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Chapter 10
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Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 11
William immediately put down his drink and asked, "What's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Is it because you haven't been resting well these past couple of days?"Rachel rubbed her nose, still feeling the effects of the smoke lingering in the air. The office had been dusty too, and she had been feeling off for a while now. She coughed a couple times, trying to clear her throat.Seeing her struggle, William turned toward the group, who were all smoking.His expression turned serious as he frowned and said, "Rachel's allergic to smoke. Put those out, now.""Yeah, come on, quit it already," someone else chimed in."Who started smoking in the first place?" another person asked."Well, I'll be, look at that. For his wife, the guy's even quitting smoking. How sweet," one of the guys teased."Who said he's quit? I saw him smoking just the other day," someone else retorted.Caleb gave Zane Nolan a subtle signal, and the latter shrugged nonchalantly."What's the big deal? She can't hear us
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 12
Rachel's mood was already bad, and running into Howard made it worse. She could feel her frustration rising.Her usually calm eyes narrowed with irritation. "Let go of me, or I'll call for help.""Are you going to call your husband?" Howard laughed mockingly as he tilted his head toward the room, his eyes following the scene inside. "But he seems pretty busy."His words cut deep. What seemed like a harmless joke felt like a knife twisting in Rachel's heart.She looked inside, her stomach tightening as she saw Samantha leaning against William's shoulder, her cheeks flushed. William, with a drink in his hand, was laughing and chatting with Zane and the others, completely relaxed. It was a version of him Rachel had never seen before.No wonder Zane had said earlier that everything felt too stiff whenever she was around. He wanted to have fun but had to hold back because of her presence.Rachel's lips curled into a bitter smile. She really was a bother, wasn't she?Howard was a madma
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 13
Rachel knew going to the hospital wasn't an option.What if the media caught sight of her like this—disheveled, drugged, with Tyler, William's biggest rival, of all people? The scandal would spread through their circles before midnight.It didn't matter that Howard had spiked her drink. That spoiled heir would twist the story, claiming she had seduced him. And the Lewis family? They would gladly throw her to the wolves rather than clash with the equally powerful Ziegler family.Slumped in the bathtub, Rachel shuddered. The icy water bit into her skin but did nothing to douse the fire raging inside her. If anything, it made it worse—the cold sharpening her awareness of every unbearable inch of heat. Her head spun; her body ached.She knew exactly how desperate her situation had become.If it were Howard, she would rather drag them both to hell than surrender.But if it was Tyler…He was… tolerable. Better than the headlines screaming "Socialite Found Dead After Overdose". Just the
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 14
Rachel's foggy mind snapped awake at the sound of William's voice.Her eyes flew to the door in panic. "Why is William here?""Well, looks like our deal's off," Tyler said with mock disappointment.Rachel frowned. Was he seriously not worried?He calmly buttoned his shirt and pulled the blanket over her.When he moved toward the door, Rachel instinctively grabbed his sleeve. "What are you doing?"If he opened that door now and let William see this scene, this wouldn't just blow up in her face. Tyler wouldn't walk away unscathed either."You think keeping quiet and hiding in here will stop him from coming in?" Tyler asked flatly, no trace of his earlier desire in his voice.He had a point. Hiding would only make them look guiltier.Tyler yanked the door open and cooly said, "With all the racket you're causing, are you planning to announce to the entire hotel that your wife is in my room, Mr. Lewis?"William's face darkened when he saw the other man. "Unc—""It's Mr. Hunt," Ty
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 15
William reached out and pulled Rachel into his arms, his strong face full of guilt."I'm so sorry, Rachel. I should've protected you better. Howard is an asshole. I'll talk to his father and get this straightened out!""I just want to sleep," Rachel replied.She felt completely drained, like the fire inside her had burned up all her energy."Okay," he said softly. "Let me dry you off. You can't sleep like this, or you'll catch a cold. I'll run to the store later and get you some new clothes."He helped her sit up against the headboard of the bed, but Rachel waved her hand. "Just give me the towel. I can do it myself."Just then, William's phone started buzzing. Rachel saw the name on the screen: Samantha.A mocking smile touched her lips. So, that woman couldn't even wait this long. Unfortunately for her, she would still have to endure a little longer.William turned his back and answered the call."I'm with Rachel right now. Did you call an ambulance? Okay, don't cry. Just han
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 16
After Yuvan left the house, he got into a sleek black car.Tyler was already inside. He had his eyes closed, looking like he was just resting, and one leg crossed over the other. With his sharp features and expensive suit, he looked like someone you wouldn't want to mess with."How is she?" he asked, opening his dark eyes and fixing them on the other man."She's taken the medicine. Mr. Lewis is in the room, taking care of her."When Tyler heard that, he scoffed. He recalled how William had rushed off earlier with his phone in hand. Most likely, Samantha had called. Again."Did you find out where that drug came from?" Tyler asked."Yeah. Overseas. Funny thing—Samantha lived there for a while. Makes you wonder…"Yuvan didn't finish the thought, but it was clear what he meant.Tyler lazily raised an eyebrow. "You think Samantha knows Howard?""Can't say for sure. Could just be a weird coincidence. But Howard's gutsy, I'll give him that. He doubled the normal dosage. That was reck
