THE DIVORCE GAMBIT From Dumped Wife to CEO's Forever novel Chapter 1170

In that moment, Elsa prayed for Xander to deny it. But he didn't.

Xander let out a short, derisive laugh. "What else did you think? What about you is worthy of a catch like me marrying you? Take a look in the mirror! You're a leftover woman, no figure, no face. Besides your education, what do you have to offer?"

"If it wasn't for Mrs. Sylvester, why would I ever marry someone like you? You must be delusional!"

Since Elsa and Caitlin's friendship was already destroyed, Xander saw no reason to keep up the act.

His words hit Elsa like a slap. Her face burned with humiliation. She felt like a complete fool.

"Xander, if you never had any interest in me, why did you pursue me in the first place?!"

The mocking curve of Xander's lips deepened. "Pursue you? Don't be so full of yourself! All I did was add you on WhatsApp. You're the one who threw yourself at me! Think about it. If a man truly loves a woman, would he insist on splitting the bill for every meal during the entire time they're dating? Would he never buy her gifts or flowers?"

Men were experts at weighing costs and benefits. They only invested time and effort into preparing gifts and surprises for women they truly valued. For a woman like Elsa, who came to him so easily, Xander wasn't about to waste his resources.

Xander's words sent Elsa spiraling back through their relationship. He was right. Before he knew she was friends with Caitlin, Xander had never made an effort, never bought her a single gift. All his supposed affection began only after he met Caitlin.

Back then, Elsa thought their relationship was a partnership. His lack of gifts and flowers, their splitting every check—she had interpreted it as him being a reliable, practical man. Only now did she see the blindingly obvious truth. When a man doesn't want to give, it's because he doesn't like you.

How ridiculous.

Through her tears, Elsa started to laugh. "What about the scarf you gave me? If you didn't like me, why did you knit me a scarf with your own hands?"

If he didn't like her, why lead her on? Why do things that would make her misunderstand?

If only she had listened to Caitlin's advice sooner, if she had checked Xander's phone and seen the purchase history, none of this would have happened.

No one could imagine the depth of her regret.

Hearing the brutal truth laid out like that, Elsa snapped. She lunged at Xander and slapped him across the face, her voice a raw, heartbroken scream. "Why?! Why would you do this to me?! Scumbag! You damn scumbag! I'm going to kill you!"

She had put her whole heart in his hands. And what had he done? He hadn't just crushed it, he'd acted like it was trash.

Xander, shocked that she would dare to hit him, clutched his face. "Elsa, are you crazy?!"

Without another word, he lifted his foot and kicked her hard in the stomach.