I died five years ago.

Not literally, of course. My heart never stopped beating, my lungs never ceased drawing breath. But the naive, trusting Olivia Morgan—heiress to the Morgan empire, beloved daughter, rising star in the business world—she died on a cold October night in a luxury hotel room, betrayed by the one person I should have been able to trust.


My stepsister.

Today, I stand before the mirror in my penthouse suite, barely recognizing the woman staring back at me. Gone is the soft, round face with eager eyes. In its place is a sculpted visage with high cheekbones, calculating green eyes, and lips that rarely curve upward except for one person.

"Mommy! Are you ready yet?" Leo's voice carries through the door, impatient and full of life. My five-year-old son, the only blessing to emerge from that night of betrayal.


"Almost, sweetheart," I call back, applying a final coat of blood-red lipstick. The color of revenge.

I smooth down my tailored black dress, a designer piece that costs more than most people's monthly salary. The woman in the mirror is powerful, untouchable. Perfect armor for the battle ahead.


Five years of meticulous planning. Five years of building my empire from ashes. Five years of raising my son alone while plotting the downfall of those who destroyed me.

And today, I return to Manhattan.

"Mommy!" Leo pounds on the door, his little fists insistent. I can't help but smile—the only genuine expression I permit myself these days.

I open the door to find my son dressed in his miniature suit, dark hair neatly combed, blue eyes—his father's eyes—sparkling with excitement. The sight of him still takes my breath away. How something so pure could emerge from such darkness.

"Wow, Mommy, you look pretty!" he exclaims, his eyes widening with childish awe.

I kneel down, careful not to wrinkle my dress. "And you look very handsome, Mr. Morgan."

He giggles, the sound like crystal bells cutting through the sterile luxury of our hotel suite. "Are we going to see the tall buildings today?"

"Yes, and much more." I straighten his little tie. "Remember what I told you about why we're here?"

Leo nods, suddenly serious. "You have important business, and I need to be a good boy."

"The best boy," I correct, tapping his nose gently. "And if anyone asks about your daddy?"

"I say he's away on business," Leo recites perfectly. "And that it's not polite to ask personal questions."

I kiss his forehead, leaving a faint red mark that I quickly wipe away. "Perfect."

The truth is far more complicated. His father doesn't even know he exists. And by the time Ethan Knight discovers he has a son, he'll be trapped in my web of revenge just like everyone else who wronged me.

My phone buzzes with a message from Marcus: "Car waiting downstairs. Everything in place."

I take Leo's hand and lead him to the window. From the sixty-fifth floor, Manhattan spreads before us like a glittering chessboard. I point to a sleek glass tower piercing the skyline.

"See that building with the big 'M' on top? That used to belong to Mommy's family."

"Will it be yours again?" Leo asks, his voice laced with innocent curiosity.

"Yes," I say, my voice hardening. "Everything that was taken from me will be mine again. And those who took it will lose everything."

I feel a momentary pang of guilt for involving my innocent child in my revenge plot. But I push it aside. This is for him too—for his birthright, for justice.

The elevator ride down is silent except for Leo's excited chatter about the buttons. In the lobby, heads turn as we walk past—a striking woman in Louboutins and a designer dress, holding the hand of a beautiful little boy. The perfect picture of wealth and privilege.

If only they knew.

Outside, Marcus waits beside the black Bentley, his face professionally blank as he opens the door. "Ms. Morgan. Young sir."

"Marcus," I acknowledge with a slight nod. Leo gives him a high-five—their special greeting.

As we slide into the leather interior, I catch sight of a magazine on the seat. Ethan Knight's face stares up at me from the cover of Forbes, those piercing blue eyes—so like my son's—seeming to penetrate my very soul. "KNIGHT RISES: How Ethan Knight Built a $10 Billion Empire Before 35."

My stomach clenches. The last time I saw that face in person, it was unconscious on a hotel bed beside me, both of us victims of a scheme we didn't understand. But he walked away unscathed while I lost everything.

I flip the magazine over, but not before Leo notices.

"Mommy, that man looks like me!"

I freeze, my heart pounding. I've been careful never to have pictures of Ethan around, never to let Leo see his father's face. But of course, the resemblance is unmistakable—the same blue eyes, the same strong jawline already hinted at in my son's childish features.

"Many people look similar, sweetheart," I say smoothly, tucking the magazine into my bag. "It's just a coincidence."

Leo seems satisfied with this explanation, turning his attention to the passing skyscrapers as we drive through the city.

Marcus catches my eye in the rearview mirror. "The meeting is confirmed for 2 PM. Ascendant Group's offer was received this morning."

"And?" I ask, keeping my voice neutral for Leo's benefit.

"They're desperate. The Morgan Group is hemorrhaging money since the failed Asian expansion. Charles Morgan will be there personally."

My father. The man who chose my stepsister over me, who believed her lies without question, who stood by while I was destroyed without lifting a finger to help.

"Perfect," I say, the word like ice on my tongue.

As we approach the gleaming skyscraper that houses Knight Industries, I feel a flutter of anxiety. Five years of planning, and today I'll come face to face with the first piece of my revenge puzzle: Ethan Knight, billionaire CEO, father of my child, and unwitting pawn in my game.

"Are we going to meet important people?" Leo asks, pressing his nose against the window as we pull up to the curb.

I smooth his hair back and give him a rare, genuine smile. "Yes, baby. Very important people who have no idea what's about to hit them."

The doorman opens our car door, and I step out into the bright Manhattan sunshine, holding Leo's hand tightly in mine. I lift my chin, straighten my shoulders, and walk toward the building as if I already own it.

Soon enough, I will.