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 17
Rachel had no interest in playing games with Samantha. Without another word, she pushed open the office door.But Samantha wasn't done."Oh, by the way," she added, just a little louder than before. "Are you okay after last night? I heard Howard drugged you. William told me. You know how the Lewis family values reputation. I mean, we believe you, of course, but still, you should be careful. Staying pure is very important for a woman."Her voice rose just enough to make sure everyone nearby could hear.Rachel's hand tightened on the door handle, making the veins on the back of her hand stand out. Her brow furrowed.William had told Samantha about the drugging? He hadn't even tried to protect Rachel's dignity? Did he ever stop to think what would happen if people just believed whatever they heard?Like now—Samantha was already spreading rumors. How did he think the whole office would look at Rachel after that?And what if someone with bad intentions leaked it to the media? The hea
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 18
Suddenly, the office door opened. Samantha limped in, her steps slow and dramatic. Her eyes were red as she walked up to Rachel. Her voice was soft and muffled, like she was trying not to cry.Rachel glanced at William, then back at Samantha. Her throat felt dry.William quickly stepped forward and moved Samantha out from between them."Rachel didn't mean it like that. We were just talking about something else. It got a little loud, that's all," he said.But Samantha didn't budge and stood stubbornly in front of Rachel. Her body trembled as she signed with her hands, as if she were desperately trying to convey her meaning. The sight was both comical and heartbreakingly earnest."Rachel, I really didn't mean anything bad," Samantha said. "If I made you uncomfortable, I'll explain everything to the team right now."She reached for the door, ready to go out."There's no need for that, Ms. Judd," Rachel said calmly.Samantha paused, hand still on the door."So… you're really not m
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Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 30
"Don't worry, Samantha. Rachel was just busy earlier. She said she'll drink it later," said William, quickly trying to calm her down.Samantha's voice immediately softened, turning playful as she replied, "You're just saying that. I didn't see Rachel drink it! William, you've got to help me explain. I can be a bit awkward sometimes and might upset people without meaning to."Rachel's skin crawled at Samantha's sweet, almost flirtatious tone. At this moment, she almost wished her hearing had never returned, if only to spare herself from listening to Samantha flirting with William."Don't worry, Rachel won't be mad. She's not the type to hold a grudge. I know her well," William replied."Then, make her drink the coffee!" Samantha's voice was so bright and cheerful, like a little girl asking for something, making it hard to resist.William held the coffee out in front of Rachel and leaned it closer to her lips. "You heard her—she's apologizing sincerely. Surely you won't hold a grudg
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 29
Rachel's fingers twitched slightly against the documents she was reviewing.Samantha hurried to explain, "Rachel, please don't misunderstand! It's just, given your current... delicate position, William can't afford to show you favoritism. Imagine the gossip if people thought he gave you special treatment as his wife."Rachel withdrew her gaze with a quiet, humorless smile.Right. Taking her along would raise eyebrows, but taking Samantha? Perfectly acceptable.Rachel forced her thoughts back into order and said, "Go ahead. I'll email you the compiled files later."Samantha smiled brightly. "I knew you'd understand! I'll get William to bring you coffee when we're done."With that, Samantha bounced out of the room, leaving Rachel to chuckle bitterly. It was amazing how fast someone's "severe injury" could heal when they wanted it to.By the time Rachel finished organizing everything, it was already 10pm, and William hadn't called her once. She took a cab back alone. With only a fe
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 28
Rachel raised an eyebrow, her tone light as she said, "Whether I leave or not, you need to start protecting yourself. Don't overdo it, and especially don't argue with your boss in front of everyone."She admired Cecilia for her boldness, even if it wasn't always what people wanted. Her team didn't need people like Samantha, who whispered behind everyone's backs.Cecilia's eyes started to water. "I understand. Honestly, Rachel, why don't you just leave for LS Enterprise? Ever since Samantha came here, everything's been a mess."Rachel quickly covered her mouth. "Don't say things like that. Pack up and wait for me to contact you. Right now, Mr. Lewis is upset. It's not the right time to bring it up."Besides, there was no telling when Samantha might pop up again.Cecilia nodded. "Okay."Later that afternoon, the HR department posted an announcement: Samantha would be taking over Rachel's position as project director.Rachel was in the middle of transferring her projects when her p
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 27
