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.

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

was caught off guard and slowly

he asked, “What

was soft, so

“Nothing,” he said.

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

step back. “You

words fell, the door slammed shut in

closed door,

He glanced

the Hale family the

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

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

Dad and Mum. If it weren’t for the

even if she hadn’t been kicked out then, her life during those

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. Come over in the

coldness in her eyes. She

the order, Ramona should have hung

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.

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 mistakenly carried off by a nurse at the hospital, she would

as she finished

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

snorted coldly and hung

villa, a

didn’t get out of the car. He directly called Madison. Two succinct and indifferent words came from him. “Come

Chapter 3 The Front Passenger’s Seat

deliberately dragged

Leo’s second call that

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

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

at her through the rearview mirror. His hands on the steering wheel tightened. “Are you

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

gift box on the front passenger seat

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

“It’s a gift

announced the divorce

“But…” Madison began.

brand, and I forgot it

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

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

slightly loose waist, which clearly indicated that the dress was not her size, she would have liked this

the rear

from inside the car. “Sit

furrowed her eyebrows. “Isn’t that a

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

glanced at her. “So, treating

paused. “That’s not what I meant,” she said

She decided to make it clear

silence for two seconds. “Sally is not you. She won’t mind such trivial matters. Get

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

was about to leave. The car honked at her, followed by

at the rear door. It opened this

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

car and drove,

nonchalantly, “Yeah, it’s a bit loose. I’ll use some pins to fix it

speaking, the car suddenly braked, interrupting

seatbelt in the back seat, and her head bumped directly

shouldn’t resort to this!’ Madison

fastened it. She glanced at the scenery outside the

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

the divorce as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary

our divorce been

Chapter 4 Adopted Daughter

speed of the car suddenly increased, and Leo’s voice seemed to be

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

serious. “It should be you

the car speed gradually

went silent. She did not talk

divorce papers. Tonight, she would settle things with the Hale family. After

later, the car stopped outside the Hale

in high society gradually became more prominent. Many people fawned over

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

cast their eyes in their direction because

surrounded the beautiful woman playing the piano. Gifts piled up high next to the five-layer cake. Under the

a romantic film

Madison, who was following Leo, slowed down her steps and attempted to blend into the

into the crowd, Leo suddenly stopped walking and

the film had been put on pause at the most exciting part, and

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

the guests turned to Madison at once. Murmurs erupted all

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

you 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

dare she show her face back here? If I were her, I would have jumped off a building already. I would have been too

one after another. The looks they cast at Madison

not loud, but Madison, who was close, heard

though she couldn’t hear those unpleasant things said about her and did not walk toward

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

the country without informing her adoptive parents. How impolite and uncultivated!’ In

returned last night and had a call with Ramona this morning. Maybe she was afraid you wouldn’t be happy, so she

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

With you back, I have a companion and won’t get

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

for me. Thank you, Madison!”

Madison froze entirely.

Chapter 5 The Ill-Fitting Gown

to push away Sally, Sally

is this dress a bit loose? It looks kind of

an evening party meant competing

jewelry were displays

from which brand and which set of jewelry belonged to which designer. If someone wore an

categorized as embarrassing

them started ridiculing

even have a fitting dress. How could she call herself Mrs. Palmer?

that she has a decent dress to wear. Look at her hairstyle. It’s so old-fashioned. No wonder Mr. Palmer

she didn’t hear what the others were saying, Sally complained to Leo. “Leo, why did you prepare

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

didn’t have time to ask for Madison’s measurements. I thought both of you had similar figures, so I had the designer tailor it according to your size.

The gossiping abruptly stopped.

couldn’t maintain her

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

was also the matter of the dress. Sally had 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

Madison was the first

the dress to Madison but also spoke up

and complained to Leo, “I

his gaze and looked at

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

intended

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