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.

She entered the room and quickly returned. She was holding onto the divorce papers he had given her just minutes ago and handing them to him.

“I’ve already signed them. You can take care of the 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 him.

Leo had been absent on the day that they registered their marriage. With his capability, it should be an even more straightforward task now that they were getting a divorce.

Leo looked at the documents she was holding out to him. He shifted his gaze to her overly calm face and saw no sadness or grief.

His Adam’s apple darted. His voice became hoarse. “Didn’t we agree to wait a few days?”

“Whether we wait or not, the result is the same, right?” she asked.

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

off guard and

head, he asked, “What

questioned. His voice was soft, so Madison couldn’t

“Nothing,” he said.

documents, regained his composure, and looked at Madison’s face.

a step back.

fell, the door slammed shut in

the tightly closed

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

call from the Hale

and Leo, trying to be subtle

from the Hale family and straightforwardly stated, “Ramona, Leo gave me

weren’t for the alliance

kicked out then,

tone, which had been cautiously polite, changed instantly. Ramona became arrogant and contemptuous and spoke as though she was generous, doing Madison a favor.

gaze, concealing the coldness in

the order, Ramona should have hung up

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 can’t stand any provocation.

raising her as a means 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

Madison responded calmly as she finished

She entered this place with a single suitcase

snorted coldly and hung

the villa, a car horn suddenly

of the car. He directly called Madison. Two succinct and indifferent words came from

Chapter 3 The Front Passenger’s Seat

deliberately dragged

until Leo’s second call that she came out

her running over, his slightly frowned brows eased somewhat. He turned and

of the car and got in,

through the rearview mirror. His hands on the steering wheel tightened. “Are you going to the party dressed like this?” he

outfit. She asked, “Is there something wrong with this?

gift box on the front

labeled with Sprince, a luxury fashion label. Even the packaging was elaborate. Madison immediately recognized it

a gift for Sally. If I wear it, it would not be

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

“But…” Madison began.

is a gift from the brand, and I forgot it in the car,” Leo coldly interrupted her.

said. Exasperated, Madison had no choice but to take the gift box and go back

under the light as she walked. She looked like she had

that

rear car door, she suddenly found that the

inside the car. “Sit in

“Isn’t that

passenger seat was reserved for one’s girlfriend. If there was no

her. “So, treating me as

not what

decided to make it clear to Leo

She won’t mind such trivial matters.

I won’t go. I don’t think Sally

dress and was about to leave. The car honked at her, followed by the man’s indifferent voice.

tugged at the rear door. It

dress. Since the size wasn’t right and the

car and drove, “Is the

a bit loose. I’ll use some pins to fix

could finish speaking, the car suddenly braked, interrupting Madison’s

seat, and her head bumped directly

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

seatbelt and fastened it. She glanced at the scenery outside the car

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

resolve the divorce as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary

Has our divorce been

Chapter 4 Adopted Daughter

of the car suddenly increased, and Leo’s voice seemed to be distorted by the noisy

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

looking serious. “It should be you

car speed gradually

She did not talk

Tonight, she would settle things with the Hale family.

car stopped outside the Hale

recent years, the 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 had

in a suit, was already walking toward the lawn where the party was set up at the villa. Madison had no choice

eyes

to the five-layer cake. Under the lights

was like a scene from a romantic film

now would seem very indiscreet. Thus, Madison, who was following Leo, slowed down her

the crowd, Leo suddenly stopped walking and turned to

pause at

think there was anything wrong. He looked at Madison, who was standing in front of the crowd.

to Madison at once. Murmurs

she? She looks familiar, but I feel like I’ve

home from the hospital after being abandoned by her biological parents. She’s the one the Hale family kindly raised as Sally’s real sister. But in the end, she

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

after another. The looks they cast at Madison were filled

voices were not loud, but Madison, who was close, heard

hear those unpleasant things said about her

Leo spoke. She walked gracefully toward

informing her adoptive parents. How impolite and uncultivated!’ In everyone’s minds, Madison’s image went down another

morning. Maybe she was afraid you wouldn’t

changed her address to her adoptive parents. Instead of calling them Mom and Dad

I be unhappy? With you back, I have a companion and

feel disgusted. Restraining her expression, Madison took a small gift box from her

Thank you, Madison!” Sally took it, joyfully hugging

Madison froze entirely.

Chapter 5 The Ill-Fitting Gown

push away Sally, Sally suddenly had

this dress

circle, attending an evening party meant competing with

displays meant

the limited edition haute couture from which brand and which set of jewelry belonged to which designer. If someone wore

categorized as

them started ridiculing Madison

How could she call herself Mrs.

she has a decent dress to wear. Look at her hairstyle. It’s so old-fashioned. No wonder Mr. Palmer doesn’t like her! I

to Leo.

anticipated such a scene. She watched Sally’s performance expressionlessly, thinking that

thought both of you had similar figures, so I had the designer tailor it according to your size. I

The gossiping abruptly stopped.

almost couldn’t maintain her

the mocking gazes from the people around her, as if they were saying

the dress. Sally had set her eyes on it when Sprince’s spring-summer collection was released.

Madison was the first to wear

to Madison but also spoke up to

struggled to maintain her composure and complained

looked at Madison.

arm affectionately. “By the way, Madison, I had several dresses sent over by Leo this time, with different sizes. If you don’t mind, go change into another one. Ill-fitting clothes don’t look

originally intended

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