Chapter 2Birthday
Lindseyfell silent for a moment.
After a long pause, she spoke in a relaxed tone. “Well, I survived the disaster. and was lucky enough to find you all. At least they raised me. Let’s just leave it at that.
It would be enough to repay the years of upbringing.
“Lindsey…”
Someone on the other end seemed to want to say more, but a knock came
from the door.
Lindsey ignored the person outside. “Brayden, I know what you’re trying to say. But I don’t want any more complications. From now on, I just want nothing to do with them.”
The kidnapping case didn’t come to anything. Even if there were clues. they could easily deny them. Without solid evidence, it would be a wasteof timeand it mightevenbackfire.
And as far as she knew about the Oconnell family if they learned her biological parents were from the Richmond family, they would probably use those twenty years of raising her to endlessly extort the Richmonds.
So now, all she wanted was to finalize the divorce and sever ties with the Oconnell family once and for all. Even if they learned the truth in the future, her brothers wouldn’t be dragged into trouble.
The knocking grew more urgent.
“I’ll leave it here, Brayden. I’ve got something to do. We’ll talk next time.”
She then hung up the phone call.
She didn’t rush to open the door. Only when the knocking turned. impatient did she slowly push her messy bangs aside and walk over.
As the door opened, Eliezerstill had his hand half–raised, his face. showing clear irritation.
Lindsey looked up. Her voice was soft. “Something else?”
She sounded distant.
Eliezer Woodward’s brows furrowed slightly. He lowered his hand and said in a cool tone, “Tomorrow is Jaelyn’s birthday. The Oconnell family is hosting a dinner. Clear your schedule. I’ll come pick you up in the afternoon.”
Lindsey blinked.
Well…
How affectionately he said her name!
She smiled. “Sure. Anything else?”
Eliezer looked at her pretty face, partially hidden by her dark hair. He couldn’t read her expression. Sheonlycalmly accepted his arrangement.
A strange feeling of frustration welled up in him. He was about to turn away. “That’s all. Get some rest.”
“Wait.”
Lindsey stopped him.
She stepped into the room and quickly returned, handing him the divorce papers he had given her just minutes earlier.
Charlen Inlethany
“I’ve already signedit. Get the formalities done when you have time. As for the documents, you can just mail them to me. The address is on the last page.”
Eliezer hadn’t been there when they registered their marriage. Divorce. should be even easier for someone like him.
He looked at the papersandthen at her overly calm face. There was no trace of sadness or regret.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. His voice was hoarse. “Didn’t you say you wanted to wait a few days?”
“The result’s the same, after all. Why bother?”
Her arm was sore from holding the papers, so she simply shoved them into his arms. “Besides, tomorrow is Jaelyn’s birthday. She’ll be thrilled to hear the news.”
Caught off guard, Eliezer took the documents with a delay.
He lowered his head. “And you?”
“What?”
He mumbled something too quietly for her to hear.
“Nothing.”
He put the papers away. Regaining his composure, he looked at Lindsey.
“Get some rest.
Lindsey took a step back. “You too.”
With that, she slammed the door in his face.
Eliezer stared at the closed door, his expression darkening.
He couldn’t shake the image of her faint smile. Glancing down at the documents in his hand, he finally turned and walked away.
The next day. Lindsey received a call from the Oconnell family.
Cassie Kaufiman tried to probe, wanting to know moreabout her marriage with Eliezer.
Lindsey didn’t bother to hide anything. “Mrs. Oconnell, Eliezer gave me the divorce papers last night. I’ve already signed.”
Since Jaelyn’s return, her adoptive parents had ordered her to stop calling them Mom and Dad and refer to them as Mr. and Mrs. Oconnell. If not for her marriage to Eliezer and the reputations of the Woodward and Oconnell families, she might have been kicked out long ago.
Even if she hadn’t been, it didn’t mean that they treated her well.
Hearing she had signed the divorce papers, Cassieno longer sounded meticulous. Instead, her tone turned patronizing. “It’s Jaelyn’s birthday. today. Come tonight and see how the world really works.”
Lindsey lowered her gaze, hiding the coldness in her eyes. “Okay.”
Normally, Cassie would hang up after issuing a command.
But today, she pausedandthen added, “Sir Woodward was confused back then and matched the wrong couple. Now everything’s back on track, right? Lindsey, don’t be resentful. You come from a lowly background. You were never worthy of the Woodward family. If you hadn’t been lucky enough to be taken in by the Oconnells, you probably would’ve died on the streets. And if it weren’t for you, Jaelyn wouldn’t have been lost for years or fallen ill. Her condition is stable now, but she can’t be provoked. You owe her a lot as her sister. You’d better give way.”
With a few words, Cassie trashed Lindseya lot. But back then, she had been just a baby. If it hadn’t been for the earthquake and the hospital
nurse’s mistake, she would’ve grown up cherished in the Richmond family.
“I understand.”
Lindsey replied blandly and began packing her suitcase.
She had no other belongings in the villa. A suitcase would contain everything.
Cassie snorted and hung up.
Just then, the sound of a horn came from outside the villa.
Eliezer didn’t get out of the car. He simply called herand said, “Come down.”
