gordon…”

They’d already lost more than a decade together. Raven couldn’t bear to waste any more time; she wanted Gordon to face his feelings and finally give their fifteen-year-long story the ending it deserved.

“Can you stop going on and on about this? My head’s about to split,” Beatrice said, rubbing her temples. “It’s not like Gordon’s the only man in the world. Why are you so stuck on him?”

Raven looked at her. “Mrs. Sylvester, don’t you want Gordon to settle down and start a family?”

Beatrice rolled her eyes. “Are you telling me you can’t find anyone else? Why are you so set on my son?”

“It’s not that I’m clinging to Gordon, Mrs. Sylvester—it’s that he fell for me first. Unless Gordon stays single forever, I promise you, I’ll be the one waiting for him at the altar.” Determination lit up Raven’s face.

Beatrice just gave a dramatic eye roll.

Raven pressed on, “I know you don’t like me, Mrs. Sylvester, but you know Gordon’s stubborn. No matter how you feel, he’ll make his own choice—and it’s going to be me. I’d advise you to get used to having me around, so we don’t end up butting heads as mother- and daughter-in-law.”

With that, Raven spun on her heel and walked out.

If Beatrice was as clever as she claimed, she’d take the hint.

Staring after Raven’s retreating back, Beatrice was dumbfounded.

She’d met her share of narcissists—but never anyone quite like this.

What a rare breed, these Gordons, she thought; there seem to be more of them every year.

But soon enough, Beatrice snapped out of her daze and whipped out her phone, texting Gordon:

*You just told Raven you like someone else. Spill! Is it Catie?*

God only knew how excited Beatrice had been when she’d heard Gordon say those words.

*It’s not, absolutely not,* Gordon replied in seconds, *That was just an excuse to turn Raven down!*

Gordon had barely finished typing his reply.

Screech!

He hadn’t even put his phone down before he slammed the brakes.

Up ahead, not far away, Caitlin was walking side by side with Farrell.

And, as if that weren’t enough, Farrell had somehow gotten his hands on a little corgi.

Farrell again! Did this guy ever give up?

Had Caitlin blown him off this morning just for Farrell?

It took a long moment before Gordon snapped out of his daze. He pulled out his phone, opened up a search engine, and typed:

*What should I prepare for a confession of love?*

He saw one answer recommending 10,001 red roses. Gordon frowned.

Roses? No matter how lovely, they wilt in the end. The whole “roses mean love” thing—wasn’t that just a marketing ploy by some shameless florist? And yet, so many fools fell for it, showing up to their big moment clutching a bunch of roses.

Ridiculous.

He wasn’t about to pay the idiot tax.

A few minutes later, Gordon made a call.

Soon, his assistant’s voice came through the line.

“Hello, sir.”

Gordon’s tone was low and steady. “I need you to get me 10,001 red roses.”