THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 153

Driving for a dog?

The insult couldn't have been more obvious.

Hudson was humiliating Victor—utterly and completely. And the reason he dared to do it was clear enough: the power and backing of The Chandler Group.

Victor? In Hudson's eyes, he was nothing. Just a washed-up loser.

Gareth slammed his fist on the table. "Hudson! That's enough! Don't you think you're taking this too far?"

This was beyond outrageous.

"Taking it too far? Mr. Gareth, I think you're using the wrong words," Hudson replied, his tone dripping with mockery. "Letting Victor, this useless stray, drive my dog around is doing him a favor. If it weren't for all the years I've known him, he wouldn't even be qualified to be my dog's chauffeur!"

Babur snickered, eager to pile on. "Mr. Barrett's right. We're not the type to kick a man when he's down. If Mr. Winslow isn't interested in chauffeuring a dog, my place is still looking for a doorman. With his height and age, he'd be perfect for the job!"

Babur burst out laughing at his own joke, and Hudson quickly joined in.

Victor's face was a mask of barely contained fury. He wanted nothing more than to knock Babur's teeth out and wipe that smug look off Hudson's face. But common sense, cold and unyielding, kept him in his seat. Now wasn't the time.

Gareth jabbed a finger at the two of them. "Babur, Hudson! Let me tell you something—Apex isn't what it used to be. We've got Miss Kensington now, and she can make triple-A games. The two of you, backstabbing cowards, will regret this! Just wait and see!"

Miss Kensington?

Babur's laughter only grew louder. "That little blonde? Please. She thinks she can outdo Mr. Chandler and launch a triple-A title? Keep dreaming! Apex is a dead fish. Even if you handed that girl a whole ocean, she couldn't turn herself into a dragon. The only dragon in Silverhaven is Mr. Chandler!"

Ten more years wouldn't be enough for that little blond upstart to catch up to Julian.

No, not ten. Not even a hundred or a thousand years—she'd never reach Julian's level.

Gareth spat on the floor, seething. "Dragon? More like a rotting corpse!"

Hudson opened his mouth to retort, but Babur tugged him back. "Forget it, Mr. Barrett. Why waste your breath? Let them talk tough. Soon enough, they'll be coming back to beg us for help!"

Hudson straightened his collar and regarded Victor with lofty disdain. "I'll be waiting, Victor. Waiting for the day you come crawling, asking to drive my dog around."

With that, Hudson turned to leave. "Mr. Blake, let's go."

"Let's," Babur echoed, following Hudson out.

As their silhouettes disappeared, Gareth glared after them, rage simmering beneath the surface. "Traitors never prosper! Babur, Hudson—you'll both regret this once Apex finishes its game!"

Babur and Hudson exchanged glances, barely containing their amusement. This had to be the best joke they'd heard all year. They laughed uproariously.

All eyes were on The Chandler Group.

Julian's lips curled in a sneer. Two hundred thousand. Not even worth mentioning.

He knew it—Caitlin was nothing without him. She'd only shined at The Chandler Group because she loved him, and love could conquer anything. What did Apex have? Nothing.

Just wait. Caitlin would come crawling back, and when she did, he wouldn't forgive her so easily.

—

Midnight.

Both Apex and The Chandler Group launched their games on their official platforms.

The Chandler Group's site crashed instantly under the flood of traffic.

Apex's launch? Only a few hundred downloads.

Julian kept an eye on Apex's numbers, and when he saw the pathetic download count, a smug smile played on his lips. He suspected those pitiful downloads only happened because people couldn't access The Chandler Group's app and wandered over to Apex's page out of curiosity.