Our Dirty Little Secret

In the large mansion with no people, Madeline Russel bravely dialed the number she memorized.

After the second ringing, a low, cold, and husky male voice answered.

"What?"

"Aren't you going home yet?" Madeline Russel gently asked her husband, Alex Hargreaves.

"Do I have to report the time when I got back home to you?" The annoying voice through the phone was enough to make Madeline Russel's body trembled with fear.

"Alex, I understand you didn't mean that." Her heart ached. Madeline Russel tried to keep her voice from shaking and continued to answer.

"I'll wait for you to come home and eat. There's something I want to say..."

Madeline Russel heard the sound of a woman on the other side of the phone. Her hand unconsciously dug into her thigh, as she tried to pacify herself and the aching pain. Even though it's just through a phone call, she recognized the voice of Emily Russel, her sister.

"Madeline Russel! I want a divorce."

"I won't!" The protest was always on the tip of her tongue. Maddie dared to speak out loudly for the first time to Alex Hargreaves.

"For Emily Russel? Do you want a divorce because of her? Emily Russel is married to another person, why can't you forget? You are my husband..."

"Shut up!" Alex Hargreaves shouted, which made her brutally hurt.

"You are just an alternative marriage partner. Now that Emily is back. The kind of filthy person like you wouldn't dare to be compared with her."

Madeline Russel could not help but cry. Her voice croaked as she disagreed with her husband.

"I don't want a divorce. Alex, don't leave me... If I did something wrong, I will correct it. Please..." 

"You have no right to object. You have a night of preparation because I will arrange for someone to pick you up then drive you to the Notary Office at eight o'clock tomorrow morning."

The phone was turned off.  Alex Hargreaves always knew how to order without minding her opinion. 

Madeline Russel didn't have the chance to say the words 'I am pregnant'. She just cried and watched the cold food on the table. The ruthless man failed to catch the three hours she spent when she prepared his favorite dishes. 

Two months ago, due to insane drunkenness, Alex Hargreaves mistook her as Emily- her sister. Although she cried and pleaded, she was still dominantly admitted to his abuse.

The next morning, Madeline Russel woke up with a body full of traces of pleasures. Alex Hargreaves brutally slapped her.

"You are disgusting, knowing that I love Emily but still dared and tried to set a trap just to sneak onto my bed. You lack contentment, right? Okay, I'll satisfy you."

Alex Hargreaves misunderstood Madeline and thought that having sex with him last night was arranged by her. He tied her hands with his tie, like a king then proceeded to tie her body. Madeline Russel carried the unjust memory that made her fainted in pain. The time she woke up was the next day. She had a high fever and was taken care of by a private doctor. But then, her husband Alex never appeared.

The two had an abusive relationship. Alex took her first time, created a new life, and locked her up in an unhappy marriage.

"Baby, I kept thinking that just by announcing this good news, your daddy will spend a corner in his heart for your mother." Every single tear fell in silence as Madeline whispered "Mom is too self-centered."

Alex Hargreaves's marriage to her was reluctant. Her love had never been able to penetrate that cold stone he built in his heart. The day she knew she was pregnant was also when he put an end to their erroneous marriage.

Madeline was like a lost person sitting on a chair all night without sleep, tears dried up ever since. A night was not enough to forget a man, but enough to make a definite decision. 

"I am so selfish and it is not fair to you. But this marriage should be stopped. He doesn't care about yours and my existence, either."

She then stood up, staggered slightly from being motionless for a long time. She did her hygiene, changed into the only dress Alex bought for her. The emerald green dress with the ruffles on the neck, a soft fabric that slips through her hands like water. Maddy loved and only dared to wear it on special occasions. 

Signing divorce papers was also a special occasion.

The doorbell rang and interrupted her thoughts. Maddy opened the door and saw John. John is Alex Hargreaves's subordinate, he politely greeted her.

"Miss Maddy, we need to go now. Mr. Alex is already waiting at the Legal Department."

Maddy had never been called 'Lady Maddy' or 'Maddy'. Even her husband's subordinates felt she was not worthy of being Alex Hargreaves's wife.

"Do I need to bring any documents?" Madeline Russel asked.

"All procedures are prepared, as long as Ms. Maddy comes to sign," John answered with a distant and cold attitude.

The answer was like ten thousand arrows stuck in her heart. She didn't know that Alex Hargreaves prepared this divorce petition for so long. Did he prepare it in a week? One month? Or right after the night of that inappropriate relationship? 

