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Our Secret Divorce: It Began the Moment I Left Him
NovelShort
Hoàn thành
In the first year of their divorce proceedings, Louisa was arrested for soliciting prostitution for the 99th time. Hadden had just finished surgery and hadn’t even had time to change out of his whit...
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第1章
In the first year of their divorce proceedings, Louisa was arrested for soliciting prostitution for the 99th time.
Hadden had just finished surgery and hadn’t even had time to change out of his white coat before rushing to the police station.
Louisa’s neck was covered in red spots of various shapes. Because she was kneeling, her short skirt was slit very high, exposing her lustrous legs.
The man’s pupils darkened slightly. He took off his coat and draped it over Louisa, then grabbed a male model next to him and punched him hard.
“Do you know she has a husband? My wife is very young. She craves novelty, but the only one who can make her happy is me. This punch is a warning. Don’t try anything to seduce my wife again. She’s young, I can forgive her, but I will never let you off the hook. Get out!”
Louisa stood up, stuffed several hundred dollars into the male model’s hand and comforted him, “Don’t listen to him, he’s just trying to scare you. I’ll ask you again next time I go.”
The male model took the money and ran away quickly, but Louisa was pinned to a chair by Hadden. The wound on her abdomen, which hadn’t healed, tore open again, causing her teeth to chatter in pain, yet she still smiled and joked.
“Dr. Cole… Using so much force, anyone who didn’t know better would think you were going to kill someone.”
Hadden didn’t speak, his rough fingers frantically wiping the marks on her neck. Seeing they were lipstick marks, the man’s expression softened slightly. “I told you, no matter what you do, I will forgive you. That’s enough for today, it’s time to go home.”
Hadden was always like this. No matter what she did, he always acted caring, always ready to cover for her.
Just like back then, when he stood by and did nothing for her father, yet afterward he could spout a righteous protest.
Louisa pushed him away. She walked straight in, outstretched her hands and said, “Officer, I’ve solicited prostitutes 99 times! If you don’t arrest me, I’m going to report you!”
The officers on duty exchanged bewildered glances. this was the first time they’d ever seen someone voluntarily want to go to jail.
Suddenly, Hadden’s face hardened and his grip on her wrist tightened. “Louisa, that’s enough.”
But Louisa wouldn’t listen, pressing closer and threatening the officers, “If you don’t arrest me, tomorrow’s headlines won’t be mine, they’ll be yours!”
Seeing this, the officers almost took Louisa into custody. But Hadden summoned his friend, the police chief and used a project worth $1,400 billion dollars to suppress the matter. The officers were all moved by Hadden’s love and felt sorry for him.
“Is Louisa crazy? Back then, she even severed ties with her family to marry Hadden, her father’s close friend. Now that they’re married, why is she constantly demanding a divorce?”
“Who knows? Maybe she doesn’t appreciate what she has. She should be secretly happy to have married such a good man. I don’t know what she’s up to.”
Louisa was pulled... She left, a disheartened smile on her face. Hadden was her father’s close friend, twelve years her senior, a top-tier physician in the country and owned 70% of the shares in hospitals nationwide. It was widely rumored that Hadden, though outwardly aloof, was ruthless at heart.
The first time Louisa met Hadden, she had a major argument with her father over university choices. It was Hadden who persuaded her father and eased the tension between them.
The second time she saw him, Louisa had been kidnapped by her father’s nemesis. It was Hadden who single-handedly rescued her. Therefore, a scar over ten centimeters long remains on her arm. Her eyes were red from crying, but the man forced a smile and comforted her, “It doesn’t hurt, be good, don’t cry.”
The third time, Hadden was drugged by a business partner and she was used as the antidote. They spent a passionate night together. Afterwards, Hadden said he would take responsibility for her.
Hadden didn’t know that she had already secretly fallen for him, so they made their relationship public the next day.
At the time, her father was furious and disapproved. He said, “Louisa, Hadden can be my friend, but he can’t be your husband. He’s too cruel. He loves you now, he’d give you his life, but what if one day he doesn’t love you anymore? You can’t fight him and Dad can’t protect you forever.”
