CHAPTER 1: CHAPTER 1: DIVORCE, I’LL SET YOU FREE

Three years into their hidden marriage, they had always performed their marital duties like this.

Today is the fifth day of the lunar month. As usual, Aiden Fordham had the butler bring Stella Grant to Coregarde.

She had always loved the pure white lilies in the garden of Coregarde, their fragrance filling the garden, beautifully dreamlike.

But now the three-year period has ended, and she came not just for one final meeting.

Moreover, today she must divorce him!

When she entered the room, Aiden Fordham was stepping out of the bathroom.

He was shirtless, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, a typical inverted triangular physique, every inch exuding power. A loosely wrapped towel hung around his waist, droplets of water flowed down his smooth muscular lines, his well-defined abs deep and cut into the edge of the towel, inviting imagination.

His handsome face was nothing short of the Creator’s painstaking masterpiece.

At the moment, his thin lips were tightly pursed, carrying a hint of post-shower warmth, yet showing no softness, instead radiating cold indifference.

He picked Stella Grant up and walked directly to the bedside.

She exclaimed in surprise, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.

Aiden Fordham said nothing, just bowed his head to kiss her lips, then reached to tug at her cheongsam.

With her arms around his neck, the familiar cedar scent mixed with a faint hint of alcohol made her feel a bit dizzy.

Today, he was as eager as usual, his movements rough, maybe because they hadn’t seen each other for a long time.

He kissed her with intensity, as if he wanted to swallow her whole.

The temperature in the room rose higher and higher.

The air was thick with an atmosphere of ambiguity.

She and he melted into one...

The fifth and twenty-fifth of every month were the days Aiden Fordham and she had agreed to be together.

Whenever it was time, the butler would bring her to Coregarde, but they didn’t live together.

The time had come, and the divorce agreement in her bag told her this was the fate of her marriage.

She borrowed him for her entire life, just three years.

In the middle of the night, Stella Grant woke up from hunger.

The man beside her had already vanished, leaving not even a trace of warmth on the bed.

She was sore all over, struggling to get out of bed and put on a robe to go downstairs.

Downstairs, the butler greeted her.

"Madam, you’re awake. Hungry, aren’t you? Sir instructed the servants to make bird’s nest porridge for you before he left."

"Okay, thank you."

Stella Grant sat down, slowly drinking the bird’s nest porridge.

She casually flipped through her phone, several hot searches suddenly popped up on the screen.

#Magnate Fordham hosts a lavish birthday party for Kensington Group’s heiress

#Good news soon, Aiden Fordham and Corinne Kensington’s engagement in F-Country.

Her pupils contracted, clearly startled by the news.

A sudden wave of dizziness came over her.

Corinne Kensington!

Turns out, his lover is called Corinne Kensington.

This beautifully dreamlike Coregarde, constantly torturing her feelings. Coregarde... was built for Corinne Kensington!

Her eyes turned slightly red, staring at the stunningly handsome face in the picture, it was her husband Aiden Fordham.

He embraced the beauty, smiling brightly.

She once thought he was born cold, never smiling.

Turns out he just didn’t like smiling at her.

Corinne Kensington wore a blazing lily-shaped Red Jade Necklace, deeply piercing her eyes.

That was the one she had liked for a long time...

She put down her spoon, then went upstairs to change her clothes.

Looking at the empty bed, her eyes grew colder.

This man had boundless energy; in the afternoon rolling in bed with her, in the evening off to F-Country for his beloved’s birthday.

Ten minutes later, Stella Grant went downstairs and asked the butler to take her home.

She would never return here again.

Back home, she took out the divorce agreement from her bag and flipped through it.

She had prepared this a month ago, always kept it in her bag, planning to give it to Aiden Fordham today, but he ran away.

The next afternoon, she was awakened by the sound of the phone ringing.

Seeing twenty missed calls from her best friend Vivi Sterling, what happened?

She immediately called back.

"Miss, you finally answered. I thought you were in despair, scared me to death."

Vivi Sterling’s whining made Stella Grant helplessly pat her forehead.

"Don’t worry, I love life, and I cherish it."

After a nap, she felt her heart was less burdened.

"Wait for me, I’ll fly back to see you right away."

Vivi Sterling spoke urgently.

"Okay, I’ll wait for you!"

Hanging up the phone, Stella Grant felt hollow inside. She stared at the ceiling, recalling the bits and pieces of her years with Aiden Fordham.

