Secret Divorce : My Rise, His Regret – Geraldine Sullivan was famous in Harbor City’s elite circles. Short hair, red lips, a temper that could ignite at the slightest spark. Everyone knew she was Edward Dudley’s obsession, the woman who’d stood beside him through his darkest years. Seven years together. She’d lost every memory she had saving his life, and she’d taken a knife for him too. Whenever her temper flared, she’d threaten divorce. Ninety-nine times she’d said it. Ninety-nine times he’d coaxed her back. Edward was certain she could never leave him. On the day of their third wedding anniversary, she stumbled upon his affair. The other woman was Cynthia Winfield. His sworn brother’s wife. This time, Geraldine didn’t cry. She didn’t scream. She simply tricked him into signing the divorce papers.
What Edward didn’t know was that she’d already recovered every last one of her memories. In one week, her real father would come to Harbor City to take her home. 1 When Geraldine knocked on Edward’s office door, Cynthia was just slipping out, her hips swaying as she brushed past. Edward was fastidious to the point of obsession. Not a hair out of place, not a single wrinkle on his shirt. But right now, Geraldine could see it clearly: the misaligned button on his collar, the smear of red at the corner of his mouth. He looked up at her, a flicker of irritation crossing his eyes. “What is it?” Geraldine gripped the divorce papers in her hand, her expression perfectly composed. “The new partner sent over a contract. They need a signature right away.” She watched the irritation in his eyes fade, his tone softening. “Fine.” He didn’t even glance at the document before signing his name in one clean stroke.
All the anxiety Geraldine had felt walking in dissolved into something that tasted like a joke. As she turned to leave, she heard him say: “Geraldine, this is how you should be. Graceful. Composed. That’s the kind of woman who deserves to be my wife. As long as you stop making scenes, I swear no one will ever threaten your position.” Every word was a needle, driven straight into her heart. Edward Dudley was her husband of three years, their marriage kept secret from the world. And Cynthia Winfield was the wife of his late sworn brother. Yesterday had been their wedding anniversary. She’d gone back to Wisteria Villa, the home they’d shared, to prepare a surprise for him. The moment she pushed open the door, she froze. The little home that had once held all their memories was unrecognizable. The refrigerator was covered in photos of him and Cynthia. Cynthia’s paintings hung on the walls. In the center of the living room sat a vase of lilies, the flower Geraldine despised most and Cynthia loved best. Everything that should have been familiar had become foreign. Her mind went blank.
A roar filled her ears, and she walked to the master bedroom door on legs that moved like machinery. Through the crack in the door, she saw Cynthia lying naked in Edward’s arms. The cloying sweetness in the air was enough to turn her stomach. “Edward, today’s your wedding anniversary. You should head back soon, or Geri’s going to throw another fit.” Cynthia’s voice was silky, dripping with false concern. “That little starlet only kissed you once and she got her blacklisted from the entire industry. I’m so afraid she’ll get rid of me someday too…” Edward spoke, his voice slightly hoarse. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, she’s just a parentless orphan. She can’t touch you.” Geraldine bit down hard on her lower lip. The taste of blood spread through her mouth. She couldn’t believe it. The man who’d been her partner through life and death for seven years had betrayed her. And she couldn’t believe the way he’d spoken about her. Seven years ago, she’d been the one to save Edward when he’d been stabbed multiple times.
But the men hunting him had caught up, and a single blow from a steel rod to the back of her skull had stolen every memory she had. When Edward woke up, he’d pursued her relentlessly. He confessed nine hundred and ninety-nine times. She rejected him nine hundred and ninety-nine times. Until the car accident. She was hemorrhaging, and Edward drained half his own blood to save her. He said, “Without you, I’d die.” He said, “You have no family. From now on, you do.” He said, “Our blood runs together now. We’ll never be apart.” And Geraldine’s heart gave in. He was the Dudley family’s discarded illegitimate son, living in shadows, never seeing daylight. She was the one who’d stayed beside him through the worst of it. They’d lived in the dampest basement. She’d taken a blade for him. He’d crippled his own right hand to rescue her from his enemies. The day he reclaimed his place at the head of the Dudley family, he covered her eyes and brought her here. “Geraldine, I love you so much.
Marry me. Please.” “I swear, from this day forward, I’ll protect you. I won’t let you shed another tear.” Liar. Geraldine shoved the door open. A bitter smile twisted her lips. “Edward, is this how you take care of your sworn brother’s wife?” Edward glanced at her, buttoning his shirt with maddening calm. “Geraldine, I can explain.” Her fingernails dug so deep into her palms she couldn’t feel the pain. “Who wants your explanation? Take her and get out. Unless you want me to set this place on fire and burn you both alive.” Cynthia’s voice cracked into a whimper. “Edward, I’m scared…” Edward stepped in front of Cynthia, shielding her completely. “Geraldine. Enough.” “Cynthia’s timid. You’re frightening her.” A sudden, full-body ache seized Geraldine, every nerve screaming tight. She unclenched her fists. Something in her eyes settled, quiet as a door closing. “Let’s get a divorce.” A thin, cold smile touched Edward’s lips. He didn’t even bother looking at her. “Stop with the theatrics. If you left me, where would you even go?” “As long as you can make room for Cynthia, I won’t treat you badly.” “Every rich man in Harbor City keeps a pretty little bird on the side.
You’re taking this too seriously, Geraldine.” He tossed out those words and walked away with Cynthia on his arm. How many sleepless, terrified nights had they held each other through the dark? It was he who’d said his heart was so small it could only hold one person: Geraldine. What a joke. Geraldine looked at the dates on the backs of those photos. The night she’d been hospitalized after her first miscarriage, he’d been watching fireworks by the sea with Cynthia. On her birthday, he and Cynthia had thrown a party for Cynthia’s dog. On the New Year’s Eve they were supposed to spend together, he’d secretly driven Cynthia out to watch a meteor shower. Every crack in her marriage to Edward had Cynthia’s shadow in it. Geraldine photographed everything for evidence, then began tearing the room apart. With every photo she ripped down, her heart shuddered. When the flames had consumed every last trace of Cynthia and Edward, she dialed the real estate agent. “I don’t care about the price.
I just need Wisteria Villa sold as fast as possible.” The house. Edward. Anything someone else had dirtied, she didn’t want anymore. The buzz of her phone pulled Geraldine back from her thoughts. She looked at the screen. Geraldine, the flight route has been approved. Dad will come to Harbor City personally in one week to bring you home. Whatever that Dudley boy owes you, I’ll make him repay a hundredfold. After the shock of yesterday had knocked her unconscious, she’d woken with every memory restored, and learned the truth: she was the missing youngest daughter of Bernard Sullivan, the richest man in the country. She typed back: Okay. Geraldine rushed to the law firm with every piece of evidence she’d collected from Wisteria Villa, along with the divorce agreement. “According to the prenuptial agreement,” the attorney said, “in the event of Mr. Dudley’s infidelity, the company and all marital assets revert entirely to you, Ms. Sullivan.” “I’ll pull the necessary strings to have your divorce certificate issued within a week.” Three years ago, Edward had drafted the prenup himself, swearing he would never betray her.
Now it was clear he’d only made that promise because he assumed she had no memory, no parents, and nowhere to turn but him. Thanks to that agreement, the day she walked out would be the day Edward Dudley went bankrupt..info/wp-admin/post-new.php