Louisa didn’t understand. she only thought her father cared about their past relationship.
But she was her father’s only daughter and he ultimately compromised. At that moment, he seemed to know her future fate and sighed deeply. “Louisa, you’ll regret this one day.”
Later, her father’s words became a self-fulfilling prophecy. After graduating from university, they got married, but her father unexpectedly received... cancer.
Louisa went to great lengths to obtain a special medicine from Linkon. Hadden claimed that with this medicine, Harvey cancer cells could be completely eradicated and promised to personally perform the surgery to remove the tumor.
However, before the surgery began, the hospital sent in another cancer patient, Janice.
Janice was Hadden’s unrequited love. Because Janice’s family was poor, the Cole Family strongly opposed their relationship, forcing them to separate.
Hadden spoke with righteous indignation. “Louisa, your father is old. He has been charitable all his life. If he could use… this special medicine can save lives. I’m sure Dad would be willing to give it.”
Louisa broke down in tears, questioning him, “This is the medicine I begged for! It’s my father lying in that bed! What right do you have to make decisions for me?!”
Hadden replied, “Because I’m your father’s attending physician and your husband.”
To protect Janice, he even scolded her, “Louisa, don’t be so petty. I’ve seen Dad’s medical report, he can still hold on a little longer. But Janice can’t wait. She’s from a poor family. If she doesn’t receive this medicine, she’ll truly be beyond saving next time.”
In the end, Hadden still used the special medicine on Janice. Although Harvey underwent surgery, the cancer cells spread rapidly due to the lack of the special medicine, leaving him bedridden in the ICU, clinging to life.
Their family was the one who suffered, but everyone praised Hadden’s benevolence and selflessness as a doctor. This was clearly using her public good to satisfy Hadden’s selfish desires. From then on, Louisa wanted a divorce.
In the first month, she spent money and used her connections to hire various elite lawyers to help her with the divorce and Hadden then transferred the Hicks Group... Driven to bankruptcy, she became the object of everyone’s desire.
The following month, Louisa filed a report accusing Hadden of unethical medical practices. However, he was unaffected, while she was criticized by her friends in the industry for being immature.
The third month, without crying or making a scene, Louisa tricked Hadden into signing divorce papers. Just when she thought she had finally succeeded, Hadden brought people to shut down her law firm and personally tore up the fraudulently signed agreement in front of her.
That was the first time Hadden was angry with her and threatened, “Louisa, if you continue to make a scene like this, Dad… I’ll stop his treatment immediately!”
Without Harvey, she was powerless against Hadden and was forced to compromise. But she didn’t want to waste the rest of her life like this, so she went to the club every day to hire male models, waiting for the day Hadden couldn’t take it anymore and would initiate a divorce.
She always made a big fuss, but Hadden always found a way to handle it. Later, whenever she got her hands on the special medicine, Janice’s condition would coincidentally relapse and Hadden would intercept it time and again, depriving Harvey of his chance to live.
Hadden kept saying he loved her... Yet, he stayed by Janice’s side while she was driven to madness and taking medication at home. Louisa repeatedly received hope, only to have it extinguished time and again.
Hadden never mentioned love to Janice, yet every word he uttered was filled with affection. She was tired. This kind of life was truly meaningless.
Just after leaving the police station, Hadden received another call from Janice. She said she was scared and asked Hadden to stay with her. Without waiting for Louisa’s reply, the man turned and left.
Back in college, she was almost sexually assaulted while walking alone at night. it was Hadden who appeared in time to save her. At that time, the man promised that he would never let her walk alone at night again.
How long had it been? The man had already completely forgotten. A sharp, throbbing pain shot through Louisa’s chest. A screeching sound of brakes followed as Louisa was struck and thrown into the air by a car.
The excruciating pain left Louisa’s mind blank. As she landed, she saw Hadden’s car drive past her, heading in the opposite direction…
When Louisa awoke again, she was in the hospital. The man beside her was someone she had seen on the news.
He was a rising star in Stellis’s elite circles, possessing a quarter of the wealth of the Silverhavenian royal family. One bloodline, one noble status. But another identity: an undefeated legend in the legal world.
