Love Gives Life Anew

My husband's first love ran off to a nightclub. She was drugged and assaulted there, and a year later returned with a child.

Without a word, Bryson Tanner dragged me to the courthouse to file for divorce.

"In this world, widows and orphans are easy prey. I can't just watch Christina get hurt. I'll acknowledge her child as mine."

I held my own child in my arms and calmly filled out the paperwork.

In my previous life, I had refused to divorce at all costs. I'd also publicly exposed Christina Floyd's tangled affairs with men.

She endured scorn and humiliation, and in a fit of anger, left her son behind to escape… only to die on that train.

When Bryson heard of it, he showed no expression. Yet a month later, he watched coldly as I was drugged and assaulted, and accused me of cheating and giving birth to another man's child.

It wasn't until my child and I were driven to death that I realized the depth of his hatred.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Bryson asked for a divorce.

"Christina isn't like you. She's been pampered since childhood. She can't manage without a man taking care of her."

I had barely come to my senses when Bryson Tanner's deep voice rang in my ears.

On the table in front of me lay the divorce papers and a pen. My son, Logan Tanner, slept peacefully in my arms.

It didn't take long for me to realize that I had been reborn… back to the day Bryson was going to divorce me.

Logan's body was warm, not the icy cold of the last life, when he had died in my arms from a congenital heart defect.

A lump rose in my throat. Without hesitation, I signed the divorce papers.

"Don't forget to wire me Logan's monthly child support."

"You…"

Perhaps he hadn't expected my decisiveness. His expression flickered in surprise, then softened into a rare, light-hearted smile. In seven years of marriage, I had never seen him like this.

He carefully folded the divorce agreement. "Selene, I'd like to thank you on Christina's behalf. Once she and her son are settled, we'll remarry. Remember, don't let anyone know the real reason we divorced."

The monthly child support was half of Bryson's salary. His only condition was that I admit to having a hereditary illness. He had invented such a ridiculous reason for divorce, only to avoid dragging Christina Floyd into it in any way.

I forced a self-deprecating smile. "Fine."

The sky was heavy and dark, and hailstones pelted the ground.

We walked out together. He reached the car first.

I shivered in the cold, about to pull the door open, when I heard him say, "Allen heard I divorced and insisted on going to the zoo to see the big tiger to celebrate. You're a mother too, so I'm sure you understand."

Before I could reply, the jeep sped off, leaving a trail of dust, as if afraid I might catch up.

Hail pounded against me painfully, the cold making it hard to breathe. I had no choice but to wrap Logan tightly in my coat and cautiously head back.

As I stepped into the courtyard, I saw the neighbors who usually loved spreading gossip gathered together. Their eyes turned disdainful as soon as they saw me.

I held my breath, preparing to rush inside with Logan, when suddenly, a rotten egg smashed against my head.

"You shameless woman! You cheated on your husband!"

"No wonder your child's heart developed crookedly. What a sin! Poor Bryson."

I froze.

The reason for divorcing Bryson wasn't a hereditary illness? How had it turned into me "cheating"?

Rage surged through me. I opened my mouth to defend myself, but then trash flew through the air. Logan, terrified, cried until his little face turned blue.

I had no choice but to swallow my anger and carry him inside first.

As soon as we entered, the landline rang. I held Logan in one arm and answered with the other.

On the other end, Dr. Ray Wade from the city hospital sounded ecstatic.

"Selene, an expert who can perform infant heart surgery has arrived at the General Hospital. I've explained your situation and managed to get you an appointment!"