THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 747

Flavia often wondered why Quinton had saved her. She was just a homeless orphan; if she had died, no one would have missed her. But Quinton was different. He had family, people who loved him, parents who depended on him. These past twenty years had felt like a prison sentence, an unbearable agony. "Your life for mine," she whispered to his photograph, "it wasn't worth it."

If he hadn't saved her, none of this would have happened. She wouldn't be trapped in this living hell, unable to truly live, yet forbidden to die. If she could turn back time, she would have begged him to let her go.

Back in the Dowager's room, the old woman's eyes fluttered open almost as soon as Flavia had left. Rosemary rushed to her side, helping her sit up. "Mother."

The Dowager sighed, her face etched with fatigue. "That wretched girl is going to be the death of me." The 'wretched girl,' of course, was Flavia. Her heart condition was real, albeit mild, but the fainting spell had been an act, a performance designed to frighten Flavia into submission.

Rosemary gently massaged her mother's temples. "The butler called and said you fainted because of her, but he didn't say why. Mother, what happened?" Flavia was usually so quiet and unobtrusive; Rosemary couldn't imagine what she had done to provoke such a reaction.

A venomous look flickered in the Dowager's eyes. "She said she wanted to go back."

"Back?" Rosemary's eyes narrowed. "Back where?"

"Back to Eldermere."

"What?" Rosemary felt a prickle of unease. "Mother, do you think she's starting to remember something?"

The Dowager shook her head. "Whether she remembers or not, I will not allow her to leave. I have to keep her here. She belongs to your brother, and to him alone. She will spend the rest of her life as his widow, atoning for her sins." The memory of her son, taken in his prime, brought a fresh wave of grief. He hadn't even been thirty years old. It was all that wretched girl's fault. Her brilliant, exceptional son had been destined for greatness, but his life had been derailed the moment he met that she-devil. He had thrown away his life for her. Every time the Dowager looked at Flavia, she was filled with a murderous rage. But simple death was too easy. She wanted Flavia to live a life of unending misery.

Rosemary nodded. "You're right. We can't let her go back. And we need to have someone watch her. We can't let her have any contact with outsiders. What if she tries to run away?" Even though they were in Valerium, they couldn't be too careful. If Flavia managed to escape back to Eldermere, the consequences would be catastrophic.

The Dowager's eyes glinted with a cruel light. "If she dares to run, I'll break her legs." If not for the fear of upsetting her son's spirit, she would have done it years ago.

—

There was a time difference between Valerium and Eldermere. While it was morning in Valerium, it was the middle of the night in Eldermere.

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