Philip said apologetically, “Madam, I apologize. I’ve just returned to Valerie and am not very familiar with the roads. I will provide all subsequent compensation according to the highest standards.”
Louisa hesitated for a few seconds, then stared at him and said, “I don’t want compensation. I want you to help me with a divorce case.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “Who is the other party?”
“Hadden, the head of the Cole Family. Mr. Pierce, are you willing to take this case?”
Philip smiled slightly. “I will. I guarantee you’ll win this case.”
第2章
A glimmer of hope finally appeared on Louisa’s face as she smiled and asked, “How long will the divorce take?”
Philip’s eyes narrowed slightly, his tone inquisitive. “You seem quite anxious, Miss Hicks. I’ve heard Mr. Cole loves you very much and you even turned against your own father to marry him. But now it seems you two are somewhat different from the rumors.”
Louisa lowered her eyes and smiled self-deprecatingly. The love she once felt was real, but so were the repeated hurts she’d experienced now.
She looked up, a helpless smile tugging at her lips. “People change, don’t they?”
Philip pondered for a few seconds. The Cole Family was one of the most powerful and influential families in Aetherfall. Winning this case would be beneficial to him as well.
“Give me seven days. I will gather all the evidence and help you win this case.”
A smile finally appeared on Louisa’s face as she sincerely thanked him, “Attorney Pierce, thank you.”
The woman’s happy smile brought back a flood of memories for Philip. He had returned to Valerie this time to find his childhood playmate. Louisa’s smile just now bore a striking resemblance to that of his childhood friend. He wondered how that little girl was doing all these years…
Philip had other things to attend to, so he paid Louisa’s medical bills and left, exchanging contact information.
Louisa didn’t stay in the hospital but went to her classmate’s reunion. She had heard that one of them was with the largest pharmaceutical company overseas. Perhaps she could find a way to get her father another dose of the special medicine.
Years had passed and her classmates had all become elites in their respective industries. The boys brought their wives, the girls brought their husbands and even the single ones had hired prostitutes to accompany them.
And Hadden was even invited. Only at this moment did Louisa realize why her classmates, whom she rarely contacted, had invited her. They wanted to use her to get close to Hadden.
Hadden knew this was her classmate’s reunion, yet he still brought Janice. Seeing her arrive, Hadden proactively explained, “Louisa, I heard you were also attending the class reunion, so I came to keep you company. But Janice was a bit emotional tonight and I was worried about her safety home alone. I was also concerned about you, so I had to bring her along. Don’t overthink it.”
Louisa felt a burning pain in her face. He’d brought her right in front of her and he was telling her not to overthink it.
Hadden only cared about Janice, but he couldn’t see that she’d been in a car accident and was even limping.
Oh well, you can’t change someone who doesn’t want to change.
“Whatever.” With that, Louisa continued drinking with the pharmaceutical tycoon.
In a short while, a case of vodka was empty. Louisa felt a burning pain in her stomach and her cough contained traces of blood.
While Janice was offered a drink, Hadden would snatch her glass and drink it for her. “Janice isn’t feeling well, I’ll drink this for her.”
Hadden only remembered that Janice wasn’t feeling well, but he forgot that Louisa was allergic to alcohol.
However, throughout the entire course of the drinks, Hadden’s mind was entirely focused on Janice, never showing her any concern.
Louisa, enduring her stomach pain and itching, forced herself to say, “Guys, we’ve drunk so much already, do you know about my father’s medication?”
The pharmaceutical tycoon chuckled, “Louisa, although we’re old classmates, this kind of special medicine you’re looking for is rare globally. If I manage to get it for you, how will you thank me? How about you come with me and I’ll keep you as my mistress.”
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room froze. Hadden’s face darkened. He was about to speak when Janice stopped him.
“Hadden, it’s so stuffy in here. It’s a mixed bag of people. I’m afraid to go out alone. Can you take me out for some fresh air? Miss Hicks is usually so assertive. She definitely won’t let herself be taken advantage of. Please.”
Janice gently tugged at the man’s sleeve, pleading.
