Madelyn spent years in a marriage built on lies, loving a man whose heart had never been hers. It had always belonged to her adopted sister, Rebecca. When the truth came crashing down, everything she believed in shattered with it. Broken and betrayed, she walked away, determined to reclaim the pieces of her life. But just when she thought she was finally free, Jason returned, eyes full of regret, pleading for another chance. "Can we go back to the way things were?" Now, torn between the pain of the past and the ghost of love, Madelyn must decide: trust him again or finally choose herself.
Madelyn Clark's fingers gripped the bed sheet so firmly that her knuckles turned pale. At the height of the moment, she sank her teeth into the pillow, trying to hold back her cries.
Her husband, Jason Miller, gently kissed her neck and ear, his voice rough as he whispered, "Sweetheart..."
Madelyn pressed her teeth into the pillow harder, tears of mixed emotions soaking into it.
Along with the tears, a deep sadness grew inside her.
For years, she had convinced herself that he cared for her in some way, but only a few days ago had she discovered that his heart had always belonged to another woman.
After the sex, she curled up, pulling the blanket around her, her lashes still wet.
"Crying again?" Jason bent down to kiss her cheek softly. "Next time, I'll be gentler."
"There won't be a next time." Madelyn's voice sounded raw.
"Why?" Jason was puzzled.
"Jason, I want a divorce."
Ignoring the pain in her back, Madelyn straightened up and met Jason's gaze, her eyes full of resolve.
He was dressed only in a robe, the buttons open, showing off his toned chest and abs.
"You're kidding, right? This isn't funny." His voice was laid-back as he turned to walk toward the bathroom.
"Jason, when you have sex with me, who do you really picture?" Madelyn's voice grew a little louder.
Jason halted and spun around, his flawless face showing a flicker of surprise.
Madelyn rested against the headboard, her face pale and delicate, but her look was firm.
"When we're in bed, are you thinking of me or Rebecca?" Her voice became cutting, almost filled with accusation. "You've left a comment on every single one of Rebecca's posts using your finsta account. You've been in love with her for ten years, and marrying me was just to keep me from messing up her happiness, right?"
It wasn't until last week, when Madelyn stumbled upon Jason's finsta account commenting on her adopted sister's every post, that she had realized her marriage had been a sham all along!
Madelyn forced a wry smile. "On my birthday, you told me you had to work late, but you were really taking her to that bakery she loves. On our first anniversary, you said you had a client meeting, but you were actually out on a date with her."
Jason's expression soured, but he stayed quiet.
"And the real reason you married me..." Madelyn stopped, her voice catching in her throat. "The Powell family and the Clark family had planned for their eldest children to marry. When I came back to the Clark family as their eldest daughter, the marriage deal with the Powells landed on me. But Rebecca wanted Evan Powell for herself. To make her happy, you married me! That way, I couldn't marry Evan, and she could have him instead!"
As she finished, Madelyn couldn't stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks.
Though she had uncovered the truth a week ago, speaking of it now still felt like a knife twisting in her chest.
She had believed she married for love, only to realize she was nothing more than a fool.
"Why are you bringing this up now?" Jason finally said, his tone as cold as ever, as if the man who had been so passionate in bed earlier was a stranger. "You can't change a thing. We might as well keep things as they are."
Madelyn let out a bitter laugh, tears streaming down her face. "So, you don't feel any remorse at all? Not even a little?"
She struggled to speak. "When I came back to the Clark family at eighteen, I was just a naive girl from the countryside. Every brother spoiled Rebecca, who's not even related to them, treating me like I didn't belong. But you didn't push me away. You were the only one who showed me any kindness. Was all of that just for show?"
She straightened up, the blanket falling away, exposing her delicate shoulders and back.
She had once believed this marriage was her way out of the Clark family.
When the Clark family had asked her to come back, she'd had no desire to return.
But the daughter of the couple who had raised her had died because of her, and their attitude toward her complicated ever since. They still cared for her, but seeing her brought back painful memories of their lost daughter.
Madelyn couldn't bear to face them anymore, so she agreed to go back to the Clarks.
However, they believed she had left them for the wealth of the Clark family, and over time, they grew bitter and resentful toward her. She couldn't explain herself, so she estranged herself from them.
When the Clark family had turned against her, she had thought Jason, the only person who had been nice to her, might be her last chance at happiness.
But she had been deeply wrong.
This marriage had turned out to be a dark pit she struggled to escape.
Jason's frustrated voice was the only answer to Madelyn's question, as if she were the one being difficult. "That was years ago. What's the point of bringing it up now?"
"Right, totally pointless. But today is our third wedding anniversary. Remember?" Madelyn cracked.
Jason didn't say a word in response.
Madelyn twisted her lips in a sneer. "Let's just get a divorce."
Chapter 1 I Want A Divorce
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Chapter 2 There Is Nothing Between Us
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Chapter 3 Is Jason Going To Be Your Lover
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Chapter 4 Starting Over
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Chapter 5 Already Landed Yourself A New Man
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Chapter 6 What Gives You The Authority
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Chapter 7 Cutting Ties
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Chapter 8 You Make Me Sick
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Chapter 9 I'd Rather Die
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Chapter 10 Him Again
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Chapter 11 Leave This Instant
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Chapter 12 I've Let Him Down
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Chapter 13 Investigating The Past
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Chapter 14 Disagreement
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Chapter 15 Just Three Years
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Chapter 16 This Is Your Idea Of A Career
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Chapter 17 Soon-to-be Ex-wife
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Chapter 18 I Hope It Doesn't Bother You
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Chapter 19 You Have No Right To Control Me
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Chapter 20 You'll Pay The Price
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Chapter 21 I Can Leave Right Now
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Chapter 22 Just Let Me Go
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Chapter 23 It Seems She Hates Me
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Chapter 24 Internet Buzz
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Chapter 25 Trouble
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Chapter 26 We Haven't Officially Divorced Yet
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Chapter 27 Investigation Results
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Chapter 28 You Said You'd Always Look Out For Me
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Chapter 29 Emptiness
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Chapter 30 Corporate Spy
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Chapter 31 Back After All This Time
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Chapter 32 I Don't Care For That Attitude
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Chapter 33 Charade
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Chapter 34 A Not-so-subtle Warning
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Chapter 35 I'll See She Gets What's Coming To Her
20/05/2025
Chapter 36 Make Sure Ashley Gets Justice
20/05/2025
Chapter 37 It's Her Birthday As Well
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Chapter 38 Rebecca Is Getting A Divorce
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Chapter 39 The Magic Touch
20/05/2025
Chapter 40 Cut The Act
20/05/2025
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