THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 873

At the sound of the voice, Dowager Vance looked up, as did everyone else in the room.

Celia strode in from outside. She exchanged a quick, knowing glance with Caitlin, who gave a subtle nod.

Celia continued, her voice clear and firm. "Quinton wasn't killed by Carey. He got what he deserved."

"You're lying!" Dowager Vance shrieked, looking completely unhinged. "My son was killed by Carey!"

Celia frowned. "She's too loud. Uncles, would you mind silencing her? I have the real story to tell."

Without a word, Zachary Richards produced a dirty rag from somewhere and stuffed it into Dowager Vance's mouth. Her protests were reduced to muffled whimpers, and the room fell blessedly silent.

Celia addressed the group. "Grandma Hannah, Grandma Keira, Stuart, and Uncles, I've spent the last few days investigating the circumstances of Quinton's death. Today, I'm here to clear Carey's name."

"Here's what happened. Years ago, Quinton became infatuated with Carey. It was love at first sight for him, and he pursued her relentlessly. However, Carey was already in a relationship with Stuart. Her assistant intercepted and burned all of Quinton's love letters. But Quinton suffered from a severe obsessive disorder. His motto was 'if I can't have you, I'll destroy you.' When he saw Carey and Stuart happily marry and have a child, he was consumed by rage. He found out her whereabouts one day, bought a can of gasoline, and planned to burn her alive."

"But fate, it seems, had other plans. On his way to attack Carey, Quinton crashed his car into a lamppost. The impact overturned the gasoline canister in the back seat, and the car burst into flames. Quinton was burned to death, trapped inside his own vehicle."

Celia turned her sharp gaze to the gagged Dowager Vance. "And then, this twisted old woman redirected all her hatred onto Carey, branding her a murderer for a crime she never committed."

"That's how, after Carey's own car accident, she was taken by the Vances. And so began more than twenty years of imprisonment, torture, and degradation."

Keira pushed past her son, an acupuncture needle glinting between her fingers—one she'd taken from Caitlin's medical kit. "This vile hag enjoys stabbing people with needles, doesn't she? Today, let's see how she likes a taste of her own medicine!"

She was afraid her son, in his rage, might kill the woman outright. A person this vile didn't deserve a quick death. She had to experience every bit of the suffering she had inflicted on Carey.

"And don't forget the little one," Hannah said, stepping forward. "Keira, dear, give me one of those."

Keira readily handed her a needle.

Soon, the air was filled with Rosemary's piercing screams. She had never known that being pricked by a needle could be so agonizing. The pain was so intense she could hardly breathe.