Hadden gave Louisa a complicated look, but ultimately didn’t speak up for her. He took Janice outside. The classmates present looked at Louisa with some pity.
Louisa smiled weakly. It wasn’t the first time. She was used to it. Their love was like a pile of loose sand, easily scattered by the wind.
Louisa tried her best to maintain a composed demeanor. “Don’t joke like that. I can give you a $73,000 thank-you fee separately.”
Seeing Louisa refuse, the man’s face darkened noticeably and he began to act arrogantly. “Louisa, do you think I need your little bit of money? I’m only willing to help you because I still think highly of a used woman like you. Don’t be so ungrateful! Everyone in the industry knows you rose to power as a mistress. If you hadn’t broken up Hadden and his first love, you wouldn’t be Mrs. Cole."
Louisa’s face turned deathly pale. Back then, they were clearly in love. How did it become her being a mistress?
第3章
“You can listen to whatever you want, but you can’t say whatever you want, or I’ll sue you for defamation.”
The pharmaceutical tycoon smiled disdainfully, glancing at Hadden outside the door. “Tsk, you won’t admit it? Then let Mr. Cole verify it.”
Louisa’s eyes were red with grievance, her questioning gaze fixed on Hadden, seemingly waiting for an explanation.
Meanwhile, Janice pitifully tugged at the man’s clothes, whispering, “Hadden, I’m scared. If you admit that Miss Hicks wasn’t a mistress who rose to power, are they trying to smear me with the ‘mistress’ label? If I have to be smeared with that kind of rumor, I’d rather die.”
Hadden’s fists clenched tightly and he didn’t utter a single word for a long time. The pharmaceutical tycoon’s smile widened.
Louisa’s self-esteem was utterly trampled underfoot. She stared at Hadden, enunciating each word clearly, “Hadden, are you even unwilling to acknowledge my identity? To protect her, you expect me to take the blame for everything? Have you forgotten who knelt outside my house for three days and three nights, begging my father for permission to be with me?”
Hadden remained silent amidst Louisa’s breakdown and accusations. The man’s reaction confirmed Louisa’s status as a “mistress.” Louisa’s nails dug into her palms, staining the sofa with blood.
After a long silence, Hadden said in a low voice, “Everyone, I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t stay.”
Before leaving, he looked at Louisa with a complex expression. “Louisa, go home early after the banquet.”
Hadden left, taking Janice with him. He made her a laughingstock throughout the entire event. Even breathing hurt Louisa. She had no home anymore. Hadden had destroyed it all.
After Hadden left, the pharmaceutical tycoon planned to force himself on Louisa, but suddenly received a phone call and was forced to leave.
The class reunion ended badly and Louisa became the laughingstock of the entire capital. An identity even her own husband wouldn’t acknowledge—what else could she be but a mistress?
That night, Louisa didn’t go back to the Cole Family home, but instead returned to the Hicks Family’s old mansion. Because she drank too much, she vomited all night.
In her hazy dreams, she always remembered Hadden staying by her side time and time again when she had an allergic reaction to alcohol. The man had promised that he would never let her suffer.
But the man broke his promise. All the grievances and hardships she had endured in her life were caused by him…
It wasn’t until noon the next day that she groggily got up and found Hadden had already prepared lunch and was waiting for her downstairs.
Louisa’s emotions immediately flared. “Get out! You’re not welcome here, you murderer!”
Hadden seemed completely unconcerned by Louisa’s attitude, gently comforting her, “I know you’re angry that I didn’t help you last night, but I had my own reasons. In that situation last night, if I had helped you, Janice’s status as a mistress would have been confirmed.”
“My relationship with her is completely innocent. I can’t let her suffer this injustice. She’s sick. I can’t let her be cyberbullied. Louisa, she’s sick. Please let her be. Although I left last night, I paid a heavy price to damage that person’s company, forcing him to leave Valerie. That’s a way of avenging you.”
Hadden stepped forward and hugged her, like a loving husband. But Louisa knew it was all a facade.
A slap followed by a treat. She didn’t want this rotten love. Louisa pushed him away forcefully, scoffing, “Let her be? Haven’t I given her enough? I gave her my father’s miracle drug, I gave her my husband and now I’ve even given her home.”
