THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 469

It was terrifying.

Even now, just recalling the dream made Raven’s chest tighten with dread.

Hearing her daughter’s shuddering voice, Mrs. Cartwright’s heart broke a little more. She wrapped her arms tightly around Raven, sobbing, “Oh, my poor girl. My precious, precious girl…”

But something felt off—Raven noticed it too. She blinked, alarm prickling at the edges of her consciousness, and suddenly realized the room around her had changed.

This wasn’t the Cartwright estate.

And it definitely wasn’t her bedroom.

Wait—was this… a hospital?

The thought struck her hard, her face paling instantly. She reached up, desperate to touch her left eye, but her fingers found only heavy bandages.

No…

No, that couldn’t be true.

Was it really not just a nightmare?

Had all of it really happened?

No.

Impossible.

How could she have ended up disfigured and blind in one eye?

Panic overtook her. Raven broke down, clawing at the bandages, but Mrs. Cartwright caught her in a frantic embrace. “Raven, Raven, please—calm down! What’s done is done. You have to try to accept it, sweetheart, please!”

“Your father’s already found the best reconstructive surgeon for you.”

But hearing that only made Raven more distraught. She leapt out of bed and ran to the bathroom. When she looked in the mirror and saw her face—ravaged with scars, one eye gouged out—she screamed.

“No! No! No!”

She couldn’t accept this. In a frenzy, Raven ripped off the remaining bandages, exposing the freshly stitched wound, and when she caught sight of herself, all rational thought fled. She began bashing her head against the mirror, desperate to shatter the reflection.

Mrs. Cartwright couldn’t stop her daughter from hurting herself. All she could do was call for the doctor. After a sedative injection, Raven finally went quiet.

Mrs. Cartwright sat at the bedside, dabbing at her tears. “My poor girl… How is she supposed to go on like this?”

“Enough!” Mr. Cartwright shot her a look, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Maybe you should be more worried about your darling’s little wager with Miss Gonzales!”

That was a whole one percent of the family’s shares.

Mr. Cartwright had only just learned about it himself.

He could hardly believe his own daughter had staked their shares on a bet. Utterly reckless.

Mrs. Cartwright’s eyes brimmed red. “Our Raven is already in this state. If Freya still insists on enforcing that stupid bet, then she has zero conscience! Besides, it’s just a bet—what’s the worst that can happen? Even if we refuse, what can she really do to us?”

At worst, people would call them dishonorable. It wasn’t as if it were a crime.

Mr. Cartwright pressed his fingers to his temple. “Do you even realize what your idiot daughter did? She signed a binding agreement. If Miss Gonzales takes this to court, we have no chance. None.”

That was what made him so furious.

Mrs. Cartwright stared at him, stunned.

How… how did it end up like this?

——

Silverhaven.

The Kensington family estate.

Caitlin sat at her desk, fingers flying across the black keyboard, so fast they blurred.

She’d hacked into the records database.

Found Karla’s file.

Karla.

Female.

With that sorted, Caitlin shut down her computer and headed off for a hot bath and bed.

——

The next morning.

Sunday.

The Hayes residence.

At ten o’clock, Celeste had just finished breakfast when an unfamiliar number flashed on her phone.

“Hello?”

A gruff male voice answered. “Miss Celeste? Delivery service here. I’ve got a package for you from Miss Caitlin. Could you come to the door and pick it up?”

“Sure! I’ll be right there.”

She hung up, already heading for the door while texting Caitlin: [Catie, what did you have delivered for me?]

[Just open the door and you’ll see,] Caitlin shot back instantly.

Celeste swung the door open—and there, standing on the porch, was Caitlin herself.

For a second, Celeste just stood there in disbelief. “Catie!”

“March!”

The two girls threw their arms around each other, laughing and nearly in tears.

“Catie, why didn’t you tell me you were coming back?” Celeste cried. “I could’ve picked you up at the airport!”

Caitlin grinned. “I wanted to surprise you, that’s all.”

“Come in, come in! You have to tell me everything!”

“Gladly.” Caitlin followed her inside.

Celeste called for snacks and drinks to be brought out. “My parents are out today—it’s just me and my brother. Make yourself at home, Catie. I’m going to let him know you’re here.”