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.

Leo’s expression darkened as he closed the door.

The room fell completely silent.

After a moment, a burst of cheers erupted.

“Good riddance! I’m finally divorced!” Madison exclaimed.

She looked at the divorce agreement in her hand and was finally unable to hold back her laughter. Her shoulders shook even more, apparently.

In the three years since she was sent abroad, she received no messages of concern from the Hale family and not a word of comfort from her husband-in-name.

Even when she was stalked and almost died out there, she still couldn’t get through to Leo’s phone.

Any love she had for Leo was long gone and buried.

After signing the papers happily, she rolled around on the bed. Her bangs fell from her face with her long hair. There was no trace of grievance on her beautiful face.

Just as she was about to finish tidying up her luggage, the phone rang.

Madison answered the call with a sweet voice. “Hello, Joe.”

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

Madison remained silent for a moment.

After a while, she spoke casually. “Well, thankfully, nothing happened to me, and I’m lucky to have found you all. Since they raised me, I will let it go.”

She would consider it a repayment to them for years of raising her.

“Madison…”

It seemed like the person on the other end still wanted to say something, but there was a sudden knock on the door.

Madison ignored the person outside the door and continued talking on the phone. “Joe, I know what you want to say. But I don’t want to stir up trouble now. I just want nothing to do with them in the future!”

Not to mention that nothing came out of the kidnapping incident, even if there were clues, the Hale family and Leo could easily deny being involved in it. Without substantial evidence, it would be more trouble than it was worth.

Moreover, considering the character of the Hale family, if they knew Madison’s biological parents belonged to the Daves family, they would likely use raising her for twenty years as a reason to demand stuff from the Daves family continuously.

Thus, Madison just wanted to divorce as soon as possible and to sever ties with the Hale family completely. Even if her identity were known to the Hale family in the future, it wouldn’t cause trouble for her brothers.

The knocking on the door became urgent.

Madison decided not to speak further on the matter. “Alright, Joe. I have something on. Let’s talk later.”

She hung up the call.

She didn’t open the door immediately. When the knocking became even more impatient, she slowly combed through her unsightly bangs and walked over lazily.

When the door opened, the man who was standing outside still had his hand raised. His face showed obvious impatience.

Madison raised her eyes and spoke in a gentle voice, “Is there anything else?”

only four words, but it conveyed a sense of

and spoke indifferently, “Tomorrow is Sally’s birthday. There’s a party at the Hale family. Make time. I’ll come back in the afternoon

Madison blinked.

silently. ‘He called her

“Alright. Is there anything

and he could not detect any emotions

up in him. As he was about

on,” Madison

holding onto the divorce papers he had given her just

procedures when you have time. As for the papers, you can send them to me after that. My address is on the last page,” Madison told

capability,

was holding out to him. He shifted his gaze to her overly calm

His voice became hoarse. “Didn’t we agree

the result

the papers, so she directly thrust them to Leo. “Besides, tomorrow is Sally’s birthday. She would be happy if

off guard and slowly took

he asked, “What

soft, so

“Nothing,” he said.

put away the documents, regained his composure, and looked at Madison’s face. He said, “Rest

step back. “You too,” she

door slammed shut in front

closed

smile still lingered in his mind. He glanced at the document in his

call from the Hale family the next

about the marriage between her and Leo, trying to be subtle as she

stated, “Ramona, Leo gave me

the alliance with the Palmer family and the reputation of both

been kicked out then, her life during those years had not

became arrogant and contemptuous and spoke as though she was generous, doing Madison a favor. “It’s Sally’s birthday today. Come over in the evening so

gaze, concealing the coldness in her

Ramona should

and made a mistake by insisting you and Leo be together. But now, aren’t we back on the right track? Madison, don’t be upset over this. Your status is low, and you aren’t compatible with the Palmer family. If it weren’t for your fortunate adoption by our family for a few years, you probably wouldn’t have had the chance to step into the threshold of a wealthy family. You might have even died on the street someday. Moreover, if it weren’t for you, Sally wouldn’t have been wandering out there

of manipulating her. However, back then, Madison was just a baby. If it weren’t for the earthquake and being mistakenly carried off by a nurse

calmly as she finished tidying her

nothing else of hers in the villa. She entered this place with a single suitcase and would leave with one

coldly and

a

directly called Madison. Two succinct and indifferent words came from him.

Chapter 3 The Front Passenger’s Seat

deliberately dragged her

wasn’t until Leo’s second call that she came

the car saw her running over, his slightly frowned brows eased somewhat. He turned and adjusted the gift box on the front passenger

as she opened the rear door of the car and got in, she explained, “Sorry for keeping you waiting. I took a nap

mirror. His hands on the steering wheel tightened.

her head to look at her outfit.

gift box on the front passenger seat

Sprince, a luxury fashion label. Even the packaging was elaborate. Madison immediately recognized it as the latest dress released by Sprince for their

a show of hesitation, she put the gift box back. “It’s a gift for Sally. If I wear it, it

wheel. At her words, his movement paused. “We haven’t announced the divorce yet. Do you intend to disgrace the Palmer family by

“But…” Madison began.

prepared for Sally. This is a gift from the brand, and I forgot it in the car,” Leo coldly

but to take the

The skirt shimmered under the light as she walked. She looked like she had stepped

indicated that the dress was not

she opened the rear car door, she suddenly found

inside the

“Isn’t that a bit

reserved for one’s girlfriend. If there was no girlfriend, it was for someone with a close relationship with

treating me as

what I meant,” she

to make it clear to Leo what

“Sally is not you. She won’t mind such trivial matters. Get in the

it. “Then I won’t go. I

honked at her, followed by the man’s

tugged at the rear door. It

raised her eyebrows and slid into the car while holding her dress. Since the size wasn’t right

drove, “Is

use some pins to fix it when we reach. Don’t worry. I won’t embarrass

could finish speaking, the car suddenly

a seatbelt in the back seat, and her head bumped directly into the front seat.

wants to kill me, he shouldn’t resort to this!’ Madison thought. ‘If

seatbelt and fastened it. She glanced at the

her to make way for Sally would be more convenient. Now that Madison had signed

resolve the divorce as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary

Has our divorce been finalized?”

Chapter 4 Adopted Daughter

to be distorted by the noisy wind outside. “Why? Are you

not like I am

head, looking serious. “It should be you

and the car speed gradually stabilized. “I’m not in a

went silent. She did

signed the divorce papers. Tonight, she would settle things with the Hale family. After that, she would have no more connections with these

an hour later, the car stopped outside

Hale and Palmer families cooperated in business. The Hale family’s status in high society gradually became more prominent. Many people fawned over and flattered them. By this moment, the luxury cars of the visiting guests

A gust of night wind almost made her shiver. When she looked up, Leo, who was dressed in a suit, was already walking toward the lawn where the party was set up at the villa. Madison had no choice but

their eyes in their direction because of

piled up high next to the five-layer

was like a scene from a romantic

Leo, slowed down her steps and attempted

disappear into the crowd, Leo suddenly stopped walking and

if the film had been put on pause at the most exciting part, and a commercial suddenly

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