“Since you care about her so much, why won’t you divorce me? Playing the devoted lover while cheating on me, Hadden, you’re as hypocritical as a villain!”
Hadden frowned, wearily saying, “Louisa, be sensible, stop making a scene. I took care of Janice all night last night. I was afraid you’d overthink it, so I came to cook for you as soon as it was light. I’m really tired. Anything you mention besides divorce, I… I can agree to anything as compensation.”
Looking at his hypocritical expression, Louisa deliberately said, “Fine, then make her leave Aetherfall completely and never come back.”
Hadden frowned. “No, her illness isn’t fully cured yet. Leaving Aetherfall is too dangerous.”
Louisa wasn’t surprised and added, “Then you must never see her again.”
Hadden’s brows furrowed even more and he sighed deeply. “Louisa, do you have to make things so difficult for me? You know Janice can’t live without me.”
Louisa scoffed coldly, “Fine, then let Janice stay. I’m leaving.”
第4章
Hadden’s furrowed brows remained unsettled. “Louisa, do you have to force me like this?”
Louisa retorted, “No, you’re the one forcing me.”
Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, the hospital suddenly called Louisa. “Miss Hicks, the hospital has just received a new batch of a special medicine. Would you like to come and take a look?”
Louisa burst into tears of joy. Her father was finally saved. She rushed to the hospital, with Hadden accompanying her.
At the hospital, Harvey’s attending physician said that this was likely the last batch of the special medicine. If Harvey didn’t receive it this time, there would truly be no chance.
Louisa immediately paid for the medicine. She asked, “Doctor, can the surgery be arranged immediately?”
She had encountered such hope many times in the past year, but all of them had ultimately been dashed. She feared that things might change if she delayed.
The doctor said, “Miss Hicks, your father’s surgery is very difficult, especially considering he also suffered a severe stroke. In the entire capital city, only Dr. Cole can perform this type of comprehensive surgery.”
Before Louisa could speak, Hadden said, “Louisa, I’ll perform Dad’s surgery. This time, I definitely won’t let you down.”
Louisa didn’t believe him and was about to refuse when the attending physician added, “Miss Hicks, since Dr. Cole is willing, the chances of success are very high. Otherwise, it would be difficult for anyone else to perform such a complex surgery. Moreover, Dr. Cole performed a similar surgery a year ago. If he can lead the operation, it will be foolproof.”
Louisa knew Hadden’s skills were excellent, but his heart was with Janice. She was afraid.
Hadden hugged Louisa and said earnestly, “Louisa, he’s not only your father and my father-in-law, but also my friend of many years. This time, I will definitely cure him. Trust me.”
Louisa had no choice but to agree to let Hadden perform her father’s surgery. “Hadden, don’t disappoint me this time.”
“Louisa, don’t worry, I won’t let you go without a father.”
Because it was already too late and there were still many pre-operative examinations to be done. Finally, the surgery was scheduled for tomorrow morning.
To avoid any unforeseen circumstances, Louisa asked Hadden to stay at the hospital to rest that night and to have the surgery immediately after the pre-operative examinations the next morning.
Midway through, Hadden went out to answer a phone call, while Louisa went to help her father with the paperwork.
Just as she returned, she saw that Janice had also arrived and Hadden was affectionately wiping away her tears.
Standing beside them were several of Hadden's close friends, who teased him with smiles. “Hadden, Janice couldn’t reach you and cried so hard. Only you could comfort her.”
Janice buried her head in the man’s chest, staring at him with teary eyes. “Hadden, I heard Miss Hicks and you had another fight. Will you get tired of me because of this and stop caring about me?”
Before Hadden could speak, his friends started teasing him. “How could that be? We all call you ‘little sister-in-law’ in private. Everyone knows how much Hadden favors you. Even if he divorces Louisa, he won’t abandon you.”
Janice smiled smugly, then lowered her head shyly, saying, “You all just talk nonsense. Miss Hicks will be unhappy if she hears this.”
The crowd laughed, while Louisa stood not far away, scoffing, “Knowing I’d be unhappy, you still dared to come to the hospital to seduce a married man. Are you shameless?”
