THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 492

“What?”

“Break up?”

Katrina's words sounded casual, almost flippant, but to Jeanette they landed like a bomb, sending shockwaves through her heart.

First, Jeanette’s eyes lit up with excitement—then the reality of it crashed over her. She felt a sudden, sinking sense of panic. She just couldn’t accept this.

Jeanette was deeply conflicted.

On one hand, she had no desire to see Katrina become the dazzling daughter-in-law of the Richards family, basking in their wealth and status.

But on the other hand, Katrina had promised her: after she met Xavier’s family, she’d introduce Jeanette to all of Xavier’s eligible cousins. And Katrina was the only one in Jeanette’s circle who even had access to the Richards family. If Katrina and Xavier broke up now, what would Jeanette do?

How else was she supposed to get her foot in the door with the Richards’ inner circle?

“Katrina, you’re joking, right? Weren’t you supposed to meet his parents today?” Jeanette pressed. “Xavier is completely crazy about you! Why on earth would he break up with you?”

“No, I’m serious. We really did break up.”

Jeanette’s face went pale. “But... how can that be? Xavier never struck me as the type to just cut someone off like that!”

She just couldn’t wrap her head around it—why would Xavier break up with Katrina, especially now?

“Do you remember that girl who got coffee thrown on her in the mall about two weeks ago?”

“Of course! Her name was Celeste.” Jeanette’s eyes went wide as the thought hit her. “Wait—don’t tell me... did Celeste steal Xavier away from you?!”

“Her?” Katrina scoffed, narrowing her eyes. “She wishes. She couldn’t steal Xavier from me if she tried. But...” Katrina paused, her gaze turning thoughtful. “She does look oddly familiar.”

Ever since that run-in at the mall, Katrina had been plagued by a strange sense of déjà vu. She was sure she’d never met Celeste before, but something about her face gnawed at her memory.

“She lives in the same gated community on Oak Lane as you do. It’s not that strange you’ve seen her,” Jeanette offered. “But Katrina—if Celeste didn’t steal Xavier, then why did he break up with you?”

Jeanette was desperate now—she needed to know the real reason behind the breakup.

“Because the girl standing next to Celeste that day was Freya.”

“What?” Jeanette’s whole world seemed to tilt. She stared at Katrina, her face draining of color.

How could this be?

Jeanette blinked, speechless.

Katrina smirked, her tone icy. “If anything, Xavier should be begging me to take him back. He should be the one pleading for me to go to Hannah’s birthday banquet as his girlfriend.”

If she attended Hannah’s birthday as Xavier’s girlfriend, it would be as good as the Richards family publicly announcing her as their future daughter-in-law.

Who did Caitlin think she was, anyway? Even if Caitlin was blood-related to the Richards family, she was just a granddaughter. Katrina intended to be the lady of the house.

And when that day came, the first thing Katrina would do was sever all ties between the Richards and the Gonzales families. She’d make Caitlin cough up everything she’d ever gotten from the Richards—the private jet, the bank, the jewelry, all of it. Those things should’ve belonged to her all along.

Jeanette stared at her. “Katrina… what are you even talking about? We’ve both offended Freya now. How would Xavier ever come crawling back?”

Katrina turned, her gaze sharp. “Do you know who I am to Xavier?”

“Um… his ex-girlfriend?” Jeanette offered. She genuinely couldn’t think of anything else.

Katrina’s eyes glinted with something sly. “I’m the one who saved his life. Xavier owes me everything. Unless he dies, he’ll never have another girlfriend but me.”

She tossed her hair and smiled coldly. “Just watch—three days. Give it three days, and you’ll see. Xavier will come begging me to take him back.”