THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 724

"Really?" Mrs. Barrett's eyes lit up. "How are you going to do that?"

Who didn't crave fame and fortune? Mrs. Barrett had always hovered in the middle of her social circle, always on the fringes of group photos. She longed to know what it felt like to be in the center.

Leo just smiled. "Watch the TV and you'll see."

Mrs. Barrett turned her attention to the screen, where the reporters were still questioning Caitlin.

"Ms. Gonzales, that's 40 billion dollars we're talking about. Have you considered what you'll do if you lose? You've wagered all of Gonzales Holdings on this!"

If Caitlin lost, the company would change hands—and names.

"I haven't," Caitlin answered with just three words.

*Haven't thought about it?*

Her response left the reporters momentarily speechless. Her confidence was almost absurd. How old was she? Twenty? Where did a young woman of twenty get this kind of audacity? Did she really think that winning against Smith and riding this wave of popularity would be enough to launch a blockbuster product?

Sure, she had a lot of fans now, but consumers weren't idiots. If the Jade Glow Balm didn't work, no one was going to pay for it just to help her win a bet. She was clearly underestimating the challenge.

One reporter, suppressing his disbelief, said, "Ms. Gonzales, your speech is certainly compelling. But I have to say, you seem to be oversimplifying things. LM Group has been a titan in the skincare world since its inception, holding the top sales spot for two decades. No domestic brand has ever come close to challenging them!"

This was LM Group they were talking about. To put it nicely, Caitlin was confident. To be blunt, she was arrogant—so arrogant she couldn't see the giants standing right in front of her. She had no idea what it meant to be number one, or the sheer weight behind the LM name. It all felt like a fantasy. She was still too young. One lucky break and she'd completely lost her sense of perspective. The reporter, who detested such people, let his tone grow sharp.

Caitlin remained perfectly composed. Her voice was as calm as ever when she replied, "Have you ever considered that maybe you're the ones overcomplicating things?"

"Is it really something to be proud of that no domestic brand has ever surpassed LM?"

"Now that someone is willing to challenge that status quo, your first reaction isn't support, but doubt, denial, and condescension. Don't you think there's a problem with your attitude?"

"Are we people of Eldermere destined to always be second-best?"

Her short reply contained four sharp questions that made the reporter's face burn.

Caitlin looked back at the camera. "From this point on, leave it to Gonzales Holdings. I am confident that we will become the new number one in the skincare industry."

The new number one?

[I really hope this works. I've had these acne scars for years and have to cake on foundation to cover them up.]

[I have a feeling this balm won't do much. Don't get your hopes up too high.]

[...]

After watching the interview, even Mrs. Barrett couldn't resist. "I'm going to pre-order a Jade Glow Balm too!"

She'd had eyelid surgery years ago, and while makeup concealed the scars well enough, they were very noticeable when her face was bare. Caitlin's words had undeniably intrigued her. What woman, regardless of her age, didn't care about her appearance?

Leo shot his wife a disdainful look. *Useless woman.*

"You women are truly the most simple-minded creatures on this planet," he sneered.

Mrs. Barrett glared at him. "Don't you look down on us. What if Miss Gonzales is actually a genius and has created a balm that can remove scars?"

Leo snorted. "A product that can remove scars isn't skincare—it's medicine! The most effective scar treatment on the market right now is VN, and even they don't dare claim it works for everyone because of different skin types. How old is Freya? What kind of scar-removing product could she possibly develop? She's just trying to ride this wave of publicity to boost sales. And yet, fools like you are actually falling for it."