THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 276

Once Ann took over Gonzales Holdings, it would be the work of a moment to kick Caitlin out.

“Alright, Mom. I won’t let you down,” Ann promised, then hesitated. “But… there’s still one thing I’m worried about.”

“What is it?” Amanda asked.

Ann glanced out the window, lowering her voice. “Mom, do you think… do you think Uncle Stuart could ever wake up?”

After all, they’d managed to find Freya. At this point, what wasn’t possible?

Ann was genuinely worried that Stuart might come out of his coma. He was the only one in the family with real business sense. If he woke up, they’d be in trouble—serious trouble.

“He won’t,” Amanda said with a confident smile, her eyes unwavering. “Your uncle’s been in that hospital bed for nineteen years. If he woke up now, it’d be about as likely as Mars crashing into Earth.”

Ann nodded, but pressed, “But what if there’s some kind of miracle?”

“There will be no miracle,” Amanda replied, enunciating every word.

Ann fell silent.

Amanda squeezed Ann’s hand. “Ann, tomorrow I need you to help me with the arrangements.”

“What arrangements?” Ann asked, puzzled.

Amanda’s lips curled into a sly smile. “We’re throwing a welcome-back dinner for Freya.”

A welcome dinner for Freya?

Ann’s expression soured immediately. “I’m not going!” Jealousy was written all over her face. “I’ve never had a fancy dinner for my birthday. Why does she get a grand celebration the minute she comes back?”

Bitterness twisted inside her. She was a blood relative of the Gonzales family too, so why did Keira treat Caitlin so well while treating her like she didn’t even exist?

Every time Ann saw Caitlin, it gnawed at her.

Amanda’s smile widened as she fixed her gaze on Ann. “Ann, not only are we going to throw this party—we’re going to make it the biggest event of the season. We’ll invite every notable family in the city!”

She turned to her mother. “Mom, the news says the princess is staying right here in Silverhaven. If I could have met her first, maybe I could have followed her into high society! Too bad we don’t even know who she is.”

Iliana nodded, just as envious. “Whoever found that girl must be the luckiest person alive. They went from the bottom straight to the top. After raising her all these years, the Gonzales and Richards families will owe them everything! Ernest, why couldn’t we have been the ones to find her?”

The thought made Iliana’s heart ache. If only they had found her, their family would be the ones living the dream now.

Ernest shook his head. “If you’re going to take in a stray, that’s the kind you want. What good did it do us to take in Caitlin? She’s useless—a washed-up divorcée.”

His eyes were full of disdain.

Iliana nodded in agreement. “You’re absolutely right. Taking in a child like her would have been worth it. One person’s fortune lifts the whole family! Thank goodness we never let that burden Caitlin stay with us.”

As soon as she finished speaking, the news anchor’s voice cut through the room. “Our reporters have even managed to capture a profile photo of the princess. Even from the side, you can tell she’s got the stunning looks of a true Gonzales and Richards heir!”

The TV flashed the image of the princess’s profile.

The entire Hadley family froze as they saw the face on the screen. One by one, their faces went pale.