Louisa’s sudden appearance startled those who had just talked behind her back. The group froze, quickly offering apologetic smiles. “Sister-in-law, we were just joking, don’t take it to heart.”
Louisa raised her eyes, coldly staring at him. “Tomorrow I’ll introduce your wife to a male model, let her experience the allure of freshness.”
The man's expression hardened, Louisa scoffed, “Why the sudden change of heart? I was just joking too. Is it funny?”
Louisa rarely interfered in their squabbles, but when she did speak up, it made everyone lose face. She walked straight over, grabbing Hadden to leave. “Come with me.”
Tomorrow was her father’s surgery, Hadden had to stay with her. But Janice refused to let go. “Hadden, today is my birthday, you promised me you’d celebrate it with me this year.”
Louisa finally couldn’t hold back and slapped her hard. “Janice, are all the men in the world dead? Why did you have to find a married man to celebrate your birthday with you?”
Janice’s face immediately showed five handprints, her eyes bloodshot. Hadden forcefully shook off Louisa’s hand, staring at Janice with heartache. “Louisa, you’ve gone too far! Apologize!”
第5章
Within a year, this was the 72nd time Hadden had made her apologize to Janice. No matter what happened, who was right and who was wrong, Hadden would only make her bow her head to Janice.
Before, for her father’s sake, for the sake of the divorce, she had endured it again and again. But now, she didn’t want to endure it anymore. “Hadden, it’s not my fault and I’m not the one who should apologize!”
Janice said, her eyes red, “Forget it, Hadden, it’s my fate to be beaten, I deserve it. Don’t argue with Miss Hicks anymore because of me.”
The more sensible Janice appeared, the deeper Hadden’s guilt towards her became. Hadden lowered his gaze, threateningly stating, “Louisa, if you don’t apologize today, I won’t perform the surgery tomorrow.”
Louisa stared at him blankly. So, his father’s life was so worthless in his eyes. For Janice, he could actually watch his father die.
That was right, he wouldn’t die anyway. This wasn’t the first time he’d done something like this. But when they first got together, Hadden had always treated her like royalty. So, new love could never compare to old flame.
Louisa’s back bent again. She stared at Hadden and asked, “If I apologize, will you definitely perform the surgery?”
The man replied decisively, “Yes! But this time, I want you to kneel before Janice yourself. Louisa, after so many times, it’s time you learned your lesson.”
Louisa’s eyes were filled with disbelief. The man who wouldn’t even let her kneel before her parents was now making her kneel before a mistress.
Louisa knew she had no choice. She admitted she’d been blind to have chosen the wrong person. She slowly knelt, the cold air biting at her, but not as painful as the chill in her heart.
“Miss Sharp, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have hit you. Please forgive me.”
Janice didn’t dare make a scene in front of Hadden, so she feigned generosity, saying, “Miss Hicks, please get up. We’re all sisters. let’s get along better from now on.”
Just as Janice was about to help Louisa up, Hadden stopped her. “No need to help her. Let her kneel here tonight to sober up, so she won’t cause trouble again in the future.”
Hadden said he needed her to have surgery tomorrow, so she couldn’t get up tonight. Finally, he took Janice away to celebrate her birthday.
Louisa, on the other hand, knelt in the corridor all night, with passersby pointing and whispering. But for her father’s surgery, she could endure it all.
When dawn broke, Louisa slowly got up, but her knees were throbbing with pain. On their wedding day, Hadden skipped the step where the bride and groom where supposed to kneel before their parents.
He said, “My woman doesn’t need to kneel before anyone.”
So, “anyone” didn’t include Janice. Louisa’s throat tightened, suppressing all her emotions and she limped to the hospital to take her father for a checkup.
But she found Hadden wasn’t there again. She had apologized last night and she had even knelt. she thought Hadden would keep his promise. She called Hadden many times, but he didn’t answer.
Two hours later, Hadden finally answered. He said he had taken Janice to Linkon.
