Captain, Sign Our Divorce NOW!

Rachel had just completed her flight assignment from Paris to New York. By the time the aircraft landed and all the formalities were done, exhaustion had already begun to settle deep in her bones.

After returning to the crew base, she quickly changed out of her uniform and into comfortable clothes. She submitted her flight log and the necessary reports before leaving the office.

Normally, she wouldn't have been this drained. But one of her colleagues had asked for help earlier in the week, and Rachel had agreed to swap shifts with her. Taking on the extra hours had pushed her schedule to the limit, leaving her utterly exhausted.

At that moment, Rachel wanted nothing more than to go home. All she could think about was soaking in a long, comfortable bath and then collapsing into bed for a deep, uninterrupted sleep.

Rachel had just settled into the back seat of the cab when her phone rang.

She glanced down and saw a new notification from the airline staff gossip group. Someone had just posted a video. The group had been created by crew members to share the latest gossip and news with one another.

Rachel normally had no interest in such things and rarely paid attention to the messages. But her friend Charles had insisted on adding her, saying it was useful to stay updated on what was happening around the company.

With the long day finally over and nothing else to do during the ride home, Rachel opened the group chat out of boredom and tapped on the video.

But the moment it started playing, the color drained from her face.

In the video, a man was rushing toward an ambulance parked not far away, a woman cradled tightly in his arms. His expression was filled with panic and anxiety, and the way he held her made it seem as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

Rachel recognized the man instantly.

It was her husband, Jared Holland-the man she had been married to for three years.

And the woman in his arms...

Rachel's fingers slowly tightened around her phone.

The woman was none other than his so-called foster sister... and his first love, Olivia Wright.

Then Rachel's eyes moved to the flood of comments appearing beneath the video.

One message after another popped up in the group chat.

"Oh wow, I never expected our cold, distant Captain Holland to be like this."

"Right? Look at the way he's holding her-like he's afraid that if he holds her any tighter, she might break."

"Does anyone know who that woman is?"

"Could she be his girlfriend?"

The chat quickly became lively as more people joined in. Speculation spread rapidly, and soon the conversation turned into playful betting about the relationship between the two people in the video.

"Ten bucks says she's his girlfriend."

"No way. Maybe a secret fiancée?"

"Captain Holland hiding a beauty like that? Impossible!"

The messages kept coming, each one more curious and excited than the last, as everyone tried to guess who the woman in Jared's arms might be.

For a moment, Rachel simply stared at the screen. Then a bitter smile appeared on her face.

Just then, Rachel's phone rang again.

She glanced down at the screen and saw the caller ID-Charles.

Charles was her childhood friend and one of the few male flight attendants in the airline. With his delicate features and charming smile, he was extremely popular, especially among the wealthy ladies in the first-class cabin. Unfortunately for them, the people Charles was interested in were men, not women.

Rachel stared at the screen for a moment before answering. She knew that if she didn't pick up, Charles would keep calling until she did.

"Hello?"

"Ellie, have you seen the video?" Charles's worried voice came through the phone immediately.

"Mm," Rachel replied calmly.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

Although Rachel and Jared had been married for three years, very few people knew about their relationship. Aside from the Holland family and a handful of close relatives, only Rachel's mother and Charles knew that she was Jared Holland's wife.

"What could possibly happen to me?" Rachel asked lightly, though a bitter smile lingered on her lips.

"How can you say that?" Charles exclaimed. "Did you read the messages in the group? Everyone's guessing about her relationship with Jared. Don't you think, as his legal wife, you should do something?"

His voice carried both anger and concern.

Rachel didn't answer.

Because she knew there was no point.

She had long realized that her marriage to Jared had been a mistake from the very beginning. If she hadn't schemed against him back then and forced him into that night with her, he would never have married her.

Perhaps he would have married Olivia instead... and they would be living happily together now.

Besides, no one in the Holland family had ever truly liked her.

