THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 585

Everyone wants to climb the ladder, to move up in the world.

And as a human being, Celia had to look out for herself.

If she worked with Smith, she would not only receive a fortune, but her name would also be immortalized in the medical field.

Fame and fortune.

How could she refuse?

She wasn't short on money as Celia's bodyguard, and she held the title of Valerium's top female protector.

But what did that title really mean?

At the end of the day, a bodyguard was still just a bodyguard.

Celia might say she treated her like a sister, but someone of her station could never truly be Celia's sister.

Forget sister.

She probably didn't even count as a real friend.

The whole situation with Caitlin proved it.

If Celia truly valued her, she wouldn't be treating Caitlin better.

She had been with Celia for over twenty years.

How long had Caitlin been in the picture?

Yet now, she wasn't worth a fraction of what Caitlin was to Celia.

It was evident in how Celia addressed them.

She called Caitlin ‘Freya.'

What did she call her?

Always just her full name.

The more Jennifer thought about it, the colder her heart grew. She couldn't fathom how twenty years of companionship could be worth less than a friendship that was only days old.

Since Celia clearly had no intention of sharing her privileged life, Jennifer had to forge her own path.

After all, everyone has to look out for number one.

Hearing her answer, Griffin was overjoyed.

Griffin shot up from his chair and extended a hand. "Miss Jennifer, it's a pleasure doing business with you."

Griffin's research indicated that Jennifer had grown up with Celia, so Griffin had expected it would take some time to win her over.

Je hadn't anticipated it would be this easy.

It seemed Jennifer's loyalty wasn't as deep as Griffin had imagined.

"A pleasure," Jennifer replied, shaking Griffin's hand.

"I'll get the prescription as soon as I can."

Griffin beamed. "Excellent, Miss Jennifer. Let's stay in touch."

Jennifer nodded.

---

Meanwhile, Celia had finished her makeover.

She had chosen a stunning vintage princess gown in a soft pink, complete with a matching hair ornament. She looked beautiful, exuding a unique and captivating charm.

Staring at her reflection, Celia covered her mouth in disbelief. "Is that really me?"

Celia began snapping photos from every angle, and Caitlin graciously posed.

The Imperial City gardens were the perfect backdrop for the princess gowns, and with Caitlin's natural beauty, nearly every shot was a masterpiece, requiring no special effort.

After the solo photoshoot, Celia joined her for some pictures together.

Though they hadn't known each other long, they clicked instantly.

By the time they finished exploring the gardens, it was lunchtime. Caitlin led Celia to a hidden gem of a restaurant she knew.

Sitting inside the cozy, unpretentious bistro, Celia looked around with wide-eyed wonder. "Freya, I've never eaten in a place like this before!"

Caitlin smiled as she poured her a glass of water. "This is where you'll find the most authentic local French cuisine. I promise, after one bite, you'll be coming back for more."

Since Celia couldn't handle spicy food, Caitlin had chosen a small bistro that specialized in French cooking.

"Really?" Celia asked, still a bit skeptical.

"Absolutely," Caitlin confirmed.

Though she trusted Caitlin, Celia still found it hard to believe.

Could a place like this truly serve something extraordinary?

Soon, their food arrived.

Four dishes and a soup.

There was a rich coq au vin, crispy duck confit, a charcuterie board, a side of sautéed seasonal vegetables, and a fragrant fish soup.

Caitlin served Celia some of the soup. "Try this first."

"Thanks." Celia took the bowl and had a small taste. Her eyes widened in astonishment. "Wow! This is incredible!"

She had eaten Eldermere cuisine before.