Reborn I Divorced the Man Who Sold Our Daughter

My husband always lamented that he and his first love obsession were never meant to be. His solution? Arrange a childhood betrothal between their children to fulfill the dream.

In my previous life, the idea had left a sour taste in my mouth, but I'd brushed it off as a joke. Nothing to worry about.

It wasn't until the marriage was brought up again that I learned the truth: his first love's son had severe autism. And Lambert still insisted our daughter marry him.

"What do you know? The Weiss family is the richest in Pinecrest! If her son weren't sick, you think your daughter would even get a shot at this? Count your blessings."

"Kids with that condition are docile. He won't run around cheating. I'm perfectly happy with this match."

I was so furious I coughed up blood. I made up my mind to take my daughter and run, but my heartless husband broke both my legs and locked me away.

To stop the wedding, I set a fire.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the dinner where my husband and his first love were arranging the childhood betrothal.

...

"No! I don't agree!"

My voice ripped out of me, raw and fierce, cutting through the laughter at the table like a blade.

Lambert Perry's brow furrowed as he turned to glare at me, his good mood ruined.

"What the hell is wrong with you? I must've lost my damn mind bringing you out tonight. You're nothing but bad luck!"

"Shut your mouth. Since when do you get a say in Perry family business?"

Grace Cobb, ever perceptive about what went on inside my head, spoke up with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

"Lambert, don't be upset. Minnie's just taking it out on me. You know how women are, petty and jealous."

"You can't force a deal on someone who doesn't want it. The betrothal was supposed to be a happy occasion, but if someone objects, then forget it. It's not like the Weiss family's firstborn grandson can't find a wife."

The others at the table looked at me with undisguised contempt.

"Grace is Lambert's first love. If she had any ulterior motives, you think you'd even be sitting here running your mouth?"

"I've never seen a mother stand in the way of her own daughter's good fortune. We're talking about the Weiss family, the wealthiest family in Pinecrest! Grace was kind enough to think of an old friend when something good came along. Without her, Minnie Fox could crack her skull open kowtowing and still never land an opportunity like this."

"What a shame. If Grace hadn't gotten married first, Lambert would never have given up hope and settled for whoever was available. That's the only reason a certain someone got her chance."

"Besides, it's just a verbal agreement for a childhood betrothal. Is all this drama really necessary?"

They made it sound so simple, as if I were the unreasonable one.

If I hadn't lived through it all before, I would have treated the whole thing as a joke too. Would have let it go without a second thought.

But the memory of my daughter being forced to marry a man who couldn't care for himself, and my own helpless breakdown when I couldn't stop it, was seared into my mind.

My voice dropped to a glacial calm.

"The Weiss family is far above our station. My daughter Mia isn't worthy of such an honor, so we'll bow out."

"We can talk about engagements another time. Go pay the bill and wait for us outside."

Lambert's face went ashen. He shoved me out of the private dining room without a shred of gentleness.

The door slammed shut behind me. Laughter erupted on the other side.

No one ever cares when the weak fight back.

I drew a long breath and walked away.

By the time I returned from settling the check, the private room was empty.

I spent the entire night awake, turning over every possible plan.

The next day, Lambert came home with a signed and stamped betrothal agreement in his hand, grinning from ear to ear.

That document hadn't existed in my previous life. My outburst must have put them on alert.

White-hot fury surged through me. I lunged and tore the paper to shreds, the paper that held my daughter's fate in its ink.

"Mia is your daughter, not a pawn you can move around a board! What gives you the right to decide her future on a whim?"

"I want a divorce. I'm taking my daughter and leaving you!"

Lambert watched my meltdown with perfect composure, a smirk curling his lip.

"That was a copy. Tear away. I've got plenty more."

"You've been a housewife so long, Minnie, your brain's gone to rust."