Rachel took a slow breath and said quietly, "There's no need."

With that, she hung up the phone.

Leaning back in the seat, Rachel turned her head and looked out of the cab window at the passing lights of the city.

Three years.

The deadline of their agreement was almost over. Soon, she would leave him.

Since that was the case, there was no need for her to explain anything anymore.

*****

At home.

After returning home, Rachel went straight to the bathroom. The exhaustion from the long flight seemed to seep out of her body as she soaked in a long, comforting hot bath. The warm water eased the tension in her muscles, and by the time she stepped out, her entire body finally felt relaxed.

A few minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom wearing a soft silk nightdress. Her damp hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and a few droplets of water slid down the strands, landing on the thin fabric and leaving small darkened spots.

Just as she was drying her hair with a towel, the bedroom door opened.

Jared walked in.

He stopped the moment he saw her.

Under the warm light of the room, Rachel looked breathtaking. The silk clung gently to her figure, outlining her slender waist and soft curves. Her skin still carried a faint flush from the bath, and the damp strands of hair framing her delicate face only made her look more alluring.

For a moment, Jared's usually cold and indifferent expression shifted. His gaze darkened.

He walked toward her in a few long steps and wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her into his embrace. Lowering his head, he brushed a kiss against the side of her neck.

"Darling," he murmured in a low voice, "it's not good to tempt your husband like this. Are you asking to be punished?"

Rachel shivered slightly at the sudden closeness and tried to push him away.

"I'm not trying to tempt you," she said, her voice tired. "I'm exhausted. I'm really not in the mood tonight."

Only she knew that the man who always appeared cold and distant in front of others was completely different in private. The composed Captain Holland outside was far more intense when it came to moments like this.

Jared tilted his head slightly, studying her face. His eyes were filled with unmistakable desire.

He leaned closer, his breath brushing her ear. "Is that so?"

His teasing tone sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. Her ears had always been a sensitive spot, and he knew it very well.

Rachel tried to keep her expression steady, even though her body betrayed her reaction. No matter how dissatisfied she was with many things in their marriage, she had to admit one fact-

Jared knew her too well.

Their chemistry in that aspect had always been dangerously strong.

But the image of the video she had seen earlier suddenly flashed through her mind.

Her expression cooled instantly.

She placed her hand against his chest and pushed him away slightly.

"Jared," she said firmly, "I told you-I'm not in the mood."

Jared only chuckled softly, clearly unconvinced.

"If you're still saying that later," he replied lazily, "I'll let you go."

Before she could react, he lifted her effortlessly into his arms and started walking toward the bathroom.

Rachel frowned. "I already took a bath."

Jared smiled faintly, his voice low and playful.

"Maybe," he said, leaning closer to her, "but sometimes... the bathroom can make things a little more interesting."

Before she could say anything else, he kissed her, cutting off the rest of her protest as the bathroom door closed behind them.

Rachel didn't know how much time had passed. By the time everything finally quieted down, she felt completely drained.

There was barely any strength left in her body, and every muscle ached faintly. Supporting herself against the wall, she slowly made her way back to the bed.

Not long after, Jared also walked out of the bathroom.

He had a towel casually wrapped around his lower body, his damp hair slightly messy from the shower.

Under the soft bedroom light, his tall frame looked even more striking. Broad shoulders, a well-defined chest, and firm muscles shaped by years of disciplined training gave him an imposing yet elegant presence.

His sharp features and calm, composed expression were the same ones that made him the most admired captain in the airline.

Rachel watched him for a moment before speaking.

"Jared... there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"What is it?" he asked casually as he moved toward the bed.

"I-"

Before she could finish, the phone on the nightstand suddenly rang.

Jared paused and glanced at the screen.

"Let me take this call first," he said before walking toward the balcony.

Rachel watched his back as he stepped outside. The moment he looked at the caller, a faint trace of concern appeared on his face.

She didn't need to guess who it was.

