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.

and quickly returned. She was holding onto the divorce papers he had given

you have time. As for the papers, you can send them to me after that. My

With his capability, it should

him. He shifted his gaze to her overly calm face and saw no sadness

became hoarse. “Didn’t we agree to wait a

or not, the result is the same,

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,”

caught off guard and

head, he

His voice was soft, so

“Nothing,” he said.

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

step back. “You too,”

words fell, the door slammed shut

closed

lingered in his mind. He glanced at the document

from the

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

Hale family and straightforwardly stated, “Ramona, Leo gave me a divorce agreement last night, and I’ve

and Mum. If it weren’t for the alliance with

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

instantly. Ramona became arrogant and contemptuous and spoke

gaze, concealing the coldness in her

order, Ramona should have hung up

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 can’t stand any provocation. As her sister,

these words, Ramona successfully 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

calmly as she finished

this place with a single suitcase and would

coldly and hung up the

the villa, a

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

Chapter 3 The Front Passenger’s Seat

deliberately dragged

until Leo’s second call that

her running over, his slightly frowned brows

got in, she explained, “Sorry

His hands on the steering

let out a bewildered noise. She lowered her head to look at her outfit. She asked, “Is there something wrong with this?

box on the front passenger seat

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

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

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

“But…” Madison began.

the brand, and I forgot it in the car,” Leo coldly interrupted her. His tone was

choice but to take the

The skirt shimmered under the light as she walked.

that the dress was not her size, she would

opened the rear car door,

came from inside the car. “Sit in the

“Isn’t that a bit

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

treating

what I meant,”

decided to make it clear to Leo what

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

won’t go. I don’t think Sally would want to see me

about to leave. The car honked at her,

rear

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

and drove, “Is

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

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

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

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

fastened it. She glanced at the scenery outside the car

and 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 divorce papers, Leo shouldn’t necessarily

as soon

divorce been

Chapter 4 Adopted Daughter

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

mean by saying I am in a hurry?’ Madison thought. ‘It’s not like I am about to get

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

and the car speed gradually stabilized.

silent. She did not talk

signed the divorce papers. Tonight, she would settle things with the Hale family. After that, she would have no more connections with these

an hour later, the car stopped

families cooperated in business. The Hale family’s status in high society gradually became more prominent. Many people fawned over and flattered

was already walking toward the lawn where the party was set up at the villa. Madison had no choice but to follow quickly, holding

present cast their eyes in their

next to the five-layer cake. Under the lights and everyone’s gaze, Leo approached the woman who was playing the

like a scene from a

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

could disappear into the crowd, Leo suddenly stopped walking and turned to

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

was anything wrong. He looked at Madison, who was standing in

the guests turned to Madison at once. Murmurs erupted

familiar, but I feel like I’ve

biological parents. She’s the one the

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

people spoke one after another. The looks they

not loud, but Madison, who was

she couldn’t hear those unpleasant

Leo spoke. She walked gracefully toward

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

call with Ramona this morning. Maybe she was

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

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

Madison took

Thank you, Madison!”

Madison froze entirely.

Chapter 5 The Ill-Fitting Gown

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

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

attending an evening

displays meant

jewelry belonged to which designer. If someone wore an

dresses were obviously categorized as embarrassing

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