THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 601

A woman in a designer coat approached them, her makeup immaculate, her hair a cascade of freshly styled waves. She smiled at Amanda Gonzales.

"Well, well, Miss Gonzales. It's been a while."

At that moment, a wave of panic crested over Amanda.

"Why… why are you here again?"

Ann Templeton had walked a few steps ahead but turned back when she realized Amanda wasn't following. "Mom, what's wrong?"

She saw her mother standing with a middle-aged woman she didn't recognize.

Just as Ann was about to say something else, Amanda looked up, forcing a smile. "Ann, you go on ahead. I just ran into an old friend. We're just going to catch up for a bit."

"Okay, Mom." Ann nodded, though a knot of confusion formed in her stomach.

Why had she never met this "old friend" before? She thought she'd met all of her mother's friends.

How strange.

The woman watched Ann's retreating back, her eyes narrowing. "Is that your daughter?"

Before Amanda could answer, the woman clicked her tongue. "She's gorgeous. Takes after you."

Amanda grabbed the woman's wrist. "What the hell do you want?"

Her voice was a low mix of panic and simmering rage.

The woman yanked her arm free, rubbing her wrist. "Hey, take it easy! You're hurting me."

Amanda took a deep, steadying breath. "I'm telling you, everyone has their limits. Don't forget what you promised me!"

The woman was Karla Nelson. The very same Karla she had just paid twenty million dollars.

Karla glanced at Amanda. "Oh, that? So what?"

Fury contorted Amanda's face.

Karla pulled a cigarette from her pocket and lit it, a smug grin on her face. "Miss Gonzales, do you really think this is the place to talk?"

Amanda suppressed her rage, her jaw tight. "Follow me."

Karla smiled and followed Amanda to her car, sliding into the passenger seat.

*Click.*

The moment the door shut, Amanda's expression twisted into a mask of fury. "Didn't you tell me that if I gave you twenty million, you'd move abroad and never come back?"

How long had it been? Not even six months!

Amanda just stared at her, her eyes filled with venom.

Karla fidgeted under her gaze, forcing a weak smile. "Look, if I hadn't had such bad luck with that jerk, I never would have come back. I'm out of options. This really is the last time! You have to believe me!"

"I really don't have the money," Amanda said, her eyes narrowed. "Think about it. How much have I given you over the years?"

It was so much she couldn't even remember the total. The smallest payment was half a million, the largest was fifty million.

"You're really broke?" Karla asked.

"Yes," Amanda nodded. "Broke."

"Fine, if you're broke, you're broke." Karla threw open the passenger door. "In that case, I'll just go talk to Keira!"

She made a move to get out of the car.

"Are you insane?!" Amanda lunged across the console, slamming the door shut. "What do you want from me? Can't you just leave me alone? I'm begging you, just let me be!"

By the end, Amanda was sobbing.

She'd had enough. She truly couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't live like this, constantly looking over her shoulder. Every time she saw Karla, the nightmares would return.

Karla just rolled her eyes, completely unmoved. "Honestly, Miss Gonzales, get a grip. I'm the one living off your scraps here. I should be the one begging you to let me go! I'm not asking for much, just thirty million! All I want is to live like a human being!"