Chapter 1

"If you don't sign the divorce papers, you won't be allowed to step out of this room with your life still intact!" Jamie exclaimed. I turned toward the direction of the voice. Ignoring the doctors trying to stop him, Jamie ripped off my ventilator and screamed at me. His bloodshot eyes were identical to the ones that had stared at me as he drove off the cliff, sending me to my death. It was a familiar scene that I would never forget even if my body turned to dust. In my past life, I had stayed stubborn until the very end. I had mustered every last bit of strength in me to tear the divorce agreement to shreds. I powered through the pain, and after I left the delivery room, I submitted my report to the school. I ended up regretting this decision for the rest of my life. "I'll sign it." I forced myself up into a sitting position and accepted the document from Jamie. Under his wary gaze, I penned my wobbly signature on the paper. He grabbed the document after I was done and scanned through it multiple times. His voice had a threatening edge to it when he declared, "Olivia Peterson, you'd better not have any schemes up your sleeves. Since we were husband and wife once, I'll have someone take care of you during your postpartum recovery period. I'll also cover all the expenses. Other than that—" He flung the ventilator onto my body. "You won't get even a single cent from me!" He grabbed the document and took his leave after saying his piece, not even sparing a single glance at me. When I was 25 years old, I had ignored my teacher's protests and pulled out from the academic forum to marry Jamie, who was as poor as a beggar at the time. After we got married, I used my excellent resume and easily secured a job at the university. I would then publish countless research papers under Jamie's name during my spare time. We were married for five years. Through my recommendation, he landed a job as a contracted associate professor at the university. I helped Jamie turn his life around. He went from having nothing to having everything. We were in love for ten years and married for five. In the end, all my efforts were only worth a postpartum recovery treatment bill. I couldn't help but laugh to myself. After Jamie's departure, I was transferred from the ICU into a regular ward. The nurse brought my daughter, Saoirse Peterson, to me. Watching Saoirse grip my index finger tightly, I made up my mind as I cradled her in my arms. I was going to change my and Saoirse's fate with my own two hands. It was late at night, but the howling winds outside kept me tossing and turning on the bed. I remembered that I had locked the doors and windows, but I was suddenly gripped by fear that made my eyes widen to the size of saucers. I dragged my aching body out of bed, only to realize that the cot next to me was empty. Saoirse had been deep asleep in the cot before I succumbed to sleep earlier. "Mrs. Frestin, what are you looking for?" I whipped my head in the direction of the window. A woman dressed in a hospital gown with a slightly swollen belly stood next to the window. She was holding something as if wanting to drop it out of the window. When my eyes focused, I realized she was holding Saoirse.