"She publicly slandered and showed jealousy toward a new colleague, flouting all corporate protocols. If I let this slide, I lose all authority," William said, his tone sharp and firm. His usual handsome features seemed even more distant and cold at this moment.Rachel frowned, realizing he wasn't going to back down.She took a deep breath. "What do you want to do about it, Mr. Lewis?""She'll resign. The company will give her one month's salary as compensation," William said decisively.Cecilia suddenly realized how serious the situation was. She hadn't expected that just speaking up for Rachel would lead to being fired.Rachel's face went pale. She turned to William, her voice gentle but firm as she protested, "Mr. Lewis, it doesn't have to go that far. Cecilia was just trying to help me."William's gaze hardened. "Cecilia's behavior in front of me is your fault. But since you've already been punished, we'll consider it settled. If you ask me to go easy on her again, I'll hold
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 26
Rachel's face remained calm, like it wasn't her getting dismissed. She didn't even frown.Only she knew the truth—this was the numbness that came when grief had hollowed her out completely.This wasn't the first time William had done this. The moment Samantha whispered that Rachel's LS Enterprise visit was a job-hunting attempt, and he believed it, the outcome had been inevitable.Cecilia couldn't stay silent any longer.Furious, she interjected, "Mr. Lewis, I can personally vouch for Ms. Lloyd. Her visit to LS Enterprise was purely personal. She never intended to jump ship."How could Samantha twist the truth like this? Cecilia had always been a straightforward person, and couldn't stand the fact that Rachel had been targeted ever since Samantha came.She turned to Samantha. "Ms. Judd, do you have any proof that Ms. Lloyd was trying to switch jobs? And if you're the one taking credit for contracts, maybe you should ask yourself how you got that position. You can't even handle ba
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 25
Rachel wasn't the type to shy away from responsibility, but she also wasn't about to let someone falsely accuse her of something.She turned to look at Samantha. "Ms. Judd, my timing wouldn't have been an issue. Based on the time I left LS Enterprise, I wouldn't have missed the meeting. The appointment with Trinity Enterprise was set for 3.30pm, and I left LS Enterprise at 3.10pm. It only takes about ten minutes to get to the meeting place by taxi, so I had ten minutes to spare.Noticing the confusion on Samantha's face, Rachel gave a small smile and added, "And if I'm not mistaken, you probably waited at least twenty minutes, right?"Samantha's expression stiffened. She hadn't expected Rachel to be so precise with the timing. She even knew that Samantha had waited for twenty minutes after arriving at Trinity Enterprise.Rachel's smile grew slightly. "I know because Trinity Enterprise's CEO had a video conference this afternoon. He sent me a message this morning, saying he would be
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 24
Rachel took a deep breath. "I had something to discuss with Mr. Hunt."Helena rolled her eyes and muttered, "LS Enterprise is our company's biggest rival. As the project director, it doesn't look good for you to be too close to Mr. Hunt. People will start questioning things.""What was it about?" William's sharp gaze locked onto Rachel. "This isn't just your personal matter anymore. It's about the whole team. You need to explain yourself."Rachel's stomach dropped.The way William looked at her and questioned her made her feel like she was being interrogated. Because of a single comment from Samantha, he now assumed Rachel was thinking of switching companies. He was convinced she had gone to Tyler to discuss it.Rachel's expression stayed neutral. "I can't answer that right now."With the situation as messy as it was, any excuse she gave would sound wrong.Besides, the relationship between Lewis Enterprise and LS Enterprise was delicate. Rachel hadn't asked William or Tyler abou
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 23
"What, just because I helped you once yesterday, you're trying to cling to me now?"Rachel pursed her lips. She really couldn't argue with that—her current behavior did look exactly like she was clinging to Tyler. Still, she should probably say something to clear this up."Last night was unexpected, but this photo... even if I didn't need anything from you, I still planned to return it. I'm sure it's important to you."Rachel remembered her mom mentioning once that Tyler had a tough past, which made it hard for him to trust anyone. Some wounds from the past took a lifetime to heal.Rachel gently placed the photo on the desk, then turned around to leave, only to stop when Tyler said, "This project means a lot to you, doesn't it? You're just going to walk away now?"She shrugged and smiled bitterly. "I know you don't respond to threats, Mr. Hunt. I've done everything I can for this project."She pulled open the office door and walked out, her fingers clenched tight, heart pounding
Countdown to My Divorce Chapter 22
Tyler rested his chin on his hand, elbow propped on the table. He glanced over at them as if he were just an observer, completely uninterested in stepping in to help.The woman was clearly angry, her face turning bright red. "Don't get too cocky. He'll only be interested in you for a couple of days. He's been with more women than you've had meals, so don't delude yourself into thinking he'd ever waste real effort on you."Rachel shrugged, unfazed.She wasn't trying to date Tyler. How many women he had been with didn't concern her. Besides, a powerful and attractive man like him was bound to attract attention. It wasn't surprising."It's fine. As long as his focus is on me now, that's all that matters," Rachel quipped, smirking.Clearly taken aback by Rachel's calm response, the woman shot her one last glare before storming out of the office.Rachel watched her leave, then quickly closed the door behind her. She checked the time—she still had a meeting with a client soon.Taking
