I Said “I Do”… Then Woke Up at My Divorce Chapter 02

I Said “I Do”… Then Woke Up at My Divorce Chapter 02

Grayson moved quickly.

The next morning, he brought Lily to the Ashford estate.

Vivian stood in the third-floor hallway.

She watched the staff carry one suitcase after another to the second floor.

Her heart was strangely calm.

She was about to return to her room when she noticed the wedding portrait on the wall.

It was Grayson’s favorite photograph.

It had stood at the entrance of their wedding reception.

For one dizzy moment, Vivian felt as if she were back on that day.

Grayson had played every foolish game the bridesmaids gave him.

He had let them tease him and make fun of him.

He had never once acted like the powerful Ashford heir.

He had only wanted to reach her.

A sharp pain moved through Vivian’s chest.

She looked away.

“Take the wedding portrait down.”

The housekeeper beside her froze.

“Ma’am?”

“Now that Lily lives here, it makes no sense to keep it up.”

The housekeeper hesitated.

“Last time Miss Lily touched it by accident, you became very upset.”

“That was before.”

Vivian’s voice stayed calm.

“I don’t want to see it anymore.”

The housekeeper brought a ladder and took the portrait down.

Vivian felt tired just watching.

She returned to her room.

She had barely lain down when the door opened.

Lily walked in with a cup of hot tea.

This was the first time Vivian had truly looked at her.

Lily wore a white dress.

She was slim and pretty, with a weak, careful look that made people want to protect her.

She placed the tea on the table beside the bed.

“Well, it looks like your tricks didn’t work.”

“You fought for years, but you still had to let me enter this house.”

Vivian looked at her.

“Women like you are common in the Ashford family.”

“No matter how much Grayson favors you, you still needed my approval to live here.”

“If you think you’re so special, push me out.”

“Take the title of Mrs. Ashford for yourself.”

Lily’s expression changed.

Anger flashed across her face.

“What do you have to be proud of?”

“I’m the woman Grayson loves now.”

“He chased you for three years and loved you for three years after the wedding.”

“Six years in total.”

“But he and I have been together for seven.”

Seven years.

The words cut into Vivian.

Her face went pale.

Her lips shook.

For a moment, she could not speak.

She was about to order Lily out when Lily picked up the tea.

A cruel light appeared in her eyes.

She poured the hot tea over her own arm.

A scream filled the room.

At almost the same moment, the door was kicked open.

Grayson rushed inside.

He saw the red skin on Lily’s arm.

Then he saw the broken cup on the floor.

His face turned hard.

Tears filled Lily’s eyes.

“Grayson, please don’t blame her.”

“I only wanted to bring her tea and show her respect.”

“She probably got angry because she doesn’t want me here.”

Her tears fell.

Grayson turned to Vivian.

His eyes were full of cold anger.

“You know the rules of this house.”

“Once Lily lives here as my official partner, she is under my protection.”

“You have no right to hurt or shame her.”

Vivian pushed herself upright.

“I didn’t touch her.”

“She did it to herself.”

“Still lying?”

Disgust filled Grayson’s face.

“Vivian, you never change.”

He looked at the housekeeper near the door.

“Bring ten cups of hot tea.”

The housekeeper did not dare ask why.

She returned with a full tray.

Grayson turned to Lily.

“Do the same thing to her.”

Lily shook her head.

Her eyes were still red.

“Grayson, let it go. She probably didn’t mean it.”

Grayson pulled her into his arms.

“You’re too kind.”

“That is why she thinks she can bully you on your first day here.”

“If we don’t teach her a lesson, even the staff will think they can treat you badly.”

He looked toward the door.

Two guards entered.

They held Vivian’s shoulders.

Grayson took Lily’s hand and guided her toward the first cup.

The hot tea hit Vivian’s arm.

Pain exploded through her body.

The second cup followed.

Then the third.

Cup after cup poured over her skin.

Red marks spread across her arms.

Blisters rose under the heat.

Vivian bit her lip until she tasted blood.

A memory flashed through her mind.

Years ago, a piece of broken glass had cut her fingertip.

Grayson had carried her to the hospital.

His eyes had been red.

“Vivian, I can’t stand seeing you hurt.”

Now ten cups of hot tea burned her skin.

He did not even blink.

By the last cup, Vivian could barely sit up.

Grayson released her without care.

“Remember this.”

“This is your first warning.”

“If there is a next time, it will not end with tea.”

He put his arm around Lily and walked out.

The door closed.

Vivian fell to the floor.

The pain almost pulled her into darkness.