THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 71

In Iliana's eyes, Caitlin wasn't just a clueless country bumpkin—she was an unwanted stray, a nobody with no background, no respectable parents, nothing that could ever make her stand out.

She couldn't even compare to a single strand of Bonnie's hair.

Bonnie could dance ballet, play the piano, and excel in every talent imaginable. And Caitlin? What could she do?

At best, Caitlin was just a sideshow clown, left to clap and cheer for Bonnie from the wings.

And yet someone like her actually dreamed of getting into Central Academy?

She was delusional.

Shameless.

Iliana tore her gaze away and turned to her precious daughter. "Come on, Bonnie, let's go. Don't waste your time looking at her. Associating with her would only drag you down."

"Okay, Mom." Bonnie nodded, quickly catching up with Iliana.

After only a few steps, they ran into a classmate coming their way. Bonnie slipped her arm through Iliana's and lifted her chin, greeting the girl with a bright smile. "Laurel! What a coincidence!"

Bonnie never would've initiated a greeting like this in the past.

Laurel's family was loaded—her mother was always draped in designer labels—while the Hadleys were barely scraping by. Iliana couldn't afford to spend more than twenty dollars on a single outfit, all so Bonnie could attend every extracurricular lesson she wanted.

Bonnie, with her fierce pride, had always hated the thought of anyone noticing how ordinary her mother looked.

But now everything had changed.

Ever since the Chandlers stepped in to help, the Hadleys had moved into a brand-new house and received a windfall of three hundred thousand dollars. Ernest had used that money to rent a storefront and start his own business. The Hadleys were no longer the family they used to be!

Bonnie now dressed in outfits costing over two thousand dollars apiece, and even Iliana's purse—dangling from her arm—was a designer bag worth over two grand.

Laurel's eyes sparkled as she greeted Bonnie. "Bonnie, is this your mom?"

Bonnie nodded, barely concealing her sense of superiority. "Yes, this is my mother."

But Caitlin walked by as if she hadn't heard a thing, her expression calm and unbothered, like nothing in the world could shake her.

Suddenly, a commotion stirred near the entrance.

Bonnie and Laurel both craned their necks to look.

A middle-aged woman, dripping in jewels and luxury, strode inside with a whole entourage of bodyguards. For someone just dropping off her kid for an entrance exam, she looked more like a high-profile dignitary overseeing an inspection.

"Who's that? She's making quite an entrance!" Laurel asked, curiosity piqued.

"You don't recognize Mrs. Hayes?" Iliana glanced at her, eyebrows raised. "Bonnie told me your family was doing pretty well."

Laurel shook her head. "Honestly, we're just middle class, Auntie. I wouldn't even know someone like that."

Iliana smiled. "I suppose I forgot—not everyone gets a chance to meet Mrs. Hayes. It's perfectly normal you don't know her. The Hayes family owns several emerald mines. They even have a gold mine! Mrs. Hayes just moved here from the coast. I haven't seen her daughter yet, but I'm guessing she's here today to help Miss Hayes register for the transfer exams."