He Chose Her. I Chose to Start Over.

My daughter Amy was born prematurely, so she was placed in an incubator the moment she came into the world.

Right then, Harold Soulman handed me divorce papers.

I had just made it back from the brink of death, and even the slightest movement tugged at the wound on my body.

Now that I had been reborn on this very day, it was clear that fate was giving me a second chance to choose differently.

"Fine, I'll sign the divorce—but only after the birth certificate is issued. And I want compensation."

Harold had actually prepared a whole speech to deal with my expected tears and drama. The moment he saw how calmly I accepted everything, he looked visibly relieved.

"Sure. A million. That should be enough, right?"

He was a man worth billions, yet that was all he was willing to give—one million.

I clenched the bedsheet tightly. I knew it would be pointless even if I asked for more, so I nodded.

He went off to get the paperwork done. Once I confirmed everything was in order, I signed my name.

With the agreement in hand, Harold could not wait to rush off to Rachel Underwood. He did not even spare a glance at our child.

Next door, the hospital room was bustling with celebration over a newborn. But in my room, there was no family—no parents, no husband. I had nothing.

Two days later, Amy was finally discharged from the incubator. I wrapped her up tightly, bundled myself as well, and prepared to go home.

On the way, I got a call from a secretary.

"Ms. Qoss, please remember to repost the group's press release."

We hadn't filed the divorce at the courthouse yet, and already I was not worthy of the title 'Mrs. Soulman'.

To preserve Rachel's dignity, Harold had asked me to say the divorce was due to irreconcilable differences.

I agreed without hesitation. Of course, since my phone was nearly dead, I planned to post it once I got home.

As soon as I returned to the villa, I told the maids to shut all the windows—but no one answered me.

Holding Amy, I walked to the nursery. That was when I overheard them whispering in the kitchen.

"Shameless, bringing back the kid she had with another man."

"Mr. Soulman was kind enough not to press charges, and she still has the nerve to come back and try to take a share of his fortune with her illegitimate child!"

I froze. Cold sweat seeped down my back beneath my thick coat.

I was supposed to be the victim of a broken relationship. When did that turn into me having an affair?

"What nonsense are you spouting?!" I pushed open the kitchen door.

The maids who used to respectfully call me 'Mrs. Soulman' lifted their heads, their eyes filled with contempt.

Mrs. Wagner, the boldest one, even spat at my feet.

"Who's spouting nonsense? The company already put out an official statement. You cheated during the marriage. What, we're not even allowed to talk about it now?"

I ran back to my room. As soon as I plugged in my phone and turned it on, I saw the trending headline on social media, [Mr. Soulman Officially Announces Divorce.]

It read, [Due to infidelity on the part of Ms. Lilly Qoss during the marriage, Mr. Harold Soulman has filed for divorce. This serves as official notice.]

My mind went blank. A sharp pain split through my head.

All to make Rachel's rise seem legitimate, Harold willingly destroyed my reputation.

Just as I was about to post a clarification, my phone buzzed, nearly waking the sleeping Amy in my arms.

I answered quickly. On the other end, a police officer sounded excited.

"Ms. Qoss! We got a lead from a trafficker—you were abducted from Khurtland!

"We've already contacted the Khurtland police and are cross-checking families who lost their children. You need to get there within three days for a DNA test!"

The heart that had been broken by Harold swelled with hope. Tears streamed down my face.

Ever since I was kidnapped at the age of five and brought to this city, I had not known a single day of peace.

I thought marrying Harold was the start of a new life. Little did I know, I had only stepped into another kind of hell.