Chapter 1 Divorce

"Let's get divorced."

In the three years Daniel Winston and Rebecca Brown were married, that was the second time he spoke to her.

The first time he spoke to her was on their wedding night.

At that time, she was holding up her poofy wedding dress as she twirled. She beamed at him while asking if she looked pretty.

Yet, he replied, "Now that the wedding is over, I'll have someone take you abroad."

So, she was sent away to a foreign country. For three years, she had to be on her own.

She never expected to hear him ask for a divorce as soon as she returned to the country. And on their wedding anniversary, no less.

"Must we get divorced?" Rebecca didn't look up.

Her long hair covered her face, concealing her emotions. But she could hear her voice tremble.

"Is there no room for discussion at all?" she asked with a catch in her throat.

Daniel stared at her with disdain for a long time. Then, he said coldly, "You know, I never would have married you if my grandfather wasn't seriously ill back then."

Daniel's grandfather, George Winston, got critically ill three years ago. It was his dying wish to see Daniel get married.

Actually, this marriage was never hers, to begin with.

Rebecca had been switched at birth. When she was 18, she was told that the real daughter, Jessica Brown, had returned. She then became the fake daughter who was forcibly occupying Jessica's home.

Everything Rebecca enjoyed should have been Jessica's. This included the love of her parents, her doting brothers, and even the marriage with Daniel that was decided at birth.

But George said that the foundation of a marriage was the couple's relationship. Even if Rebecca wasn't a true member of the Brown family, she still grew up with Daniel. He insisted on having Daniel marry her.

The Browns still thought of Rebecca as their daughter, so the Browns and Winstons would still be in-laws.

Rebecca and Daniel were then married.

But then, Jessica was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She couldn't stand hearing Rebecca's name, let alone seeing her.

After she learned about their marriage, she tried to take her own life. She wouldn't stop unless Daniel stayed by her side.

Daniel sent Rebecca abroad the day after their wedding. He wanted to prevent Jessica's condition from getting worse. Since then, he had never checked in on her.

This was her first time back in the country.

Daniel handed her a document. "I've had my lawyer draw up the divorce papers. Take a look at it. If you have no objections, you can just sign it."

Rebecca accepted the document with her head hung low. "Can you give me some time to think about it?"

Daniel looked at her as her thick bangs covered her eyes. Living abroad alone seemed to make her even more of a loner.

"If you're unhappy with the divorce settlement, let me know. This villa will also be yours. I'll give you one week."

With that, he turned and left the bedroom.

As his fingers touched the doorknob, he glanced back at Rebecca. Her thin shoulders shook slightly, and she held the document in the same position as before.

Daniel's gaze darkened. Then, he closed the door behind him.

The room became completely silent.

A moment later, a cheer broke out in the room.

"The jerk has finally asked for a divorce!"

Rebecca couldn't hold back her laughter anymore as she looked at the divorce papers in her hand. The shaking of her shoulders became more obvious as well.

In the three years she was abroad, she didn't receive any concerned messages from the Brown family. There were no comforting words from her "husband," either. She couldn't even reach Daniel when she almost died after someone followed her.

Her feelings had long been buried that winter.

She immediately signed the papers. Then, she happily rolled around on the bed.

Her long hair spread on the bed, and her bangs parted. Her beautiful face was revealed. And it showed no sign of sadness.

Right when she got up to pack her luggage, her phone rang.

Rebecca answered the call in a sweet voice, "Hello, Sam."

It was Sam Johnson, her second brother from her birth family.

He got straight down to business. "Becca, the people who tried to kidnap you at the airport when you returned to the country have been caught. They're also connected to your stalking case from three years ago. It pains me to tell you this, but the clues all point to your adopted parents and also … your supposed husband."