Who else could it be other than Olivia-his first love and the so-called foster sister he cared about more than anything?

It wasn't the first time Olivia had called him in the middle of the night. And every time she did, Jared would drop everything and rush to her side, never once considering Rachel's feelings.

Lost in her thoughts, Rachel barely noticed when Jared walked back into the room.

He was already putting on his clothes.

"Rachel," he said, fastening the buttons of his shirt, "I need to go to the hospital."

Rachel let out a faint, cold laugh.

"Why?" she said mockingly. "Are you a doctor? If you don't go... will she die?"

Jared's movements paused for a second. His expression darkened slightly.

But the change lasted only a moment before his face returned to its usual calm indifference.

He walked over to the bed, leaned down, and gently kissed her forehead.

"Baby, go back to sleep," he said softly. "Don't wait for me."

The moment he finished speaking, he turned and walked out of the room.

His steps were quick-almost as if he were running.

Watching his receding figure disappear down the hallway, Rachel let out a bitter smile.

What else did you expect from him? she thought to herself.

She slowly got out of bed and walked toward the balcony. The night air was cool and quiet. Taking a cigarette from the small pack on the table, she lit it and took a slow puff.

Rachel had never really liked smoking. But sometimes, when the ache in her chest became too difficult to suppress, it was the only thing that seemed to calm the storm inside her.

And coincidentally, during the past six months, those moments had become more and more frequent.

She leaned against the railing and looked up at the clear night sky. The stars were faint but visible, scattered across the darkness.

A faint, almost peaceful smile appeared on her lips.

"Rachel," she murmured softly to herself, "it's time to let go of the things that were never good for you."

The cigarette burned down slowly between her fingers. After finishing it, she stubbed it out and went back inside the bedroom.

The room felt unusually quiet now.

Rachel walked to the drawer beside the bed and pulled out a set of papers. She stared at them for a few seconds before sitting down.

They were the divorce papers.

Jared's mother, Sahara, had sent them to her two days ago.

Before Rachel and Jared got married, she had signed a prenuptial agreement. According to the agreement, once the three-year deadline of their marriage was over, she would quietly walk out of Jared's life with nothing.

No money. No compensation.

Just like someone who had never belonged there in the first place.

Rachel picked up the pen.

For a brief moment, memories of the past three years flashed through her mind-the cold glances, the silent dinners, the moments when she had foolishly hoped that maybe, just maybe, things could change.

But they never did.

In Jared's heart, there had always been someone else.

Her gaze slowly hardened with quiet determination.

Without hesitation, she lowered the pen and signed her name at the bottom of the page.

Rachel Holland.

No.

Soon... she would simply be Rachel Brown again.

*****

The next morning, Rachel woke up early.

As soon as she got out of bed, she began packing her things again. Since she had already signed the divorce papers, there was no reason for her to stay in this house any longer.

Just as she finished closing the suitcase, her phone suddenly rang.

She glanced at the screen.

It was Jared.

Rachel hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Hello."

"Baby, are you awake?" Jared's voice came from the other end. "Get ready. I'm coming to pick you up. We're going to the old mansion. Grandma asked us to come back."

Rachel frowned slightly.

"Why?"

She had never liked going to the old mansion. No one in the Holland family welcomed her there.

"What do you mean 'why'?" Jared replied impatiently. "We haven't visited in two months. Of course they miss us."

"Us?" Rachel let out a faint scoff. "I think the one they miss is you... and Olivia."

"Rachel, stop throwing a tantrum," Jared said flatly. "Just get ready."

Before she could say anything else, he hung up.

Rachel stared at the packed suitcases beside the bed and let out a quiet sigh.

"This will be the last time," she murmured.

Not long after, Jared's car arrived outside.

Rachel walked toward the passenger door, but when she opened it, she froze.

Olivia was already sitting there.

Rachel frowned slightly.

