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.

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

guard

he asked,

was soft, so Madison couldn’t hear

“Nothing,” he said.

away the documents, regained his composure, and looked

a step back. “You

the words fell, the door slammed

closed door, his expression

lingered in his mind. He glanced at the document

the Hale family the

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

family and straightforwardly stated, “Ramona, Leo

for the alliance with the Palmer family and the reputation of both families, Madison might have been kicked

been kicked out then, her life

Madison had already signed the divorce agreement, Ramona’s tone, which had been cautiously polite, changed instantly. Ramona became arrogant and contemptuous and spoke as though she was generous, doing Madison a favor. “It’s Sally’s birthday today.

her gaze, concealing the coldness in

should have

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

degraded Madison. Madison’s life was threatened, and Ramona also used their 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

understand,” Madison responded calmly as she finished tidying

was nothing else of hers in the villa. She entered this place with a single

coldly and hung up the

the villa, a car horn suddenly

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

Chapter 3 The Front Passenger’s Seat

dragged

Leo’s second call that she came out of

frowned brows eased

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

through the rearview mirror. His hands on the steering wheel tightened. “Are you going to the party

look at her outfit. She asked, “Is

gift box on the front passenger seat

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

of hesitation, she put the gift box back. “It’s a gift for Sally.

his movement paused. “We haven’t announced the divorce

“But…” Madison began.

is a gift from the brand, and I forgot it in the car,” Leo

no choice but to take

skirt shimmered under the

the slightly loose waist, which clearly indicated that

went downstairs. When she opened the rear car door, she suddenly

inside the car.

“Isn’t that a bit

there was no girlfriend, it was

glanced at her. “So, treating me as a driver is

paused. “That’s not what I meant,”

head. She decided to make it clear to

“Sally is not you. She won’t mind such trivial matters. Get in the car. I don’t want to say the same thing a

it. “Then I won’t go. I don’t think Sally would want

leave. The car honked at her, followed by

the rear door. It

the car while holding her dress. Since the size wasn’t right and

car and drove, “Is the dress not

use some pins to fix it when we

finish speaking, the car suddenly braked, interrupting

the back seat, and her head bumped directly into

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

it. She

Leo. Under those circumstances, killing her to make way for Sally would be more convenient. Now that Madison had signed the divorce papers, Leo shouldn’t necessarily

to resolve the divorce as soon as possible

our divorce been finalized?” she

Chapter 4 Adopted Daughter

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

hurry?’ Madison thought. ‘It’s not like I am about to

looking serious. “It should be you who’s

lips lifted slightly, and the car speed gradually stabilized. “I’m not in

She did not

she had already signed the divorce papers. Tonight, she would settle things with the Hale family. After that, she would

an hour later, the car stopped outside the

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

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

cast their eyes in

the five-layer cake. Under the lights and everyone’s gaze,

like a scene from a romantic film

Leo, slowed down her steps

the crowd, Leo suddenly stopped walking and

put on pause at

didn’t think there was anything wrong. He looked at Madison, who was standing in front of the crowd. His

Madison at once. Murmurs erupted all around

She looks familiar, but I feel like I’ve never seen

forget? She’s that nob*dy 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 raised as Sally’s real sister. But in the end, she stole Sally’s

by Mr. Palmer on the day of the wedding? How dare she show her face back here? If I were her, I would have

one after another. The looks

who was close, heard them clear

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

spoke. She walked gracefully toward Madison. “Madison,

How impolite and uncultivated!’

smiled. “I returned last night and had a call with Ramona this morning. Maybe she was afraid you wouldn’t be

parents. Instead of calling them Mom and Dad as she used to, she now

With you back, I have a companion and won’t get nagged by my mom every day,”

expression, Madison took a small gift

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

Madison froze entirely.

Chapter 5 The Ill-Fitting Gown

to push away Sally, Sally suddenly

Madison’s figure. “Madison, is this dress a bit loose? It

high-society circle, attending an evening party

displays meant

of discussion among them included who wore the limited edition haute couture from which brand and which set of jewelry belonged to which

dresses were obviously categorized as embarrassing and

around them started

How could she call herself Mrs.

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

saying, Sally complained to Leo. “Leo, why

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

had similar figures, so I had the designer tailor it according to your size.

The gossiping abruptly stopped.

almost couldn’t maintain her

from the people around her, as if they

set her eyes on it when Sprince’s spring-summer collection was released. It had not been available for sale yet and could only be obtained from the

the

to Madison

deep breath, Sally struggled to maintain her composure and complained to Leo, “I see. You should

lowered his gaze and looked at Madison. He gave a

arm affectionately. “By the way, Madison, I had several dresses sent over by Leo this

intended

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