Ethan Stone is the billionaire heir to a business empire built on power, deception, and ruthless ambition. Determined to step out of his father's shadow, he takes the reins of the Stone legacy, only to discover betrayal lurking in the faces of those he trusts most. When his closest friend turns enemy and his father becomes his fiercest rival, Ethan's world begins to crumble. But amidst the chaos, he finds an unexpected ally in Lily-a bold, enigmatic woman with secrets of her own. As sparks fly between them, Lily becomes more than just his confidante; she becomes his reason to fight. With enemies closing in and dark secrets threatening to destroy everything, Ethan must confront the painful truth: to survive in a world of lies, he'll need more than wealth and power. He'll need courage, trust, and a love strong enough to weather the storm. Will Ethan rise above the betrayal and reclaim his legacy, or will the sins of the past drag him into the shadows forever? In a world where love is a risk and trust is a gamble, can one man find redemption and happiness-or will the price of victory cost him everything?
Lily Bennett was used to being in control, always the center of attention when she walked into a room. Her tall frame, dark hair cascading in waves over her shoulders, and the sharpness in her eyes made sure of it. She wasn't just another pretty face in the crowd-she was a force to be reckoned with.
Tonight, at the Stone family gala, it was no different. The glimmering chandeliers above her cast a soft glow on the gold-embellished walls, and the scent of expensive perfume mixed with the crisp chill of freshly poured champagne. Lily smiled, accepting a glass from a passing waiter. This was her scene-elite, powerful, and utterly predictable.
Then, she saw him.
Ethan Stone stood at the far end of the grand hall, a glass of scotch in his hand, his back turned toward her. He was different from the other men in the room. Where they were brimming with confidence, his shoulders were slightly hunched, as though carrying a burden invisible to the world.
She couldn't help but watch him.
Something about his presence piqued her curiosity. He didn't look like the usual billionaire heir. His tousled hair gave him a disheveled charm, and the sharpness in his eyes spoke of a man who had lived through more than his fair share of pain.
Lily moved towards him, almost as if pulled by some magnetic force. As she approached, Ethan turned around, his gaze locking with hers. There was a flicker of recognition, but neither of them spoke for a moment.
"Lily Bennett," she said, her voice smooth and confident as she offered him a smile. "I don't think we've met."
Ethan's lips twitched into a half-smile. "Ethan Stone," he replied, his voice low, almost guarded. "I've heard a lot about you."
Lily raised an eyebrow. "I hope it's all good."
He chuckled softly. "Not sure about that."
A playful spark ignited in her eyes. She took a step closer, her heels clicking against the marble floor. "Well, I can assure you, I'm more than just what they say."
Ethan's gaze softened for a fraction of a second before he regained his composure. "I don't doubt that."
They stood in silence for a while, a strange tension hanging between them. Ethan's discomfort was palpable, yet there was something magnetic about his energy that pulled Lily in. She studied him, noticing the faint lines of stress on his face, the way his hand gripped his glass a little too tightly.
"You don't seem like you belong here," Lily remarked, taking a casual sip of her champagne.
He glanced at her, then back to the crowd. "I guess you could say I'm here because I have to be, not because I want to."
Lily tilted her head. "Sounds like you're not a fan of these kinds of events."
"You could say that," he said, his voice tinged with amusement. "But I've learned to tolerate them."
There was something in his tone that made Lily pause, a flicker of something deeper hiding beneath the surface. She didn't want to press him further-yet something about him drew her in, something that begged to be understood.
Before she could speak again, a voice interrupted their conversation.
"Ethan!" a woman's voice purred. Ava Carter, the woman who had been circling Ethan all evening, appeared at his side. She was dressed in a sleek black dress that hugged her curves, her smile dazzling and predatory.
Lily felt an odd twist of something in her stomach as she watched Ava slide her arm around Ethan's, her fingers lingering just a bit too long.
Ethan seemed to tense, his posture stiffening, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he looked at Lily with an apologetic glance.
"I'm sorry," he said, his voice laced with regret. "I... didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."
Lily blinked, taken aback by his sudden shift in demeanor. She forced a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "It's fine," she said, though there was a faint bitterness in her tone. "I'll leave you two to it."
As she turned to walk away, she couldn't help but glance back over her shoulder. Ethan was already lost in conversation with Ava, the chemistry between them almost palpable. But something didn't sit right with Lily.
She had a feeling that this wasn't the last time she'd cross paths with Ethan Stone.
---
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"
In the previous life, Maggie Johnson was so cowardly, gullible and stupid that she was coaxed by her fiance and stepsister and then broke her legs and lost everything including her fortune, love and even life. However, she was so lucky that she was reborn in the year before everything happened. Since her life restarted, how could she repeat a previous tragedy? Therefore, in this life, she took the opportunity to improve herself and take revenge on the ones who had ever insulted her. Facing the people who had humiliated her previously, she became smart and experienced to break their frames and tricks that had caused her to hurt in the previous life. Finally, no one could stop her pace to amaze the world any more.
Five years ago, he upped and left his wife without informing her. He had always felt unworthy. As a result, he decided to go and become a better man. It took him five whole years of daily hard work. When he was satisfied, he returned as a powerful and honorable man. He intended to start a family with his wife. But he got back to meet the greatest shocker of his life. He actually had a daughter!
Linsey was stood up by her groom to run off with another woman. Furious, she grabbed a random stranger and declared, "Let's get married!" She had acted on impulse, realizing too late that her new husband was the notorious rascal, Collin. The public laughed at her, and even her runaway ex offered to reconcile. But Linsey scoffed at him. "My husband and I are very much in love!" Everyone thought she was delusional. Then Collin was revealed to be the richest man in the world. In front of everyone, he got down on one knee and held up a stunning diamond ring. "I look forward to our forever, honey."
Kaelyn devoted three years tending to her husband after a terrible accident. But once he was fully recovered, he cast her aside and brought his first love back from abroad. Devastated, Kaelyn decided on a divorce as people mocked her for being discarded. She went on to reinvent herself, becoming a highly sought-after doctor, a champion racer, and an internationally renowned architectural designer. Even then, the traitors sneered in disdain, believing Kaelyn would never find someone. But then the ex-husband’s uncle, a powerful warlord, returned with his army to ask for Kaelyn’s hand in marriage.
Amy didn't expect that her husband whom she had loved and trusted earnestly for many years would be cheating on her by having sex with his secretary. When she confronted him, he and his secretary mocked and ridiculed her, they called her barren to her face, afterall, she had not conceived for the past three years that she had been married to her husband, Callan. Terribly Heartbroken, she filed for divorce and left to the club, she picked a random gigolo, had a hot one night stand with him, paid him and dissapeared to a small city. She came back to the country six years later with three identical cute boys and three identical cute girls of the same age. She settled and got a job but soon find out that her CEO was the gigolo she had sex with six years back at the club. Will she be able to hide her six little cuties from her CEO, who happens to be the most powerful man in NorthHill and beleived to be infertile? Can Amy and the most powerful man in NorthHill get along considering the social gap between them.