Outside, it was drizzling. The air was as gloomy as Madeline Russel's mood. There was a traffic jam, so it took a long time to arrive. By the time she arrived at the Legal Department, the rain had stopped. 

From a distance, she saw Alex Hargreaves standing on the doorsteps. Tall body, well-proportioned physique like a male model, long square face, eye-catching eyebrows, high nose bridge, and thick lips with a cigarette that casually looked towards Madeline Russel. He's like a falcon that radiates cruelty deep to the bone marrow, coupled with a cold aura that unintentionally puts pressure on the surrounding people. 

"You crawled here? Did you know how much my hour is?" Frowning in annoyance, Alex Hargreaves looked at her with disgust.

"I'm sorry." Madeline Russel bowed kindly. Her head determined to leave this cold man, but her weak personality always made her unable to open her mouth to explain.

Looking at her long drooping hair, Alex Hargreaves was even more upset. He dislikes her lofty pose. "You want to extend the time so we don't get a divorce? You should not have any illusion. Don't dare to sign, you must sign."

Madeline Russel lifted her head to look at him. She bit her lip and tried to stop her sobs and her eyes streamed tears full of sadness. "Don't worry. I came here and will not change my mind." 

"Remember what you said." Alex Hargreaves turned away coldly and walked quickly inside. Not hearing any footsteps, he turned around and roared "Are you still not going? Or you want me to wait for you and carry you in this place?"

Madeline Russel covered her mouth and shook her head. She didn't want him to hear her hurting sobs. She stopped walking and wiped her tears. Madeline Russel could not catch up with Alex Hargreaves' steps.

Several times, Alex Hargreaves stopped and urged her hoping to quickly get their divorce certificate. The more he witnessed the decisive attitude of Alex, the more she died.

The back of her hand wiped her swollen red eyes. Madeline Russel hurriedly followed. She did not pay attention, so he bumped the person ahead.

Due to inertia, she fell back. Luckily, a pair of large hands surround her waist and pulled her back. The distinctive masculine cigarette scent blended with an expensive and luxurious perfume made Madeline Russel's mind confused. Tomorrow, she would no longer smell this familiar scent.

"What are you crying for?" Looking at Madeline Russel holding her nose with tears spilling from her eyes, Alex Hargreaves saw it and it made his chest ache.

He wondered whether the real reason that she is holding her nose is that she hit on his chest. It seems that it hurt so much. In the end, Madeline Russel just shook her head and didn't speak.

Her uncooperative attitude made Alex Hargreaves misunderstand. He glanced at her impatiently.

"Don't pretend to cry! Your tears have no value to me. As long as you sign the divorce agreement, I will give you fifty million divorce fees."

Madeline Russel froze, dropped her hands to reveal a red nose. Her appearance right now looked like an obnoxious eater. With loose hair behind her shoulders, swollen eyes, red nose, white lips, and pale face.

"Don't pretend to be pitiful. She is worth less than fifty million."

"Divorce fee? It turns out that just divorcing me will have money?" Madeline Russel laughed, but her tears fell nonstop.

"Compensation for youth is worth the price of fifty million. Acknowledgment is too much."

His fingers moved up and down. Alex Hargreaves was startled by his desire to wipe away the tears from her face. With a dark complexion, he realized that Madeline Russel was too good at deceiving and could arouse a man's desire to protect.

"What a sly fox. Pretending to be a girl just to crawl into my bed. Now you use tears to draw grief? You are very good at fishing men. You make me sick." Alex Hargreaves looked at her contemptuously, his voice cold. "I don't love you." 

Madeline Russel silently looked at him without saying anything, and her heart was dead.

"After signing the divorce papers, you should start packing and get out of my house." Alex Hargreaves cornered her.

Alex Hargreaves wasted no time with her. He walked quickly into the door at the end of the corridor.

Without any reason to be insulted and cursed, Madeline Russel blankly looked with tears flowing back in despair. 

The divorce procedure was completed. Staff instructed two people where to sign. 

Alex Hargreaves fluently signed down. With his strong and arrogant words, he pushed the paper in front of Madeline Russel and said "Sign it. End this marriage."

Madeline Russel accepted the pen, her finger unintentionally touching his. Alex's body temperature is always lower than ordinary people. Even his fingers are as cold as the heart in his chest.

Madeline held her head up high. Under the light, her long hair flowed to one side. She looked at Alex straight in the eye, smiled gently, and then bent down to put the pen.

"Wait!" Alex Hargreaves said urgently, he held Madeline Russel's pen and stopped her hand.