THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 790

She spoke calmly, but her story brought tears to the eyes of Mrs. Palmer and the others. They had never imagined the hardships she had endured. Mrs. Palmer pulled Caitlin into a hug, gently patting her back. "Freya, it will all be alright. I'm sure you'll find your mother. Do you have a picture of her?"

"I do," Caitlin said, pulling out her phone and showing them a photo of Carey standing under a blooming peach tree, radiant and in the prime of her life.

"My goodness, Freya! You look so much like her," Mrs. Palmer exclaimed. Seeing Carey's picture, she finally understood where Caitlin's stunning beauty came from. "Freya, send me that photo. I'll have it posted on Valerium's internal network for missing persons. I don't know if your mother is here, but every lead helps."

"Thank you."

Caitlin sent the photo. Brock watched, surprised. When had his mother gotten Caitlin's number? He didn't even have it yet. He racked his brain, trying to think of a natural way to ask for it. And his mother! Just an hour ago, she was trying to set them up, but now she seemed to have completely forgotten.

Caitlin and Celeste stayed for lunch at Palmer Castle. Afterwards, Mrs. Palmer smiled and said, "Celia, why don't you take Freya and March for a tour of the castle? I'll leave you young people to it." She knew her presence might make them feel less relaxed.

"Okay, Mom. We'll go explore then."

As Celia led the two girls away, Brock felt a pang of panic. "Mom, did you forget about me?"

"You?" Mrs. Palmer turned to him, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Don't you have to focus on your career right now?"

Brock was speechless. The boomerang had come back to hit him.

***

At four in the afternoon, Celia drove Caitlin and Celeste back to their hotel.

"Freya, March, are you really leaving tomorrow?" Celia asked, reluctant to see them go.

"Yes," Caitlin nodded. "I've been away for too long. I have a lot of things to take care of back home."

"Alright then," Celia said, holding their hands. "I'll come visit you in Eldermere next month if I have time!"

Celeste grinned and extended her pinky. "Pinky promise?"

Celia hooked her pinky with Celeste's. "Pinky promise. Cross my heart and hope to die." It was a phrase she had picked up from Celeste. "I'll come see you both off at the airport tomorrow. What time is your flight?"

"Three-thirty in the afternoon," Celeste answered.

"Caitlin."

"Celeste."

The four of them quickly fell into easy conversation. After a while, Tina remembered something and retrieved a beautifully wrapped box. "These are peach blossom pastries. They're quite good. Please, try them and see if they taste like home."

Caitlin, who could never resist peach blossom pastries, smiled. "Then I won't be polite."

Celeste took one as well. "Wow, these are delicious! Even better than the ones I've had back home!"

Caitlin took a bite, her expression shifting from casual enjoyment to surprise, and then to utter shock.

It was identical. The flavor of this pastry was exactly the same as the ones Hannah made—not too sweet, with that same unique, fragrant aroma.

Forcing herself to remain calm, Caitlin turned to Tina, her heart pounding. "Miss Tina, may I ask… where did you get this pastry?"