I Said “I Do”… Then Woke Up at My Divorce Chapter 03

I Said “I Do”… Then Woke Up at My Divorce Chapter 03

Before Grayson left, he gave one more order.

No one was allowed to treat Vivian’s wounds.

The whole night passed.

Not one housekeeper entered her room.

The blisters on Vivian’s arms broke open.

The burns became infected.

Before morning, she had a high fever.

Her mind moved in and out of darkness.

She did not know how much time had passed before she finally became aware again.

She dragged herself toward the door.

Every movement hurt.

A housekeeper was walking through the hallway.

Vivian used the last of her strength to grab the woman’s pant leg.

“Help me…”

Then everything went black.

Before she lost consciousness, she thought she heard someone call her name.

When Vivian woke, she was in an Ashford-owned private hospital.

Both arms were covered in thick bandages.

Even the smallest movement caused a sharp burning pain.

Grayson was not there.

Only a housekeeper stood near the bed.

When she saw Vivian wake, she stood.

“Ma’am, Mr. Ashford said you should leave as soon as you woke up.”

“He said you should not keep a hospital bed when other people may need it.”

Vivian stared at her.

Then she gave a bitter laugh.

She had passed out from pain and infection.

Grayson had not asked if she was alive.

He only thought she was wasting a bed.

The housekeeper looked nervous.

“Ma’am, he does care about you deep down.”

“He carried you here himself last night.”

“Don’t.”

Vivian cut her off.

“Take me home.”

The housekeeper went to finish the discharge papers.

When they returned to the Ashford estate, laughter came from the living room.

Vivian looked over.

Grayson and Lily sat together on the sofa.

A box of colored craft beads lay on the table.

Grayson’s hands usually signed contracts worth hundreds of millions.

Now those same hands were trying to make a small rabbit for Lily.

Lily bumped his shoulder on purpose.

The beads fell across the floor.

Grayson did not get angry.

He laughed softly and touched the end of her nose.

They looked like a couple in love.

Pain moved through Vivian’s chest.

She had seen this side of Grayson before.

When he was chasing her, he had put aside all his pride.

He had done foolish little things just to make her smile.

She once believed that the cold Ashford heir only showed this soft side to her.

Now that side belonged to Lily.

Vivian pushed down her feelings and walked toward the stairs.

“Stop.”

Grayson’s voice cut through the room.

Vivian stopped but did not turn.

“Now that Lily is officially part of my household, Ashford custom requires a formal ball.”

“Tomorrow night, we will introduce her to Northgate as my official partner.”

“You will arrange it.”

Vivian’s hands closed at her sides.

She had been forced to accept Lily in the house.

Now she had to plan the event that would give Lily a public place beside her husband.

Vivian turned.

She was about to refuse.

Then she saw the warning in Grayson’s eyes.

The ten cups of hot tea had only been the start.

After a long silence, Vivian nodded.

“Fine.”

The next evening, the Ashford estate was full of light.

Almost every powerful person in Northgate attended.

Vivian and Lily stood on each side of Grayson as guests arrived.

But everyone could see that Grayson’s tie matched Lily’s dark blue dress.

Together, they looked like the real couple.

Vivian looked like the outsider.

The guests knew who had power.

They gathered around Lily and praised her.

“Lily and Grayson look perfect together.”

“A woman can hold the title of wife and still fail to hold her husband’s heart.”

The cruel comments kept coming.

Grayson heard every one of them.

He did not defend Vivian once.

The ball began.

The lights in the room dimmed.

The large screen at the front came on.

Vivian looked up.

Her face changed.

The welcome video she had prepared was gone.

Instead, the screen showed photograph after photograph of Lily partly undressed.