My husband's ex, Sarah Miller, once ditched him to chase a rich guy.

When she came back, she was crippled, dragging along two scrawny kids.

The day I found out I was pregnant, Jake Carter demanded a divorce.

"Sarah is too weak to manage alone, and her kids need someone. I've got to step up," he said.

I nodded calmly and went straight to the hospital for an abortion.

In my past life, I fought to keep the baby and refused the divorce, even exposing Sarah's dirty secrets to the world.

Her reputation was ruined. She became a pariah, and eventually, she took her kids and ended it all.

In her blood-soaked suicide note, she blamed me for driving her to despair. Thus, Jake hated me to the core.

He hired thugs to assault me, posted the video online, and spread lies that I was a cheater. In the end, he threw me and our child into the sea.

As I died, he snarled, "This is what you get for killing Sarah!"

When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day he demanded a divorce.

This time, I agreed on the spot.

Jake was thrilled, dreaming of winning Sarah back.

What he didn't know was that, in my past life, I uncovered why Sarah was dumped.

Her private life was a mess, and she caught AIDS.

The nurse wheeled me back to my room, reminding me, "You're weak and need to rest properly."

I nodded. "Thanks."

Once the door clicked shut, I grabbed my phone from under the pillow and called my mom.

"I'm getting divorced. I'll be home in three days," I said.

"Did Jake hurt you?" she asked. "I'm coming for him."

Unwilling to upset her, I lied, "No. I just want a fresh start."

"Honey, I've got your back," she said. "No matter what happens, we will be there for you."

I hung up, and my tears poured out.

Five years ago, Jake Carter saved me from some creeps. I fell hard for him and insisted on being with him against my parents' wishes.

They didn't like him, but they treated him like family for my sake.

But after I died in my past life, he had my parents kidnapped. He whipped them, burned them with irons, and eventually set them on fire. He even stole their company.

If I hadn't fallen for him, they wouldn't have suffered such a brutal end.

This time, I wouldn't let the tragedy repeat.

...

Back at the villa, I headed to the bedroom and started packing.

The door slammed open, and Jake's mother stormed in.

Linda Carter snapped, "You filthy tramp! Pregnant with some bastard, and you dare show your face? You should be locked in a cage. Jake is cursed to have married you. Get out of my house!"

I gaped at her, unsure what was going on. "Mom, what are you talking about?"

"Don't call me that. You're a disgrace, and everyone knows it," she growled, throwing her phone at me.

On the screen was Jake's divorce announcement.

[Due to Johanna Burton's infidelity and pregnancy, I have ended our marriage.]

There was even a video of me with some random guy in bed. The comments were vicious, condemning me without a trial.

I couldn't believe he would fake a video to ruin me and clear the way for Sarah.

"It's fake. He's framing me," I shouted.

Linda sneered, "You shameless liar! Still denying it?"

Linda lunged at me, ready to hit.

Just then, Jake walked in.

Linda wailed, "Thank God you're back. Johanna won't admit what she did and claims you're framing her."

Jake glanced at me, annoyed. "Enough drama!"

I rushed up to him. "I signed the divorce papers. Why are you doing this to me?"

He snorted, "Compared to what Sarah's been through, you're lucky. Stop acting entitled."

My heart sank. I always knew that he only cared about Sarah and that my pain meant nothing to him. Still, my chest ached like it was stabbed.

Done with this mess, I grabbed my stuff and went to the study for my heirloom.

It was a bracelet, passed from my grandma to my mom, then to me. It was my most precious possession.

As I picked up the box to leave, Jake grabbed my arm.

"You don't get to take anything from this house," he scowled.

...

He thought for a moment and added, "Unless you help Sarah. She can't move easily."

I was stunned, but he kept going. "You love kids, right? You're all torn up about losing yours. Here's your chance. Sarah's kids are barely a year old. They need someone. Plus, you got all those baby clothes and toys ready, didn't you? Go to the nursery, pack them up, and send them to Sarah."

"No way. Those were for my baby," I protested.

He snatched the bracelet box. "Want this back? Do what I say, or I'll smash it."

I was furious but helpless. For the bracelet, I gave in.

The maids quickly packed up the nursing goods. Linda grabbed my arm, dragging me out.

"Quit stalling," she urged. "Go take care of Sarah and her kids. Mess up, and you're done."

Her grip hurt, and my belly throbbed from the surgery. I protested, "I just had an operation. I'm weak. Can I rest first?"

Unbothered, Jake yanked me outside. "Stop faking. You're not that fragile. Go now. They are waiting."

Then I ended up in Sarah's apartment.

She was propped up in bed, surrounded by expensive supplements. Her kids were in cribs nearby.

Seeing me, she tried to sit up. "I heard you just had surgery. Jake shouldn't have made you come."

He eased her back down. "She's fine. It's just a minor procedure."

He shot me a look and said, "Take good care of them. There are rewards."

"I don't want rewards," I said. "I just want my bracelet back."

Sarah tugged at his sleeve. "It's fine. If she doesn't want to help, don't force her."

Jake patted her hand, glaring at me. "Look at how considerate Sarah is. Then look at you, whining over a stupid bracelet like it's treasure."

"Get in the kitchen and cook. Don't be an eyesore here," Jake sulked.

To get my bracelet, I swallowed my pain and started cooking.

Dinner was barely done when a scream came from the living room. I rushed out and found Sarah sitting on the floor. Beside her was a shattered vase.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it," she whimpered.

Jake came out of the bathroom and scooped her up. Turning to me, he snapped, "What is wrong with you? Sarah is weak, and you let her place a vase?"

Before I could explain, Sarah sniffled, "It was my fault. Don't blame her."

Jake's face darkened. "She doesn't deserve your kindness. She's just a cheating nobody. Probably knocked up by some random guy. You're too nice, and she's taking advantage."

His words hit like a punch. I thought he'd loved me once. Turned out, he always saw me as trash.

Turning away, he carried Sarah to the bed and made me pick up the glass shards by hand. He even banned me from eating.

My hands trembled as I bandaged them.

Then the kids spiked their fever. Their faces were flushed, and they wailed nonstop. I grabbed medicine and wet towels to cool them down, barely able to get a breath.

Sarah watched me, crying fake tears. When Jake came to her, she threw herself into his arms.

"I failed the kids," she sobbed.

He slapped me. "You couldn't save your kid, so you hurt Sarah's? You're insane!"

My face stung, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. I bit my lip and said, "I lost my child because you insisted on divorcing me. You're the cruel one."

"Enough!" he snapped. "Divorce or not, you're hurting people now."

He was right about one thing. In my past life, even without a divorce, he killed our newborn. He threw us into the sea for sharks to tear apart.

The kids' cries grew louder, but Jake kept berating me.

To calm things, I focused on getting their fever down. After hours, their temperatures finally dropped.

But Jake wasn't done. "You're sleeping on the living room floor from now on. Screw up again, and you'll regret it."

He stormed off with Sarah, leaving me alone. I grabbed two old blankets from the storage room and collapsed on the floor.

Soon, their flirty giggles echoed from the bedroom, each sound like a knife in my chest.

Pain and hatred overwhelmed me. I passed out in tears.

...

The next morning, I woke up aching, weaker than ever.

Jake took Sarah out, laughing. Neither of them paid me any attention.

After breakfast, Jake left for work.

In the afternoon, I got the kids to nap and was about to rest when the doorbell rang.

I opened the door and saw a group of sketchy guys. Their expressions screamed trouble.