Chapter 3 Since Your Wedding Day

Benedict stared at the long string of numbers in the account balance, lost in thought. "Doctor, how long can Suzanna hold on with her current condition?" he asked, looking at the doctor. The doctor hesitated. He hadn't left when Benedict called earlier, and both he and Suzanna knew that Francesca wasn't coming back. The surgery couldn't proceed without her. But Benedict had been told that Suzanna didn't have much time and needed surgery today. The doctor had been too sure, and now, it seemed Francesca was gone for good. Looking at Suzanna for support, she finally gave him a reassuring glance and spoke softly. "Actually, I feel better than before. Please check me again, Doctor." "Right, right. Let's do another check!" the doctor agreed, eager to avoid any more trouble. After the exam, it turned out Suzanna was doing a lot better. There was no immediate need for surgery. Benedict let out a deep breath of relief but couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Suzanna smiled faintly. "Benedict, don't be too hard on the doctor. They always exaggerate things to make more money." Benedict nodded, taking it in. "So, he lied to you, and you're not mad? Suzanna, you're too kind." Instead of dwelling on the hospital's lies, Benedict's thoughts shifted back to Francesca. He realized he had misjudged her. She was supposed to be after his money, but she hadn't spent a dime of what he had given her. He wondered what she'd been living on all these years. For the first time, Benedict felt a strong urge to see Francesca. He didn't care about the hospital situation anymore. Meanwhile, at the Anderson family's estate, Francesca had already returned. For Ian, the wealthiest man in the area, hiding her whereabouts was easy. He'd had a helicopter sent to pick Francesca up. Francesca had just stepped off the helicopter when she spotted her oldest brother, Ian, and her second brother, Raymond Denvers. Although Raymond's last name was Denvers, he was actually Francesca's brother. Their mother's family, the Denvers family, didn't have a male heir, so he had changed his surname and became the heir to their wealth. He was also a doctor, and the chief surgeon for Benedict's grandmother. "Ian! Raymond!" As soon as Francesca saw them, her eyes welled up, and she rushed into Ian's arms. "Hey, hey, calm down. Welcome home," Ian said, stroking her hair, his voice heavy with a mix of love and frustration. Ian had always been protective of Francesca. Even though he kept her identity low-key, she had been treated like royalty, maybe even better than some princesses in the world. Yet, despite all that, she had walked away from her privileged life to live with the Landon family, something Ian couldn't quite understand. Seeing the pain in Ian's eyes, Francesca felt a wave of guilt. She was about to say something when her phone rang. The caller ID showed Ellen, Benedict's mom. Francesca almost ignored it, but Ian interrupted, "Answer it. I wanna hear what that old hag has to say." "Fine," Francesca sighed and hit the speakerphone button. The moment the call connected, Ellen's sharp voice blasted through the phone. "Francesca! How dare you take so long to answer my call!" Francesca frowned, but Ellen didn't let her speak. "What's going on today? Why weren't you welcoming me home?! You've been out partying, haven't you? Get back here and cook, or go back to your hometown!" Ian couldn't hold back any longer and shouted, "Enough, shut up! I don't even talk to my sister like that!" Ellen Landon did not expect that there was someone else beside Francesca Anderson. He was stunned for a moment before he quickly sneered. "You're Francesca's brother, huh? Only someone like you would raise a loser like her. So what if I yelled at her? She's upset, huh? Then get a divorce! "I've been wanting to get rid of her for ages. Benedict should be marrying the sister of the richest man!" Before Ian could say anything, Ellen hung up the phone quickly. Ian was so furious, he nearly had a heart attack. He was breathing heavily as he muttered, "This woman is insane. Now she's saying her son should marry my sister? The audacity!" "Francesca, you've got to leave that old woman," Ian said again, grinding his teeth. "After the divorce, I'm announcing your real identity. I can't wait to see the look on her face when that happens!" Raymond chimed in, "The Landon family is going to regret this." "Yeah, the Anderson family isn't anyone to mess with," Ian added. "One day, the Landon family will be begging you to come back." Francesca sighed. "Don't worry, even if they beg, I won't go back." Ian had set up a company in Hodross, and Raymond was managing it, all to keep an eye on Francesca and protect her. When Ian found out how badly she was being treated by the Landon family, he had wanted to make them pay. But Francesca always stopped him. Back then, she still held on to hope that Benedict might come around, that he would love her the way she loved him. But now, after waiting three years, all she got was his betrayal. Since Benedict had betrayed their marriage, Francesca no longer felt the need to protect the Landon family. "By the way," Ian said, pulling out a document and handing it to her. "This is for you." Francesca looked at it. "What's this?" "The divorce agreement. You can take it to the Landon family and sign it tomorrow." "Oh." She took the agreement and asked casually, "You finished this so fast?" "Nope." Raymond grinned. "Actually, we've had it ready since your wedding day." Francesca blinked in surprise. She knew her brothers weren't a fan of Benedict and didn't exactly approve of her marriage, but she didn't realize they had been thinking about divorce from the start.