Jared glanced at her and said casually, "Rachel, sit in the back. Olivia is coming with us. She wanted to visit Grandma and Mom. Besides, I thought it would be good for her to get some fresh air."

Rachel's gaze shifted to Olivia.

She sat elegantly in the passenger seat, dressed in a cream cashmere coat with oversized sunglasses resting on her face. Even after spending the night in the hospital, she still looked delicate and flawless-like someone who had never known hardship.

Rachel quietly closed the passenger door.

Without saying a word, she walked around the car and got into the back seat.

For a long time in the past, Rachel had once foolishly believed that maybe-just maybe-Jared had some feelings for her.

After all, if he truly hated her, why hadn't he treated her cruelly the way his older brother had treated the woman who once schemed to sleep with him?

But that fragile illusion only lasted during the times when Olivia wasn't around.

Because whenever Olivia appeared, Jared's attention would immediately shift to her.

At those moments, Rachel might as well have been invisible.

The car drove quietly along the road.

For a long time, no one spoke.

Then suddenly, Jared glanced at the rearview mirror.

"Rachel," he said, as if remembering something, "you were about to tell me something last night. What was it?"

Rachel's gaze slowly moved to Olivia sitting in the front seat.

Then she spoke calmly, without hesitation.

"Let's get divorced."

Rachel's words fell heavily inside the car.

Jared's expression immediately darkened. His eyes turned cold as he looked at her through the rearview mirror.

For a moment, the air inside the car became tense.

Then, as if forcing the moment away, Jared suddenly smiled.

"Baby, don't joke like that," he said lightly. "You know I don't like that kind of joke."

Before Rachel could say anything, Olivia spoke up from the passenger seat.

"Jared is right," she said gently. "Rachel, you shouldn't joke about things like that. Sometimes words like these... can come true."

Rachel's eyes shifted to the woman sitting in front of her.

Olivia's voice sounded soft and concerned, but to Rachel it felt nothing more than pretentious kindness.

Rachel simply looked at her for a second before turning her gaze toward the window.

She didn't bother explaining herself.

Whether she was joking or serious, Jared would find out soon enough-once he returned home and discovered that she had already moved out.

There was no point in saying anything now.

The rest of the ride passed in silence.

Not long after, the car slowly pulled to a stop in front of the grand gates of the Holland estate.

The three of them stepped out of the car and crossed the wide lawn of the estate's front courtyard together.

With his long strides, Jared reached the villa first and walked inside without waiting for the two women behind him.

Olivia slowed her pace beside Rachel. After a moment of hesitation, she spoke softly, "Rachel... are you really planning to divorce Jared?"

Rachel stopped walking. She turned her head slightly, her face calm and unreadable as she looked at Olivia.

"And what does that have to do with you?"

Olivia forced a gentle smile. "Rachel, don't be angry. I'm just concerned about you. If Jared upset you in any way, you can tell me. I'll teach him a lesson for you."

As she spoke, Olivia reached out and held Rachel's hand, her expression full of apparent affection.

Rachel looked down at their joined hands. Then suddenly, the corners of her lips curved into a faint smile.

"Really?" she said lightly. "Then could you please stop calling him in the middle of the night, asking him to accompany you to the hospital as if you're dying?"

Olivia froze.

Rachel's smile widened slightly, though her eyes remained cold.

"And could you stop calling him every time he's with me?" she continued calmly. "Because it's really upsetting."

Olivia's face instantly turned pale. "I... I didn't mean-"

Before she could finish, Rachel pulled her hand away as if it disgusted her.

"Olivia," Rachel said flatly, "I know your tactics very well. So save that act for people who actually believe you."

She paused for a brief moment, her gaze sharp.

"I have no interest in your green tea performance."

With that, Rachel turned and walked away toward the villa.

Behind her, Olivia stared at Rachel's retreating figure. Slowly, her fingers curled into tight fists, the softness on her face disappearing.

Her expression turned cold.

