Countdown to My Divorce

Chapter 1

“Ms. Lloyd, once you make this decision, you won’t be able to return for at least five years, maybe even longer. We’ll erase your identity from the public. Because of the sensitive nature of our company’s research, no one will be able to find you during this time. I hope you understand this.”

“I understand.”

M

Rachel Lloyd hesitated for just a second before she lowered her head and signed her name at the bottom of the document.

“Alright. Everything must be finalized by October 20th. We’ll contact you when the time comes.”

Rachel glanced at her phone.

Today was October 1st. That gave her 20 days.

As she walked past a shopping mall, something on the big screen outside caught her eye. She stopped to watch footage from a press conference held last week.

William Lewis, the CEO of Lewis Enterprise, had spent three years designing a custom wedding dress for his wife. According to him, the breathtaking, one–of–a–kind dress, a gift for their upcoming anniversary, was meant to make up for the regret that she hadn’t worn a wedding dress at their wedding ceremony.

The moment that dress was revealed, it took the world by storm. Everyone admired Rachel for marrying so and deeply devoted as William.

Girls walking by glanced at the screen, their wide eyes full of envy.

ne as wealthy

“Did you know? Their love story is like a fairytale. I heard Mr. Lewis remembers every little thing she likes. Even the tiniest details,” one girl whispered to another.

The doctors said she might need a cornea transplant. Mr. Lewis signed the papers without a

matter how busy he is, he always gets her gifts on every holiday. That alone

into a bitter

she still couldn’t hear. Everything

had gotten into trouble with some classmates. When someone threw a chair during the incident, Rachel had

freak. They excluded her from activities, mocked

“Deaf girl.”

said it

a ray of light in the

not deaf. I’ll be your ears. I’ll never let anyone hurt you

Chapter 1

+25 BONUS

love would last

it felt like fireworks–bright for

ago, Rachel had been planning to tell William some good news, wanting to surprise him with the fact that she had regained her hearing. Instead, she found out that the woman he had fallen head over heels for had

so tightly her

over. It might still exist on paper, but in her heart, it was already dead. She wasn’t

As she wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye,

before she could, a familiar black car pulled up

man who stepped out of it looked as polished as always, dressed in a crisp shirt, tailored trousers, and shiny black derby shoes. When he

told you to wait for me inside. It’s freezing. What if you get sick?” he said, quickly signing with

and rubbed them gently between his palms, trying to warm her up.

smile. Her heart felt like it had been grabbed and twisted tight. It hurt