THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 29

Iliana was nothing if not pragmatic.

When Caitlin was Mrs. Chandler, she made sure to keep on her good side, never letting so much as a whisper of complaint slip. But now that Caitlin was divorced from Julian, there was no longer any reason to play nice.

After all, Iliana was a proper city woman herself! Why should she bother currying favor with some country bumpkin like Caitlin?

That's why Caitlin, who used to be "Catie" to her, had become just "her." Iliana didn't care in the slightest if Caitlin was offended. She was just a castoff—a divorced woman. As if she could ever snag herself another wealthy husband. Not a chance! For someone like Caitlin, even stumbling into fortune once was more luck than she deserved.

Fortune had never imagined his daughter-in-law would show her true colors like this. He was stunned for a moment before saying, "Who says Catie isn't smart enough for school? Every time she took an exam, she ranked in the top ten! Even her teachers said she could easily get into a top university."

If Caitlin hadn't made the foolish mistake of dropping out to get married, she'd be enrolled at a prestigious college by now. As her grandfather, Fortune had nothing but faith in his granddaughter.

"Who knows if she wasn't just cheating?" Iliana folded her arms, her face twisted with disdain, her tone sharp and cutting. "Central Academy? In her dreams."

Central Academy. Even Bonnie hadn't managed to get in; they'd had to pull every string and call in every favor just to get her a spot. And Caitlin thought she could waltz in on her own? Ridiculous.

Fortune's brow furrowed as he finally picked up on the real meaning behind Iliana's words. "Iliana, what are you trying to say? You don't want Catie staying here, is that it?"

Iliana rolled her eyes. The old fool had been listening all this time and only now caught on.

"Dad, I think I've made myself clear enough. Do you really want me to spell it out? We're a family of five, living perfectly well together. How would you feel if a stranger suddenly moved in with you?"

But Fortune hadn't come here to argue. He just wanted Caitlin to have a good environment to study in, a chance at a better future. So even when he understood exactly what Iliana meant, he tried to swallow his pride and pleaded, "Iliana, Catie's not a stranger..."

"Not a stranger?" Iliana cut him off, her words sharp as knives. "Is she related to Ernest by blood? Is she related to Bonnie by blood?"

Fortune hesitated, at a loss for words. Blood relations? No, technically, she wasn't.

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