Chapter 1
“The surgery comes with some risks, so it’d be better if your husband could sign off on it with you,” the doctor said, his tone calm but firm. “Where the hell is he? He’s not the president—he can spare a minute to sign a paper, right?”
In the VIP hospital room. The doctor frowned as she looked at Rachel Sarratt, who looked like the hadn’t slept in days, pale and exhausted.
This was the third time Rachel had dragged herself here, trying to get a family member to sign the consent form.
Rachel let out a bitter laugh, then, holding her phone in her trembling hand, dialed the number
It was a number she’d called so many times before, but today it felt like it was ringing on the other side of the world. The line beeped, and an eternity passed
“Have you agreed to the divorce?” came George Fox’s emotionless voice from the other end..
Rachel’s hear lurched painfully, as if her throat had been tightly squeezed –
Just a month ago, she had learned that the child she’d been hoping for over the past three years had finally arrived
I lived a life of luxury–gently y feeding soup to Callie Nunez, who
Overjoyed, she had rushed home to share the news, only to find George who had l was heavily pregnant,
As she watched Callie with her delicate beauty and a mix of innocence and grace, Rachel was suddenly reminded of the first time George had seen
her
“I need a sweet, sensible wife. If you agree, we can get married right away.” George said.
Now, three years later, as George’s “sweet and sensible wife, Rachel finally understood the real reason he had married her. Callie’s eyes were juur like hers.
“Rachelle’s gri a divorce.” That was when George first threw it out there.
For three years. Rachel had done everything she could to be the perfect wife–the obedient daughter in law, never defying him. But that was first time she had refused him.
the
Since then, they had been in a silent standoff. It lasted until today, when Willa Fox, George’s stepmom, had come to push for the divorce, only to send Rachel rumbling down the stains.
The fall caused bleeding and a miscarriage, and she had to undergo emergency surgery
On the other end of the line, Callie’s sweet, cny voice echoed. “George, look, the 4D scan of the baby is here. Doesn’t it look like me!”
“Yes, it does” George uid.
the heard the tender, indulgent tone in his voice, Rachel’s hand shook uncontrollably. Three years of marriage, and he had always been cold and
distant toward her.
She had tried so hard to please him, to obey him, and mold herself to fit his desires, thinking that eventually, he would come to love her. But in that moment, all her efforts seemed like a cruel joke,
“Rachel, don’t waste any more time George said.
“I agree to the divorce, Rachel said, then hung up the phone
She sat on the hospital bed for a long while, the pain in her abdomen coming in waves, but it felt as though she couldn’t even feel it anymore.
Eventually, when the doctor prompted her again, Rachel lifted her head. “Doctor, if I get divorced, does that mean I don’t need my husband to sign
anymore!”
After the surgery, Rachel rested for a while, then forced herself to sit up. She had to go home.
soon as she stepped through the door, she saw her suitcase–tossed out onto the doorstep
“Kachel, your cheap, filly stuff is dirtying my space. Can you get rid of it already?” Callie said.
Callie, with her dighilly rounded belly, lifted her chin smugly, directing the servants–who were all buttering her up–to throw Rachel’s belongings
Rachel sneered inwardly, thinking. Is George really trying to mak
mom for
or his true love‘ He is in such a hurry, it seean:
She couldn’t be bothered with Gallie. Kachel walked past hier and went straight for her luggage.
6:45 PM ch
Chapter 1
Her bold, dismissive attitude immediately ignites Callie’s fury, Callie thought, ‘How dare this poor, lowly orphan act like she is someone
Callie simmpeidon Rachel’s suitcase, “Wait, what’s this
Rachel saw that Callie’s gaze had fallen on a velvet bos.
Her eyes flickered for a moment, and she instinctively reached for it, but before she could grab it, one of the servants–who was busy fawning over Gallie–matched it away.
10 a ring, ma’am. Take a look the servant said.
“Such a valuable thing.” Callie sneered. “This could probably feed her for the rest of her life. A person with no taste like her must have stolen it to sell for money.”
“I can always smell that poor–people stench when she walks by,” Callie continued, with a condescending look. “Someone like her has never seen anything so expensive. Of course she’d go for it
“That’s mine,” Rachel said, her eyes welling up as she rushed forward
She reached for the nug. but Callie was faster. “Who do you think you are! This ring is worth millions of dollars. A lowborn thing like you isn’t
worthy of it
Rachel had nothing left in her. That ring had been a gift from George when he proposed. It was hers. With everything she had left, she grabbed in
back
Callie let out a shriek, spitting in disgust. “You londly, good–for–nothing! You’re really willing to kill for a ring, aren’t you?”
The ring hit the floor with a sickening thud. Rachel cried out and bent down to grab it, but a pair of black leather shoes beat her to it. The foot came down hard, crushing the ring with a sharp crunch.
Rachel’s heart shattered along with the ring. She looked up in shock and saw George suddenly standing before her.
George was a striking man–his dark eyebrows, piercing black eyes, and sharp nose, framed by lips that seemed naturally cold and disdainful. When he looked down at her, it was like a king staring down at an insignificant peasant.
“George Rachel said.
The ring was gone. She wanted to tell him how much it hurt, how her heart felt like it was being ripped apart.
“Kachel”
George’s voice was cold. “Enough of this. Let’s talk about the divorce t
terms. What do you want? Name your price
His words, devoid of any warmth, felt like a bucket of ice–cold water poured over her head, extinguishing the last flicker of hope she’d held for him.
“George, even though she stole it… she’s poor. Life outside the Fox family will be hard for her. Let her keep the ring. At least she can sell it for some money. We don’t need it, Callie said.
Callie threw herself into George’s arms, looking down at Rachel with a smug smile, her face buried in his chest as if to rub it in.
George’s brows furrowed ever so slightly. “Fine.”
As Rachel looked at the shattered ring on the floor, tears began to fall from Rachel’s eyes. She knew it was over. Her heart, just like that ring, would never be the saine again.
With shaky steps, Rachel forced herself to rise. She didn’t look back at him. She clenched her hand so tightly, her nails nearly digging into her skin.
“Tomorrow at nine, I’ll come to collect my things. Mease make sure Mr. Fox has the 100–million–dollar divorce settlement ready,” Rachel said
“Rachel, you-“Before George could finish, Rachel turned and walked out.
By the time she made it outside, the world around her seemed to go dark. Just as a black Rolls–Royce pulled up, she collapsed, losing consciousness.
“Mr. Sarrant, that’s Ms. Surratt
“Stop the cart
The Rolls–Royce screeched to a halt, and Martin Sarratt, an elderly man, leaning on a cane, rushed out. When i his eyes immediately filled with tears.
he saw Rachel lying o on the ground,
