My Ex-Wife Is A Big Shot In Disguise by Lindsay Lewis

Chapter 9

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.

Madison’s hand grew tired from holding up the papers, so she directly thrust them to Leo. “Besides, tomorrow is Sally’s birthday. She would be happy if she knew about this,” she added.

Leo was caught off guard and slowly took the papers.

Lowering his head, he asked, “What about you?”

“What?” she questioned. His voice was soft, so Madison couldn’t hear him clearly.

“Nothing,” he said.

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

Madison took a step back. “You too,” she replied.

words fell, the door slammed shut in front of the

tightly closed door, his expression extremely

still lingered in his mind. He glanced at the document in his hand, then turned and

call from the

her and Leo, trying

“Ramona, Leo gave me a divorce

return, she had been scolded by the Hale family’s parents for addressing them Dad and Mum. If it weren’t for the alliance with the Palmer family and the reputation of both

even if she hadn’t been kicked out then,

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

concealing the coldness in her

Ramona should have hung up

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 can’t stand any provocation. As her

as a means of manipulating her. However, back then, Madison was just a baby. If it weren’t for the earthquake and

calmly as she

the villa. She entered this place with

snorted coldly and hung up

the villa, a

the car. He directly called Madison.

Chapter 3 The Front Passenger’s Seat

dragged

until Leo’s second call that she came out

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

opened the rear door of the car and got in, she explained, “Sorry for

steering wheel tightened. “Are

bewildered noise. She lowered her head to look at her outfit. She asked, “Is there something wrong with this? It shouldn’t matter for a

box on the front passenger seat to her. “Go

label. Even the packaging was elaborate. Madison immediately recognized it as the latest dress released by

“It’s a gift for Sally. If

on the steering wheel. At her words, his movement paused. “We haven’t announced the divorce yet. Do you intend to

“But…” Madison began.

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

choice but to take the gift box

complemented the tone of her skin. The skirt shimmered under the light as she walked. She looked like she had

clearly indicated that the dress was not her size,

opened the rear

displeased voice came from inside the car. “Sit

furrowed her eyebrows. “Isn’t that a bit

mind, 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.

“So, treating me as

what I meant,” she

She decided to make it clear to Leo what she

not you. She won’t mind

however, was insistent on it. “Then I won’t go. I don’t think Sally would want to see me

and was about to leave. The car honked at her,

tugged at the rear door.

the size wasn’t right and the dress’s design

started the car and drove, “Is the

I’ll use some pins to fix it when we reach. Don’t

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

back seat, and her head bumped directly into the front

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

seatbelt and 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 that Madison had signed the

to resolve the divorce as

been

Chapter 4 Adopted Daughter

car suddenly increased, and Leo’s voice seemed to be distorted by the noisy wind outside. “Why? Are you in a

he mean 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 has someone waiting

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

the car speed gradually stabilized.

went silent. She did not

would settle things

hour later, the car stopped outside the Hale

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

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

guests present cast their eyes

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

scene from a

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

crowd, Leo suddenly stopped walking

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

who was standing in front of the crowd. His

at once. Murmurs erupted all

familiar, but I feel like I’ve never seen

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

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

looks they cast

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

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

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

to the country without informing her adoptive parents. How impolite and uncultivated!’ In everyone’s minds, Madison’s

returned last night and had a call with Ramona this morning.

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

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

made Madison feel disgusted. Restraining her expression, Madison took

even prepared a gift for me. Thank you, Madison!”

Madison froze entirely.

Chapter 5 The Ill-Fitting Gown

Madison couldn’t bear it anymore and was about to push away Sally, Sally suddenly had a slight change in expression. She

assessed Madison’s figure. “Madison, is this dress a

evening party meant competing with

jewelry were displays meant

of jewelry belonged to which designer. If someone wore an outdated dress, they would be immediately ostracized, not to

dresses were obviously categorized

around them started ridiculing Madison

How

She just came back from exile overseas. It’s good enough that she has a decent dress to wear. Look at her hairstyle. It’s so old-fashioned. No wonder Mr.

the others were saying, Sally complained to Leo. “Leo, why did

already anticipated such a scene. She watched Sally’s

have time to ask for Madison’s measurements. I thought both of you had similar figures, so I had the designer tailor it

The gossiping abruptly stopped.

couldn’t maintain her

around her, as if they were

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

Madison was the first to

the dress to Madison but also spoke up to defend that

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

gaze and looked at Madison. He gave a nod of

a smile. She hugged Madison’s 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

originally intended

wearing it a bit loose was quite comfortable. However, as the words of rejection were

in the room you used to stay in before. Choose whichever you

nodded. “See

bent down

expression remained unchanged as he said, “I’ll escort

looked at

But upon closer inspection, Sally’s delicate face only revealed a hint of

from Leo and glanced at him. “It’s hard to console a

leave decisively without a second

away from his palm. Lifting his gaze, he only saw her slender back

to the furthest room

in the bedroom on the second floor with a balcony. Later, when the real daughter of the Hale family

life as an abandoned commoner

else’s roof was tormenting. When she was alone in the small room, it was the

Madison pushed the

suddenly slammed shut with a bang.

turned around, but her

Chapter 6 The Apology

party held on the villa lawn was lively. Due to Madison’s ill-fitting dress, many socialites who were gathered together quickly found a common topic

socialized together, some were eager to have Sally cut the cake

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