Although Janice’s cancer was cured, there was still a risk of recurrence. Last night, a medical doctor in Linkon said he had developed a new experimental pod that could provide special treatment for recovered cancer patients, greatly reducing the probability of a second cancer attack.
“Louisa, I know about Dad’s condition. He can wait a little longer. I’ve rescheduled the surgery. I’ll definitely have it done next Wednesday.”
Perhaps afraid of upsetting Louisa, he hung up immediately after speaking, turning off his phone.
She repeatedly texted Hadden and even Janice, begging her to spare her family’s life.
But no one responded, until Harvey condition suddenly worsened and the doctor said immediate surgery was necessary.
Louisa pleaded in a trembling voice, “I don’t want Hadden to do the surgery anymore. Please, please operate on my father and save his life.”
It wasn’t that the doctor didn’t want to help, but he was powerless. He sighed and said, “Miss Hicks, the special medicine from last night was kept by Dr. Cole. We can’t contact him now. Without this medicine, the surgery won’t be effective.”
第6章
Louisa reviewed all the hospital’s surveillance footage and discovered that Janice had taken the special medicine. Janice, it was her again!
Louisa was driven to despair and cried bitterly. He’d gone, the medicine was gone, who could save her father now?
She sought help from everyone she could, but they all said there was nothing they could do, nothing could be done.
At four o’clock in the afternoon, her father’s condition worsened, but Louisa, preoccupied with pleading for help, didn’t even get to see him one last time. When she rushed back to the hospital, the doctor left her her father’s will.
“Louisa, your father is old. The torment of illness these past years has long since made me lose hope for life, but you are still young. Your future shouldn't be like this. Your father can see you are unhappy.”
“Get a divorce, child. When you were very young, I left you a fund with $1,400 million dollars in it, enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life. Louisa, live well and above all, love yourself.”
Louisa was heartbroken and finally fainted from crying. In her dreams, she repeatedly dreamt of her father’s constant interference with her relationship with Hadden.
For Hadden, she had severed ties with her father, run away from home and even rebelliously moved out of the Hicks Family home, not contacting her father for nearly six months.
But now she regretted it. She was wrong. She shouldn’t have disobeyed her father. She was the one who caused her father’s death. Louisa was unconscious for three days and three nights, in a daze.
When she woke up, she still had a low-grade fever, but her father’s funeral could not be delayed any longer. She held the funeral for her father alone.
She invited her father’s friends, but when they heard that Hadden wasn’t there, they all made excuses not to come.
The wealthy women in her social circle were also placing bets, calculating when Louisa, this orphan, would be kicked out of her home.
On her phone, she saw a message from Hadden: [Louisa, Janice and I are getting off the plane soon. I’ll have Dad’s surgery next week. There won’t be any more accidents this time.]
They had half an hour before landing. Louisa got up and went to the convenience store next door to buy a fruit knife. A life for a life. Janice needed to pay with her life.
As soon as Hadden and Janice left the airport, Louisa rushed at them with the fruit knife, her eyes bloodshot. “Janice, you’ll pay for my father’s life!”
Before the fruit knife could even hurt Janice, Hadden kicked her away, injuring her instead.
A gash several centimeters long was cut on her arm and blood gushed out, staining the ground red. Hadden’s eyes showed no pity, his voice sharp as he rebuked her, “Louisa, why do you still refuse to learn your lesson? Now you even dare to commit murder!”
Louisa’s face contorted like a madwoman. “Janice took my father’s special medicine! She killed my father! She deserves to die! Hadden, my father was once your close friend! For Janice, have you lost all conscience?!”
Hadden had just gotten off the plane and was unaware of Harvey situation. He frowned and said, “What nonsense are you spouting?”
Janice, understanding Louisa’s motives, fearing she would reveal the truth, quickly said, “Hadden, please stop. Miss Hicks seems to be experiencing mental problems. We’re all friends, I won’t hold it against her, but Miss Hicks’s mental state seems problematic. I think it’s best to send her to a mental hospital for treatment for a while.”
Seeing Louisa’s crazed state, Hadden, fearing she might do something drastic, had his assistant take her to a mental hospital. “Louisa, go get treatment first. Once you’re better, I’ll take you home.”
