Chapter 444

The realization struck not just Nora and Selene, but the entire Lancaster clan. Giselle sneered first. "I told you she was all smoke and mirrors. None of you wanted to listen." Sabrina chimed in with a chuckle, "Who could've imagined she'd have the audacity to pull such a stunt in front of everyone? Right, Selene?" Though Selene remained silent, the corners of her lips curled into a knowing smirk.

Giselle's voice turned singsong. "This means once that gold-digger gets divorced, she'll never make it into the Ashcroft family." If Camille Hartwell's supposed talents were fabricated, her chances of marrying into elite circles would vanish. The thought visibly lifted Nora, Giselle, and their companions' spirits.

Inside the chauffeured Mercedes, Nora smoothed her skirt with satisfaction. "Next Wednesday marks the end of the cooling-off period. The moment Damien returns from Lucerne, those divorce papers get signed." Giselle practically vibrated with excitement. "Finally!" Even as an outsider, she felt electric anticipation crackle through her veins.

For years, she'd addressed Damien as "brother-in-law," convinced of his undying devotion to Selene. Yet the legal shackles binding him to Camille had always needled her conscience. Nora and Helena shared the sentiment. Despite Damien and Selene's picture-perfect relationship, that unbroken marital tie to Camille rankled like a pebble in a designer shoe.

If mere spectators found the arrangement distasteful, Selene's torment ran deeper. Initially, she'd dismissed the marriage as inconsequential—Damien's palpable disdain for Camille made her feel secure in her superiority. What threat could that pathetic woman possibly pose?

But everything changed when Camille started demonstrating genuine business acumen. Worse still was witnessing Damien's gradual shift in attitude toward his estranged wife. That legal bond transformed from a triviality to a barbed wire around Selene's heart.

Giselle's question sliced through her thoughts. "When's Damien due back from his trip?" The inquiry conjured yesterday's humiliation—Damien detouring to see Camille before departing without so much as a text to Selene.

Acid churned in Selene's stomach. Lucerne's annual fiscal reviews always consumed Damien's attention. Perhaps she was reading too much into his radio silence. "His schedule remains fluid," she answered coolly. Giselle's brow furrowed. "He won't miss the deadline, will he?" Nora waved a dismissive hand. "Business trips get extended. What difference does a few days make?" The divorce would happen regardless.

Giselle nodded, but Selene remained silent. Back in her penthouse, she dialed Damien's private line. Again. Straight to voicemail. The crystal tumbler in her hand met the marble countertop with a violent crack.