*****

As soon as Olivia stepped inside the villa, the atmosphere around the dining hall shifted.

Several people immediately gathered around her.

Alice Holland, Jared's grandmother, reached out and took Olivia's hand affectionately. "Olivia, my darling, how are you? I heard you were admitted to the hospital again. Are you alright?"

Olivia smiled gently, lowering her gaze with practiced modesty. "Grandma, don't worry. It was just a minor ailment. But Jared stayed with me the whole time at the hospital, so I'm fully recovered now."

Hearing this, Alice exchanged a subtle, knowing glance with Sahara.

"Good, good," Alice said warmly. "Come, sit with Jared."

Olivia obediently followed her to the table.

Jared immediately stood up and pulled out the chair beside him for her. Only after Olivia sat down did he return to his seat next to her.

From the doorway, Rachel paused for a second.

Her eyes quietly swept across the scene before her - Olivia sitting beside Jared, surrounded by warm concern, the elders smiling, the family gathered around the table as if she belonged there.

As for her, just like always, she was treated as an air. Sometimes when Jared was flying, Rachel wasn't even allowed to sit at the table with them to eat.

Alice and Sahara forced her to stand there and serve their beloved Olivia.

As for her, she could only eat with servants after they finished eating.

But it was the last time... after today, she will never come back here again to humiliate herself.

After standing there for a while, Rachel walked forward.

There was only one empty seat left.

Across from Jared and Olivia. Next to Grandmother.

She sat down.

Soon the first course arrived--soup.

Rachel quietly picked up her spoon and began eating, her movements calm and unhurried.

Around her, however, the table buzzed with concern - but none of it was directed at her.

Olivia barely touched her bowl before Sahara immediately fussed over her.

"You must eat, sweetheart," Sahara said anxiously. "You just came back from the hospital. You need your strength."

Sahara gently spooned some soup into Olivia's bowl. "Try a little. It's light. It won't upset your stomach."

Olivia smiled softly, looking almost embarrassed by the attention.

"Thank you... I'll try."

Across the table, Rachel lowered her eyes to her bowl.

Soon, the main course was served.

Sahara looked at Jared, hinting he should serve Olivia too, "Jared don't just eat yourself."

Jared nodded, picked up the tender braised pork and put in Rachel's plate, "Eat some meat. You looked so thin these days."

Looking at the food in her plate, Rachel froze.

Did he misunderstood something? Sahara clearly asked him to serve Olivia.

Olivia looked at Rachel and said, "Rachel, you are so lucky, you can eat braised pork. Unlike me... I can't eat high-fat food."

Hearing this Rachel's eyes darkened.

Did Jared think she was a trash bin as he can throw anything his beloved not like onto her plate.

Her expression turned cold as she put down her cutlery and stood up.

Jared looked at her, "What's up?"

"I am full." Saying that, she turned to leave.

Jared frowned. "Even if you are full, you can't leave the table like that."

"Yes, I can." Rachel said.

Then she turned and walked out of the dining room. She hadn't gone far when fast and angry footsteps echoed behind her.

Jared caught her wrist and spun her around.

Their eyes met. Jared's eyes turned gentle as he pinched her nose. "What happened? How did I upset my princess this time?"

Rachel looked at him, her heart turning cold. She didn't want to engage with him.

He was always like this... a few offhand teasing remarks would turn her anger and hurt into what he saw as unreasonable tantrums.

But she had enough of this.

"Jared, I am done with you." She said, her eyes cold.

Jared frowned. He was about to say something when the phone in his pocket rang.

He looked at it and his face froze.

"It's the hospital," he said, "Olivia's latest blood test results just came in."

The way the color drained from his face told her everything she needed to know.

Jared looked at her and said, "Rachel, I have to take Olivia hospital for more tests. Let's talk about at home, okay?"

As she said, he walked away.

Rachel looked at his leaving back and a bitter smile appeared on her lips. There was nothing left between them to talk anymore.