THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 787

As someone who loved to travel, Tina knew from experience that no matter how wonderful a foreign country was, after a few days, a craving for home-cooked food always set in. Bringing Flavia's pastries seemed like the perfect gift. There was nothing more comforting than a taste of home in a foreign land, especially when the food was as delicious as Flavia's creations. Tina could already picture the surprised and happy look on the heroine's face when she tasted the familiar flavor of the peach blossom pastries.

Zelda laughed. "You know, that's a great idea. I should book a table at an authentic Eldermere restaurant." She had originally planned to take Caitlin to a local fine dining establishment, but her sister's suggestion made more sense.

Tina, however, frowned. "Zelda, you know that when a cuisine is introduced to a new place, it's always adapted to local tastes. There's no such thing as a truly authentic Eldermere restaurant in Valerium, just like I can never find authentic Valerium food when I travel. If you want to treat her, you should take her somewhere that serves our local specialties, something she can't get anywhere else. That would be more meaningful."

Zelda considered this and agreed. "You're right. I'll look into it and send you the location. See you tomorrow night."

"See you tomorrow night."

After hanging up, Zelda turned to her husband. "Where do you think we should take Miss Gonzales?"

John thought for a moment. "I agree with Tina. Instead of taking her for mediocre Eldermere food, we should treat her to our best local cuisine. What about Jaime's restaurant?"

Jaime was a friend of John's, a former Michelin three-star chef who had opened his own exclusive, members-only restaurant. It was so popular that reservations had to be made a month in advance, and influencers from all over the world flew in just to dine there. It was internationally renowned, and John was sure that even in Eldermere, it had a certain prestige.

Zelda's eyes lit up. "That's perfect. Call Jaime and tell him that Miss Gonzales is an honored guest of our family. Tell him to use the best ingredients and give her and her friend an unforgettable experience. Money is no object."

If they were going to treat Caitlin, it had to be the best. They wanted her to have a wonderful memory of her time in Valerium.

"Of course," John said. "I'll call him right now."

***

Meanwhile, at Palmer Castle, Brock's recovery was progressing remarkably. His complexion was healthy, and his steps were steady. No one would guess that just ten days ago, he had been a comatose man on the verge of death.

Mrs. Palmer was in the main hall, directing the staff as they cleaned. Even the carpets and tapestries had been replaced. The entire manor had been given a thorough cleaning to celebrate Brock's new lease on life and to welcome Caitlin.

Brock smiled. "Mom, it's Sunday. The traffic is probably bad." Their estate was located in a busy part of the city, and mid-morning was peak congestion time.

Mrs. Palmer finally sat down on the sofa. "I suppose you're right. We'll wait another fifteen minutes. If they're still not here, I'll call Celia."

Brock handed her a glass of water. "Here, have some water. Don't worry, I'm sure they'll be here soon."

She took a sip. "Brock, have you given any more thought to what we discussed?"

Brock knew exactly what she was referring to. He leaned back on the sofa and teased, "Mom, I've heard that people from Eldermere are skilled in the art of bewitchment. They say a person under a spell will do whatever the caster wants. Are you sure you haven't been bewitched by Miss Gonzales?"

Otherwise, why was she so fixated on setting them up?

"Don't be ridiculous," Mrs. Palmer scoffed. "I'm perfectly fine. I just like her a great deal! When you meet her, you'll understand."