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.

and didn’t she get into a car accident a while back? The doctors said she might need a cornea transplant. Mr. Lewis signed the papers without a second thought. Luckily, she didn’t end up

holiday. That alone makes him better than ninety–nine percent of

lips twisted into a

hear. Everything she heard right now

ago, William had gotten into trouble with some classmates. When someone threw a chair during the incident, Rachel had stepped in front of him and taken

her like a freak. They excluded her from activities, mocked her, and

“Deaf girl.”

it like a

like a ray of light in the darkness, holding her tight while she

be your ears. I’ll never let anyone hurt

Chapter 1

+25 BONUS

love

now, it felt like fireworks–bright

that she had regained her hearing. Instead,

so tightly

over. It might still exist on paper, but in her heart, it was already dead. She wasn’t going to beg, nor was she going to stay. She was ready to completely disappear from

into a small gift box she had prepared long ago. As she wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye, she stepped out onto the curb and reached for her phone to call a

familiar black car pulled up beside

trousers, and shiny black derby shoes. When he crossed

you get sick?” he said, quickly signing with his hands as he spoke,

reached for her hands and rubbed them gently between his palms, trying to warm her up. There was concern in his dark eyes as he guided her toward

it had been grabbed and twisted tight.