Chapter 1 Divorce
“Let’s get a divorce.” They had been married for three years, and this was the second thing Leo Palmer said to her.
The first time he spoke to her was on their wedding night.
She had twirled in front of him in a white wedding gown while holding up the wide flared skirt. With a broad smile on her face, she had asked him if she looked good.
She certainly had not expected his reply.
“The wedding is over. I will have someone send you abroad,” Leo had said.
After that, she was sent overseas alone for three years.
She never expected to receive such a sentence right after returning to the country.
A divorce on their wedding anniversary.
“Must we get divorced?” she asked. Madison Hale didn’t look up. Her long hair covered her face, hiding all emotions in her eyes and face.
Only her slightly trembling voice could be heard, which carried a hint of tears. “Can we discuss it?” she added.
Leo stared at her with his dark eyes for a long time. When he spoke, his cool voice was devoid of any extra emotions. “You know, if it weren’t for my grandfather being critically ill, I wouldn’t have married you in the first place.”
Three years ago, Leo’s grandfather, Edgar Palmer, fell seriously ill. His dying wish was to see Leo get married and start a family.
The marriage did not belong to Madison originally. Madison was a girl whom the Hale family had mistakenly brought back. At eighteen, Madison had been informed that the real heiress, Sally Hale, had returned to the family. And she, Madison, had been the one who had occupied Sally’s rightful place.
Everything Madison had enjoyed should have belonged to Sally. The love of the parents, the indulgence from an elder brother, and even the marriage that had been arranged with Leo since birth.
But Edgar said the foundation of marriage is love. Madison and Leo grew up together. Even if her identity was false, it was still a fact that they had grown up together. Thus, Edgar insisted that Leo marry her. The marriage arrangement remained true since the Hale family still recognized her as one of their family.
That was how she and Leo got married.
But Sally was diagnosed with a two-way emotional disorder and couldn’t stand hearing any mention of Madison. She could not bear seeing Madison even more. After learning about the marriage, Sally attempted suicide and insisted on Leo accompanying her, or she would kick up a fuss.
To prevent Sally’s condition from worsening, Leo sent Madison abroad on the second day of their marriage and left her there without contacting her at all. It was only now that she returned.
Leo handed her a contract. “I’ve already had the lawyer draft the divorce papers. Take a look at them. If you have no objections, just sign them.”
Madison took the papers from him with her head down. “Can you give me some time to think about it?” she asked.
Leo looked at her. Her thick bangs covered her eyes. Living alone in a foreign country seemed to have made her personality more reclusive.
“If there’s anything unsatisfactory regarding assets, feel free to mention it. This villa will be transferred to your name. I’ll give you a week,” he added.
After saying that, he left the master bedroom.
As his fingers grasped the doorknob, he glanced back at the room. The woman’s slender shoulders trembled slightly as she held onto the divorce papers. She did not move at all.
as
room fell
a moment, a
finally
was finally unable
no messages of concern from the Hale family
stalked and almost died out there, she still couldn’t
she had for Leo was
happily, she rolled around on the bed. Her bangs fell from her
finish
answered the call with a
The voice on the other end got straight to the point. “Madison, the group of people who tried to kidnap you at the airport when you returned to the country has been caught. It was related to that stalking case from three years ago. Unfortunately, the clues all point to your adoptive parents and also… your husband-in-name.” Chapter 2 Birthday
remained silent
lucky to have found you
a repayment to them for years of
“Madison…”
wanted to say something, but
to say. But I don’t want to stir up trouble now. I just want nothing
and Leo could easily deny being involved in it.
to the Daves family, they would likely use raising her for twenty years as
Hale family completely. Even if her identity were known to the Hale family in the
knocking on the door became
further on the matter. “Alright, Joe. I
hung up the
knocking became even more impatient, she slowly combed through her
opened, the man who was standing outside
raised her eyes and spoke in a gentle voice,
words, but it conveyed
is Sally’s birthday. There’s a party at the Hale family. Make time. I’ll come back in the afternoon to
Madison blinked.
silently. ‘He called her
Is there
beautiful face, and he could not detect any emotions
of frustration welled up in him. As he was about to turn
Madison
holding onto the divorce papers he had given her
time. As for the papers, you
absent on the day that they registered their marriage. With his capability, it should be an
out to him. He shifted his gaze to her overly calm
His voice became hoarse. “Didn’t we agree to wait
we wait or not, the result is the same,
to Leo. “Besides, tomorrow is Sally’s birthday. She
caught off guard and slowly took
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