In middle school, he skipped a grade, and she followed; when he went abroad, she went abroad; he studied medicine, and she also chose medicine without hesitation... Even when he fell into the sea, she jumped in too...

Yet he still had no impression of her!

Three years ago, he was in a car accident and became blind. It was heard that his first love went abroad.

She came!

At that time, Grandma Prescott, on her deathbed, used her connections to marry her into the Fordham Family.

At first, Aiden Fordham was very repulsed by her, but later, due to Grandpa Fordham’s scheme, they became real husband and wife. Later, there was constant pressure to have children, so Aiden Fordham agreed to a twice-a-month marital life.

She remembered that it wasn’t until the second year of their marriage that Aiden Fordham’s eyesight was restored. When he looked at her, he was full of coldness and disgust.

She thought she could warm him.

Turned out, the spark wasn’t with her.

The phone rang again, pulling her thoughts back.

Stella Grant pressed the answer button, and the other side spoke two sentences before hanging up.

The caller was Mrs. Fordham, asking her to return to the old residence immediately.

She had a bad premonition, but there was no time to think about it. She quickly got out of bed.

By four in the afternoon, Stella Grant had returned to the old Fordham Residence.

The Fordham Family was the top noble family in Meritopia, with a large family and business. Elder Fordham had two sons and two daughters. Aiden Fordham, being the eldest grandson of the main house, naturally received more attention.

When Stella Grant walked into the hall, Mrs. Fordham immediately stood up.

She shot Stella Grant a vicious look, "You complained to Dad, didn’t you? Didn’t expect you to say little but play dirty this time?"

Stella Grant looked at the malicious mother-in-law in front of her, her lips slightly parted, "Mrs. Fordham, I don’t know what you’re referring to."

"Aiden is in the study, being punished."

With a glance, the butler brought Stella Grant upstairs.

Approaching the study, the sound of arguing could be heard.

"You unfilial grandson, dare to talk back? Do you want to anger me to death?"

Elder Fordham was scolding his grandson, so angry he nearly spat blood.

"Grandpa, forced love is never sweet. Didn’t you promise me before, if Stella Grant doesn’t get pregnant within three years, you’d allow me to divorce and remarry?"

"You little brat, you still want a divorce? Right now, you’re still husband and wife. I won’t allow you to keep spreading rumors with that Kensington girl. Release a public statement immediately to clear this up."

"I can’t control what’s being spread online. Why bother with the internet!"

"I’ll beat you."

Clanging noises emanated from inside.

Stella Grant composed herself, then raised her hand to knock on the door.

The door opened, and Steven Fordham looked visibly surprised to see Stella Grant.

"Stella’s here!"

"Grandpa, please don’t get so worked up."

Stella Grant reached out to support him back into the room, offering a gentle smile.

"Why are you standing there? Apologize to Stella!" Steven Fordham sternly commanded Aiden Fordham.

Aiden Fordham pressed his thin lips together, full of disdain. He had released this news only because of the three-year limit, believing this woman would understand her place.

"Grandpa, I’d like to talk to Aiden alone."

After Stella Grant spoke, Elder Fordham tactfully left the room.

Stella Grant glanced at him, "Aiden Fordham, let’s get a divorce, I’ll grant you this wish!"

Aiden Fordham was slightly surprised, looking at her as if she were a monster.

He expected her to come back and make a huge fuss, at least to have Grandpa on her side, but unexpectedly, she simply mentioned divorce so casually.

Could she really be willing to give up the position of Mrs. Fordham?

She added another sentence, "We can go through the procedures first, and whenever it’s convenient, you can tell Grandpa."

After a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke, "What kind of compensation do you want?"

"No need, let’s part on good terms. This is the drafted divorce agreement I prepared." She spoke freely, without hesitation, taking the prepared agreement from her bag and placing it on the table.

Aiden Fordham sneered, grabbing her with icy eyes, "Since you’re sensible, I won’t shortchange you. Tomorrow morning, come to the company for signing. I’ll have legal prepare the divorce agreement."

The implication was that what’s written in the divorce agreement is not for her to decide.

"Alright, I’ll be there!" Stella Grant gave him an indifferent glance, then walked out of the study.

For her, parting amicably was the most dignified way to end this marriage.

Stella Grant stayed at the Fordham Residence for dinner. As she was leaving, she hugged Grandpa Fordham and prepared to drive away.

At that moment, it suddenly started to rain, the drizzle like a lament.

She walked a few steps, suddenly feeling a sharp pain in her abdomen. A stream of warm blood flowed down her leg.