After My Betrayed Wife Found Love Again

On that ill-fated night when my husband’s childhood sweetheart, Maisie, was found intoxicated and nearly assaulted, our lives took a twisted turn. Soon after, we both carried the shared weight of pregnancy. On the day I went into labor, Rowen Harris handed me divorce papers.

"Maisie is getting ready for her big return to the film industry. I need to give her and the baby a legitimate place in my life, or the scandal could destroy her career," he said.

I dragged my weakened body forward and signed the papers, outwardly composed despite my turmoil. In a previous life, I refused to let go. I went public with my daughter’s story, exposing Maisie Baker, the actress who knowingly became the other woman.

She faced relentless online harassment, lost all her endorsements, and the crushing weight of compensation demands led her to a tragic demise. Rowen Harris managed her affairs coldly, even as he enabled Maisie’s fans to publicly vilify me, attempted arson, nearly killing me and my child. Only when I saw him bolt the door did I understand he wanted us gone.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the moment he handed me the divorce papers.

Due to a premature birth, my daughter, Thalia, was immediately placed in an incubator. Just then, Rowen presented me with divorce documents once more.

"You know, Camille, before everything happened, Maisie was a rising Hollywood star. Her star has dimmed over these past ten months," he explained. "If news breaks about a child born out of wedlock, the backlash could obliterate her."

Having just brushed against death, every movement tugged painfully at my wounds. Being reborn on this day must mean that fate was granting me a second chance.

"I will agree to the divorce, but I want our child’s birth certificate issued first, and I demand alimony," I stated firmly.

Rowen had rehearsed arguments for anticipated resistance, but my calm acceptance threw him off balance, and he visibly relaxed.

"Alright, a million dollars then. Is that satisfactory?" he offered.

Despite his billion-dollar empire, he was only willing to give a million. Clenching the sheet, I understood pushing for more would be fruitless, and reluctantly nodded. He left to finalize the birth certificate, and after confirming everything was in order, I signed the papers.

With the agreement in hand, Rowen dashed off to be with Maisie without sparing a glance for our child. The neighboring hospital room buzzed with the celebration of new life. Meanwhile, I had neither family nor a partner to lean on.

Two days later, when Thalia was released from the incubator, I wrapped her carefully and prepared to go home. En route, my secretary called:

"Ms. Rice, don’t forget to share the company’s press release."

I hadn’t even collected the divorce certificate yet and was unworthy of the "Mrs. Harris" title. To preserve Maisie’s dignity, Rowen insisted that I announce the divorce was due to irreconcilable differences.

I agreed without a second thought, but with my phone’s battery nearly dead, I decided to post the statement once I was home. Arriving at the villa, I called for the staff to close all windows, yet no one responded. As I carried Thalia to her nursery, I overheard whispered conversations from the kitchen.

"How shameless, bringing home a child born from an affair."

"Mr. Harris is merciful for not pressing charges, and yet she brings the child here expecting a share of his wealth!"

I hesitated, a cold sweat forming under my thick coat. Had irreconcilable differences mutated into rumors of infidelity?

"What nonsense are you spewing?" I demanded, flinging open the kitchen door.

The staff, who once addressed me respectfully as "Ma'am," stared back with contempt-filled eyes. Itzel, their leader, had the audacity to spit at me.

"Who’s lying? The company’s already put out a public statement, and you think we can’t call you out for cheating on Mr. Harris?"

Rushing back to my room, I plugged in my phone to charge and opened social media. The headline was "Rowen Harris Announces Divorce."

"Due to Camille Rice’s infidelity during the marriage, Rowen Harris has officially ended their marriage. Official statement follows."

My head spun, a sharp pain lancing through my skull. Rowen was willing to tarnish my name for Maisie's sake! As I tried to explain the truth online, my phone buzzed, nearly waking Thalia.

It was a police officer on the other end, his voice filled with urgency: "Ms. Rice, the human traffickers have confessed! You were taken from Asheville!"

"We’re collaborating with the Asheville police to screen families who lost children. You need to go there within three days for a DNA test!"

My heart, shattered by Rowen’s betrayal, soared with hope; tears flowed freely down my cheeks. Since being taken at five years old to this city, my life had known no peace. I once believed marrying Rowen would offer me a new start, only to find another nightmare.

But now, there was a chance to find my birth family. My daughter would have relatives who loved her!

Hanging up, I quickly packed a few clothes and turned toward the nursery to gather Thalia’s things. Just as I grasped the doorknob, the main entrance of the villa swung open.

"Camille, who gave you permission to come in here?"