Louisa’s mouth was gagged with a strip of cloth and she was forcibly dragged away. She shook her head in despair. No, she had no home anymore.
On her first day imprisoned, Louisa was tied to the bed and repeatedly electrocuted until she lost control of her bladder and bowels.
On the second day, she was force-fed various kinds of medicine. When she refused to take them, they were poured into her nose through a tube. Each time she was close to death, the doctor would stop at the perfect moment.
Louisa stared at the ceiling in despair, unable to distinguish between day and night. For a fleeting moment, she even vaguely saw her deceased father. Was she about to die? Her father had come to take her away.
第7章
She reached out to grab her father, but couldn’t grasp him. Only her father’s heavy voice came, “Louisa, you must live well, carrying my share.”
Louisa, who had almost given up on herself, instantly regained her senses. She couldn’t die. she had to live. Her father’s funeral wasn’t over yet and her revenge was still unavenged.
Finally, on the third day, Louisa was released. The sunlight outside was blindingly bright. She dragged her frail body, limping, to her father’s mourning hall.
She was just a hair’s breadth away from going in and burying her father’s ashes. Suddenly, brilliant fireworks lit up the sky.
The mourning hall burst into flames. Louisa’s breath caught in her throat. She frantically tried to rush inside.
But the staff members nearby quickly stopped her. “Miss Hicks, the fire inside is too big, you can’t go in!”
“Turn on the water! Put out the fire! Save my father!”
The staff member frowned and explained, “Miss Hicks, today is Mr. Cole of the Cole Group’s belated birthday banquet for Ms. Janice. Miss Sharp said she wanted to see the waterfall and fireworks, so today, except for the revolving hotel across the street, the water and electricity in the rest of the place have been cut off. It’s not that we don’t want to save him, it’s that we can’t…”
Her body went limp instantly and she knelt on the ground, even her sobs stopped. It was them again. Janice’s favorite fireworks had burned her father’s funeral hall to ashes and her father’s urn was gradually consumed by the fire. She couldn’t even protect her father’s last possessions.
The fire burned for a long time, until it was completely burned to ashes before it stopped. Louisa crawled inside on her knees, only to find that not even ashes remained. She raised her hand and slapped herself hard. “Dad, I’m sorry. I misjudged people and hurt you. I’m useless!”
Passersby, seeing Louisa’s broken state, felt sorry for her and tried to comfort her. She knelt there for an unknown amount of time before finally getting up and returning home.
Back home, Hadden saw her disheveled appearance and asked worriedly, “What happened to you? Did you get caught in a fire? I heard you were released this morning. Why are you only coming back now? Did something happen?”
Louisa looked up at the man she once loved most. So he already knew she would be released today and he didn’t go to pick her up because she wasn’t worthy.
Louisa was exhausted. She pushed him away and shook her head, saying, “It’s nothing, nothing happened.”
What could he do even if he knew? He would only say that the person was dead and tell her to be understanding and not to be petty.
Seeing Louisa’s perfunctory attitude, Hadden patiently explained, “Janice and I really have nothing going on. I’ll help Dad with his surgery tomorrow. Once he recovers, I’ll take you all to the Moonspire for a vacation. Didn’t you always want to go?”
“No need.”
After all, her father was dead and she didn’t love him anymore. There was no need. Seeing Louisa’s unusual mood, Hadden prepared to ask for clarification.
However, Janice said she had sprained her ankle while walking and asked Hadden to pick her up. Unsurprisingly, Hadden went.
But before leaving, Hadden promised her, “I promise I’ll definitely go to help Dad with his surgery tomorrow.”
Louisa didn’t speak, only smiled coldly. Hadden’s promise was the most useless thing. She went upstairs to get her ID card and passport and dismissed all the servants.
Philip’s message arrived: [The court has officially accepted your divorce case. Hadden will receive the summons tomorrow. I’ve collected all the evidence. this divorce is inevitable.]
Louisa looked up at the sky. Everything was finally coming to an end. Before leaving, she doused the villa with kerosene and then set it on fire.
This house was their former marital home. It began and it would end here.
Hadden, we will never see each other again!