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?”

It was only four words, but it conveyed a sense of distance.

Leo unconsciously furrowed his eyebrows. He dropped his hand 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 to bring you there.”

Madison blinked.

‘Sally,’ she thought, scoffing silently. ‘He called her so affectionately.’

She smiled. “Alright. Is there anything else?”

Leo looked at her. Her black hair hid her beautiful face, and he could not detect any emotions from her. It seemed as though she calmly accepted the decision.

A strange sense of frustration welled up in him. As he was about to turn around, he said, “There’s nothing else. Rest early.”

“Hold on,” Madison called him.

entered the room and quickly returned. She was holding onto the divorce

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

the day that they registered their marriage. With his capability, it should be an even more straightforward task now that they were

the documents she was holding out to him. He shifted his gaze to her overly calm face

His voice became hoarse. “Didn’t we agree to wait

wait or not, the result is the same, right?” she

Leo. “Besides, tomorrow is Sally’s birthday. She

guard and slowly took

head, he asked,

she questioned. His voice was soft, so Madison

“Nothing,” he said.

the documents, regained his composure, and looked at Madison’s

step back. “You too,”

slammed shut in front of the

tightly closed door, his expression extremely

in his mind. He glanced at the document in his hand,

from the Hale family the next

about the marriage between her and Leo, trying to

and straightforwardly stated, “Ramona, Leo gave me a divorce

it weren’t for the alliance with the

out then, her life during those years had

had been cautiously polite, changed instantly. Ramona became arrogant and contemptuous and

concealing the coldness in her

the order, Ramona should have hung up

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 for so many years, suffering from illness. You should remember to be grateful. Although her condition has stabilized, Sally

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 at the hospital, she would have been the pampered heiress of the top-tier

Madison responded calmly as she finished

entered this place with

and hung up the

the villa, a car horn

He directly called Madison. Two

Chapter 3 The Front Passenger’s Seat

dragged her

call that she came out of the

brows eased somewhat. He turned and adjusted the gift box

soon as she opened the rear door of the car and got in, she

steering wheel tightened. “Are you going to the party dressed like this?” he

at her outfit. She asked, “Is there something wrong with this? It shouldn’t matter for a family

the gift box on the front passenger seat

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

back. “It’s a gift for Sally. If I wear it,

words, his movement paused. “We haven’t announced the divorce yet. Do you intend to

“But…” Madison began.

Sally. This is a gift from the brand, and I forgot it in the car,” Leo coldly interrupted her. His tone was unquestionable. “Go

Exasperated, Madison had no choice but to take the

blue gradient dress complemented the tone of her skin. The skirt shimmered under the light as she walked. She

weren’t for the slightly loose waist, which clearly indicated that the

rear car door, she suddenly found that the door

inside the car. “Sit

“Isn’t

the front passenger seat was reserved for one’s girlfriend. If there was no girlfriend, it was for someone with a close relationship with the driver. She

“So, treating me as a driver

paused. “That’s not what I

it clear to Leo what she was thinking

for two seconds. “Sally is not you. She won’t mind

however, was insistent on it. “Then I won’t go. I don’t think

leave. The car honked at her, followed by the man’s indifferent

the rear

the car while holding her dress. Since the size wasn’t right and the dress’s design was elaborate, tidying

car and drove, “Is the

use some pins to fix it when we reach.

the

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

he wants to kill me, he shouldn’t resort to this!’ Madison thought. ‘If something happens, he would also risk his

fastened it. She glanced at the scenery outside the

knew she liked Leo. Under those circumstances, killing her to make way for Sally would be more convenient. Now

the divorce as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary

Has our divorce been

Chapter 4 Adopted Daughter

Leo’s voice seemed to be distorted by the noisy

by saying I am in a hurry?’ Madison thought. ‘It’s not like I am about to get into another relationship. I’m not the one who

head, looking serious. “It should be you who’s in a

car speed gradually

silent. She did

case, she had already signed the divorce papers. Tonight, she would settle things

the car stopped outside the Hale family’s

society gradually became more prominent. Many people fawned over and flattered them. By this moment, the luxury cars of the visiting guests had almost occupied

dressed in a suit, was already walking toward the lawn where the party was set up at

present cast their eyes in their direction because of

piano. Gifts piled up high next to the five-layer cake. Under the lights and everyone’s gaze, Leo approached the woman

from a romantic

indiscreet. Thus, Madison, who was following Leo, slowed down her steps

into the crowd, Leo suddenly stopped walking and turned to look at

film had been put on pause at the

think there was anything wrong. He looked at Madison, who was

Madison at once. Murmurs

but I feel like I’ve never

that the Hale family mistakenly carried home from the hospital after being abandoned by her biological parents. She’s the one the Hale family kindly

the one sent abroad by Mr. Palmer on the day of the wedding? How dare she show her face back here? If I were her, I would have jumped off a building already. I would have been too embarrassed to live. How unfortunate that we see her

people spoke one after another. The looks they cast

Madison, who was close, heard them

stood calmly there as though she couldn’t hear those unpleasant things said

She walked gracefully toward Madison. “Madison, when did you return to the country? Why didn’t

impolite and

morning. Maybe she was afraid

back, Madison changed her address to her adoptive parents. Instead of calling them

have a companion and won’t get nagged

her expression, Madison took a small gift box from her

a gift for me. Thank you, Madison!” Sally took it,

Madison froze entirely.

Chapter 5 The Ill-Fitting Gown

to push away Sally, Sally suddenly had a slight change in expression. She furrowed her brows

this dress a bit loose? It looks kind

evening party meant

and jewelry were displays

the limited edition haute couture from which brand and which set of jewelry belonged to which designer. If someone wore an outdated dress, they would

were obviously categorized as

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