Her fifth daughter died, so she deleted his bloodline. novel Chapter 159

Chapter 12

Time ticked by, second after second, as Declan clenched the divorce decree in his hand, nearly crumpling it beyond recognition. Just then, his assistant called.

“Mr. Hawthorne, we’ve confirmed it. The divorce papers you sent over-they’re valid.”

That’s impossible!” Declan’ voice trembled in disbelief. “You need both parties to sign for a divorce to be valid! The

signature on that agreement-it’s forged. It can’t hold up in court. I never even…”

He trailed off. A memory slammed into his brain like a brick.

That morning, right before the court hearing-Sloane had knelt before him, for what felt like the hundredth time.

“Declan, if you walk out that door today to defend Vivienne, then sign this agreement. We’re done. We’re getting

divorced.”

He’d been in such a rush to leave that day. Didn’t even stop to think. Honestly, she’d brought up “divorce” so many times

in the last six months, he’d tuned it out completely.

He never even looked at the agreement, but just scrawled his name across the page and shoved it at her. “Is that enough

for you. Sloane? Stop pushing me!”

A stabbing ache shot through his skull as he squeezed his eyes shut.

She meant it. The divorce was real.

And now, after leaving behind that decree… she was gone. Truly gone.

That thought made his chest seize, like someone had reached inside and crushed his heart with bare hands. He forced the wave of pain down and barked into the phone, “Check everything-every possible mode of transport. If she booked anything in her name, if there’s even a trace of where she went or when-find it. I want it all!”

That night, Declan didn’t sleep a wink.

By morning, cigarette butts had piled up like ash-covered hills beside the bed. A rough layer of stubble shadowed his jaw. and he looked wrecked-utterly and completely drained.

Just after dawn, he heard the front door open downstairs.

He jolted upright and raced for the stairs. “Sloane? Sloane, is that you?”

But the answer came in the click of heels against hardwood-and Vivienne’s sweet, syrupy voice. “It’s me. Declan. I made you some warm oatmeal. I thought you’d like some.”

‘I don’t want it. Take it and go.” he said sharply, turning his back on her. “And take all of your things from the bedroom. Every last piece. I don’t want a single thing left behind. And Vivienne-don’t ever come here again.”

Chapter 12

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Her voice broke immediately. “Why? I heard… I heard she left you. I heard Sloane was the one who asked for the divorce.

She’s gone. Declan-vanished. So why are you still-*

Shut up!” he growled, gripping his temples. “Get out! Stop bugging me already!”

The next week passed in a haze of desperate searching. He pulled every string, burned every connection, and spent

countless hours chasing leads. But got nothing, not a single trace.

It was as if Sloane had vanished into thin air that night… or maybe-just maybe-she’d never even left the city.

Ten days after her disappearance, a record-breaking rainstorm hit Riverstone.

At 10:00 AM, a scheduled post appeared on an online forum. It tore through the internet like wildfire, far more vicious

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