All Chapters of An 18-Year Divorce Promise: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

Elizabeth Connerty let out a muted, incredulous laugh. "It was just a joke. How could you possibly take it seriously?"In that moment, the gentle, graceful woman standing before me overlapped with the bright, carefree girl she had been eighteen years ago.Our marriage was a business alliance. Before meeting me on a blind date, she'd had a college sweetheart—Lucas Ryder.He came from a poor family, and the Connerty family refused to accept him as their son-in-law. They sent him overseas instead.I laid out two choices for her.First, she could chase after Lucas, and I would find someone else to marry.Second, she could marry me—and cut ties with him for good.Out of duty to her parents, she chose me.After we married, she treated me well. She soon became pregnant, and I began to believe that I could gain both business advantages and love from this union. So when I had my car accident, my instinct was to call her.But she didn't answer.When I came out of the emergency room, sh

Chapter 2

I had been wrestling with how to explain everything to our daughter, yet the first obstacle came from Elizabeth instead.Gently, I said, "It's alright. You don't need to worry about me. I let go of everything eighteen years ago."Elizabeth froze, as if seeing my true stance for the first time."You don't need to worry about our daughter either. I'll talk to her. You're free now, Elizabeth."I lifted my head and met her eyes. "So… It's time to honor the promise we made eighteen years ago."She sighed, guilt softening her voice. "I'm the one who wronged you. If you or our daughter ever need anything, I'll still take responsibility."Then, almost trembling, she picked up her phone and dialed the long-forgotten number.That night was the first time we ever slept in separate rooms.For eighteen years, even though our hearts weren't aligned, we still fulfilled each other's needs.I always felt guilty—felt like I was stealing another man's woman—but Elizabeth didn't seem to mind. In

Chapter 3

It seemed the three of them had already mapped out their future within just a few days—and I was no longer part of it.Yet back then, it had been silently agreed that our daughter would stay with me.After sending Lucas home, Elizabeth returned to the hotel with me, clearly preparing for a heart-to-heart talk."Since Destiny chose to study abroad, I think she probably prefer the lifestyle here. You can still come visit her often."I pictured my daughter's face and felt lost. Had all my insistence been meaningless?After a moment of silence, I lifted my head and asked, "Do you hate me? For these eighteen years? And do you think our daughter hates me?"Understanding flickered across Elizabeth's face. "No. It was all my fault."She always said that. She always took every bit of blame onto herself.It was meaningless. I was tired."Alright," I said at last. "I'll respect our daughter's wishes. I hope you both take good care of her."Elizabeth laughed. "Why do you sound like you'l

Chapter 4

Because Destiny was suspected of drug use, the courthouse reported the case to the police.Tests on Destiny did show illegal substances in her system.Elizabeth immediately sent people to investigate everything Destiny had come into contact with recently—including Lucas's home.In the hospital room, our daughter was delirious, muttering "Lucas" over and over.No matter how she treated me, she was still my child. My blood.I glared at Elizabeth, irritation rising in my chest. "This is how you take care of my daughter? You used to play the perfect mother. What happened? Why are you suddenly so careless?"Elizabeth's face filled with guilt and remorse. "I just wanted Destiny to relax. I didn't expect her to get into something like this accidentally when I wasn't watching."Accidentally? I suspected Lucas did it on purpose, but I had no proof, so I couldn't say it outright.Still, if it was intentional, I doubted it came from malice—more likely from how casually he treated these th

Chapter 5

I stared at Elizabeth in surprise. This was only the second time I had ever seen her lose her temper.The first was back when we were on our arranged date. Lucas had boarded the private jet her parents arranged. Elizabeth got furious and demanded to know whether he even cared about her at all.Over the phone, he had sobbed, "I'm not good enough for you!"Elizabeth wasn't like other spoiled heiresses with fiery tempers. She was well-mannered, gentle—a genuinely good person.She never looked down on poor students as shabby country folk, nor did she think I was some pompous, rigid heir. She simply loved Lucas for who he was.But she had her own worldview. She believed responsibility mattered more than feelings, so she ultimately chose to honor her parents.Occasionally, though, she would sprout wings—indulge a little, laugh a little, get angry a little.Just like now.For eighteen years, she treated me with unwavering gentleness. She never laughed freely in front of me, and she ne

Chapter 6

"I don't hate you that much," Elizabeth said. "I'm not actually going to throw you both in jail. I just wanted you to understand what's right. Now… do whatever you want."Ignoring our daughter's stunned expression and the jealousy burning in Lucas's eyes, Elizabeth grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the hospital.In the car, she poured out a confession she'd been holding back for a long time."I forgot our promise from eighteen years ago. Maybe I chose to forget it," she said."But I never expected you to remember. My first reaction was panic. How could you be so cold? We lived eighteen years together—how could you say 'let's divorce' so easily? What was I supposed to do without you? "But then I told myself those feelings were fake. I'd loved Lucas for twenty years—how could I suddenly fall for you? That's why I wanted to go abroad, to find the feeling I used to have with him, to prove that I'd been right all along."But the moment I arrived, he dragged me to a party with wome

Chapter 7

I still couldn't believe it. "Love is too heavy a word.""And even if we did remarry," I added, "look at our daughter. Do you really think we can go back to how things were?"Just like when I once promised to explain everything to our daughter, Elizabeth shouldered all the responsibility herself."I'll talk to her," she said. "If I can't make her understand, then I'll treat it as if I never had this daughter. We'll have another child. We'll raise her right and let her inherit our company."I let out a short, humorless laugh. "I think you've been overwhelmed these past few days. Let's just get divorced first. You need some time to calm down."I didn't want to keep going in circles with her. I reached for the door, ready to head into the courthouse.But she locked the car doors.I gave her a reassuring smile. "Elizabeth, you're a good person. You're not going to lose control like this, right?""I'm done being a good person!" she shot back, her voice breaking into a furious scream

Chapter 8

Lucas dangled that thing in front of her, using it to lure her into calling Elizabeth overseas so the three of them could build a family together.Only then did Elizabeth realize that Lucas had never let go. He had waited eighteen years—only to find that what he got wasn't a love-crazed Elizabeth who would spoil him for a lifetime, but a woman who would never look back.He thought Destiny was her weak spot. He believed in the love she once had for him and clung to it, confident he could use it to get what he wanted.But without the fire of love or hate, Elizabeth abandoned him again just as decisively as before.Lucas lost his mind. He threw Destiny aside, left her to fend for herself on the streets, then turned around and abandoned Elizabeth too—only to marry a rich old lady.I had to admit, I admired the man's ability to let go. I thought he'd return to the country and keep trying to win Elizabeth back. But maybe life was good for him overseas. Maybe that was why he stopped obse

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