THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 307

Caitlin’s voice, calm and measured, cut through the chatter and brought the entire room to a hush.

Sally barely registered her words. In her mind, Caitlin was already as good as finished—there was no way she could turn the tables now.

Or so she thought.

The very next moment, as Sally’s gaze dropped to the chessboard, a chill shot through her body. Her face drained of color, and for a heartbeat, it felt like her blood had started to run backward.

She stared in disbelief. Just seconds ago, the white pieces had seemed all but defeated, desperately clinging on. But now, with a single, masterful move, Caitlin had connected every white piece on the board, trapping Sally’s black pieces in a perfect checkmate.

Black had lost.

She had lost.

Sally could hardly breathe, her chest tight as she stared at the board in shock. Apart from N, no one had ever beaten her—and certainly not this thoroughly.

Caitlin’s voice sounded again, soft and melodious. “Thank you for the game, Miss Lowell.”

She reached over and picked up the Ocean’s Heart necklace Sally had set aside before the match. “And thank you, Miss Lowell, for the beautiful prize.”

A competition had rules, and Caitlin was never one to play the saint. Just because the wager was the Lowell family’s heirloom didn’t mean she’d hand it back. After all, Sally had come tonight hoping to humiliate the Richards and Gonzales families, aiming for their own Azure Mermaid’s Tear.

So Caitlin simply gave her what she wanted.

Sally stood frozen as Caitlin took the Ocean’s Heart. She’d never imagined losing the Lowell family’s treasure. Worse still, she’d lost it to Caitlin of all people.

It was humiliation—pure and simple. And not just for her, but for the entire Lowell family.

It was over.

Tonight, both she and the Lowells would become the laughingstock of high society in the Capital. She was from Crestfall City, yet here she was, making a fool of herself among the Capital’s elite.

Caitlin… Who on earth was Caitlin, really?

At that moment, the guests began to react as well.

“Oh my God, did I see that right? Miss Gonzales actually won against Miss Lowell?”

A few chess aficionados immediately caught on. “That was genius—sacrificing herself to turn the tide! Miss Gonzales is truly the perfect blend of Gonzales cunning and Richards elegance.”

It was impossible not to be impressed by Caitlin’s performance tonight—she’d won everyone’s respect, fair and square.

Keira, beaming with pride, leaned toward Hannah. “Our Freya really is the next generation, outshining us all!”

Hannah laughed. “She certainly is! I used to worry that after I left for Neon Spire, Caitlin would be bullied here in the Capital, especially by Ann. But now, I can see she’s more than capable of standing her ground—Ann doesn’t even compare.”

Ann herself could only stare in disbelief, unable to accept how effortlessly Caitlin had won everyone over. She’d planned to use Sally to disgrace Caitlin, to ruin her reputation in the Capital. Instead, Caitlin had stolen the show.

Ann was livid, her face ghostly pale. She clenched her fists so tightly that her long nails broke, but she barely felt the pain.

That little brat—why couldn’t Caitlin just disappear?

As Caitlin picked up the Lowell family’s treasured necklace, Sally’s voice rang out, tight and cold. “Miss Gonzales.”

Caitlin turned with a serene smile. “Yes, Miss Lowell? Is there something else?”

Sally pressed on, her tone desperate. “The Ocean’s Heart is a Lowell family heirloom. You can’t just take it.”

No. Caitlin couldn’t be allowed to walk away with Ocean’s Heart.