THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 8

Fortune could never sit still. Even at sixty-three, he had taken a job as a janitor in the apartment complex.

Every morning, he started work at seven-thirty, and in the afternoons, he clocked in again at four-thirty. He only got one day off a week and earned about six hundred dollars a month.

After Caitlin got married, Fortune, wanting to save money, rented out his own bedroom to a coworker. But he worried that Caitlin wouldn't have a place to stay if she ever came home, so he set up a small fold-out bed for himself in the living room.

Recently, his roommate had suffered a work injury and was recovering in the hospital, so for now, Fortune had the place to himself.

About twenty minutes later, Fortune came over holding a steaming bowl of homemade noodles. "Catie, dinner's ready."

"Thank you, Grandpa," Caitlin said, taking the bowl and digging in.

Fortune watched her with anticipation. "Catie, how does it taste?"

"It's delicious!" Caitlin quickly slurped up the noodles and flashed him a thumbs-up. "No one makes noodles like my grandpa. Best in the world."

Fortune's face lit up with pride. His eyes crinkled as he grinned. "Then have some more, sweetheart. There's plenty left in the pot."

"Okay." Caitlin nodded and kept eating.

Fortune just watched his granddaughter eat, his eyes full of both pride and concern. Over the past year living with the Chandlers, she must have gone through so much just to fit into that world.

He remembered how, when she was younger, Caitlin had never been so careful or poised at the dinner table.

But now, even the way she ate seemed so refined.

Thinking about how Caitlin had shown up at his door in the middle of the night, Fortune's worry only deepened. He chose his words carefully before speaking. "Catie… Tell me honestly—did something happen at the Chandlers'? Did they treat you badly?"

Caitlin put down her bowl and looked at him. "Grandpa, Julian and I are divorced."

He still couldn't believe it. To him, Caitlin had been head over heels for Julian. During that terrible time when she'd refused to eat, she'd gone two whole days without a single sip of water. She had loved him so much—how could she just end it, just like that?

Caitlin didn't explain further. She simply took a document from her bag and handed it over. "Here's the divorce agreement. You were right, Grandpa. I'm still young—I should focus on my studies, get into a good university, and chase my dreams. I won't waste my youth or let myself down again."

Nineteen years old.

The best years of her life.

They should be for pursuing dreams, not getting married too soon.

Seeing the divorce papers, Fortune finally realized she was telling the truth. His hands trembled as he held them.

Caitlin looked him in the eye and spoke slowly and clearly. "Grandpa, I know I was immature and stubborn before. I broke your heart, and I'm so sorry for all the worry I've caused you. From now on, I'll study hard and make sure we both have a good life."