THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 776

"I did," Ham said, scratching his head. "But she didn't seem to care at all."

This was a first for Ham, and clearly, for Will as well. In the past, a single glance from Will was enough to make any woman approach him. But today, he had actively pursued her, and she had rejected him.

For Ham, the experience was baffling.

Will had initially been interested in Caitlin merely because he had witnessed her impressive agility during a chance encounter on the street. But now that she had refused him, his curiosity had blossomed into a full-blown obsession.

He raised an eyebrow at Ham. "Seven days. I'll give myself seven days, at most."

Ham looked up, confused. "Seven days for what?"

Will smirked. "I'll have her within seven days. In fact, I probably won't even need that long."

Reaching for the stars might be difficult, but for Will, winning a woman's heart was child's play. He possessed everything a woman could desire, whether it was fame or fortune, and he could offer it in its most dazzling form.

His eyes narrowed as he continued, "And once I've won her over, I'll amuse myself for a bit before breaking her heart. Do you think she'll cry?" He took a particular pleasure in seeing women cry, especially beautiful ones crying for him.

Ham chuckled. "Of course, she will."

Every woman who became involved with Will did so with the hope of becoming his Lady. Being cast aside by him would shatter that dream. And when a dream like that is broken, how could one not cry?

"Besides," Ham added, "being pursued by you, and even being broken up with by you, is an honor in itself."

After all, Caitlin was just an ordinary girl from Eldermere. The most noteworthy moments of her life would likely be the short-lived affair of being pursued by Will, becoming his girlfriend, and then being unceremoniously dumped.

A slight smile played on Will's lips as he gazed in the direction Caitlin had disappeared, his eyes filled with a look of absolute certainty.

***

It was Tina's day off. She was heading back home, determined to help her sister, Zelda, find the mysterious heroine from Eldermere and thank her in person.

Watching Tina leave, Flavia felt a pang of envy. When would she ever be able to come and go from this gilded cage as freely as Tina did? She looked up at the sky, her eyes filled with a familiar gloom.

Soon, Tina arrived at her sister and brother-in-law's house.

"Aunt Tina!" Olivia cried, hugging Tina's leg.

"Olivia," Tina said, placing the box on the table and scooping the little girl into her arms. "Have you gotten even cuter?"

Delighted by the compliment, Olivia showered Tina's face with kisses.

Zelda emerged from the other room just then. Tina handed her the box from the table. "These are pastries our lady made herself. You and John should try them."

Zelda looked shocked. "Your lady knows how to bake?" In her mind, a noblewoman living in a castle like Flavia would never deign to get her hands dirty. Zelda opened the box and tried one of the pastries. It was surprisingly delicious.

"It's a long story. She's not like the others," Tina explained. "Anyway, tell me about what happened with Olivia. Do you remember what time the accident occurred? I have a friend who works at the police department. If you can give me an exact time, he might be able to pull the security footage."