THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 823

Hearing Dowager Vance's command, Tina subtly clenched her fists.

"Of course, ma'am. You can rest assured, I'll personally watch her take all of her medicine."

Dowager Vance nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.

Today was Rosemary's birthday, and the front hall was buzzing with activity that required her attention.

Since both Celia and Will were personally coming to celebrate, a host of other nobles and aristocrats had followed suit, turning the event into a grand affair.

Naturally, Dowager Vance needed to be there to greet her guests.

As she reached the doorway, she turned to the butler waiting outside. "Assign a few more people to watch this worthless harlot. We can't have her running off to the front hall and offending our guests!"

"Yes, ma'am," the butler replied with a respectful bow.

Instead of heading directly to the front hall, Dowager Vance went to the chapel. She lit three candles, then bowed reverently before a statue of Jesus. "God bless and protect my daughter, Rosemary. May everything go smoothly for her, and may she secure her place as Will's wife."

Once Rosemary married into the Windsor family, they could finally return to their home country in triumph.

After her prayer, Dowager Vance proceeded leisurely to the main hall.

By now, guests were steadily arriving, and Rosemary was busy entertaining them.

Seeing her mother, she hurried over. "Mother, is that bitch taken care of?"

Dowager Vance nodded. "Don't worry. She's trapped like a rat. She can't cause any trouble."

With her memory gone, Carey was docile as a lamb.

Dowager Vance had complete control over her—she followed every direction without a word of protest.

Since Dowager Vance had forbidden Carey from going to the front hall and had guards posted, it was unthinkable that Carey would defy her.

Rosemary nodded, a wave of relief washing over her.

"Miss Miriam has arrived," a servant announced from the entrance.

"What is she doing here?" Rosemary frowned.

Miriam was one of Will's many admirers and the daughter of a prominent Valerium noble.

Will had a rule: though he was a flirt, he never got involved with friends or anyone within their social circle. As a result, Miriam's affection had remained unrequited for years.

More importantly, Rosemary and Miriam barely knew each other. For Miriam to show up at her birthday party could only mean one thing. She was here to steal Will away from Rosemary!

Rosemary had never made a secret of her influencer status, so Miriam must have seen the comments about Will asking her for the first dance.

How shameless could Miriam be? Will clearly wasn't interested in her, yet she persisted. It was disgusting.

Though Rosemary was repulsed by people like Miriam, she couldn't show it, not when a guest had arrived, especially a noble one.

"Miss Miriam," Rosemary said, forcing a smile as she walked over.

Dowager Vance was the first to reach him. "My Lord, thank you for gracing my daughter's birthday party with your presence."

"The pleasure is all mine," Will said, glancing at her. "A small gift for Miss Vance. It's nothing of consequence."

Since Will had come, of course he had brought a gift. It was bound to be priceless.

Hearing this, Rosemary stepped forward, her cheeks flushing. "Thank you, my Lord."

"My pleasure, Miss Vance."

Suppressing her racing heart, Rosemary said, "My Lord, please, come in."

As Will strode into the ballroom, a wave of whispers followed him.

"It's Lord Will! It's actually Lord Will!"

"My goodness, he's even more handsome in person!"

"I can't believe he really came to a Vance family party."

"..."

Listening to the murmurs, Rosemary's lips curved into a smug smile. If they were this shocked just by his presence, how would they react when he publicly asked her to dance and confessed his feelings? They would die of envy.

No one could possibly understand the sheer delight Rosemary felt in that moment.