Five years ago, Samantha Grayson walked away from her marriage to ruthless billionaire Nathaniel Steele, heartbroken and pregnant, vowing never to look back. Betrayed by his cold neglect and devastated by a web of lies spun by his family, Samantha disappeared, leaving Nathaniel with nothing but regret and the ghost of a love he never deserved. Now, Samantha has returned as Scarlett Knight-a powerful lawyer with wealth, influence, and a single goal: destroy Nathaniel and the empire he sacrificed her to build. With secrets that could ruin him and an ally in his fiercest rival, she begins dismantling his life piece by piece. But Nathaniel is no longer the man she left behind. Haunted by his mistakes and desperate for redemption, he refuses to lose her again, even if it means unearthing the truth about her mysterious transformation. As Samantha's carefully orchestrated revenge takes shape, long-buried secrets unravel, and dangerous enemies emerge, threatening both their futures. When Nathaniel discovers Samantha's ultimate secret-their four-year-old daughter, Emily-he must fight not only for his company but for the family he never knew he had. Caught between love and vengeance, Samantha and Nathaniel are drawn into a high-stakes battle of wills. Will Samantha achieve her revenge, or will Nathaniel's regret and newfound love be enough to heal their fractured hearts? In this gripping tale of betrayal, passion, and redemption, revenge is just the beginning. ---
Chapter 1 Scarlett
The ballroom radiated wealth and ambition, the glittering chandeliers casting a soft glow over silk gowns and perfectly tailored suits. This was Nathaniel Steele's domain-a realm of power where every glance, handshake, and whispered word carried significance.
Nathaniel stood near the bar, his broad shoulders relaxed but his sharp eyes constantly scanning the room. He hated these galas. They were necessary for maintaining his image and Steele Enterprises' dominance, but the forced conversations and hollow smiles drained him.
For five years, he'd buried himself in work, trying to forget what he'd lost. Samantha. Her name was a scar he didn't dare touch. The memory of her walking out still lingered, and with it, the weight of his own failures.
He lifted his glass of scotch to his lips, the burn barely registering as a flicker of movement caught his eye.
She was there.
A crimson dress clung to her like liquid fire, her dark hair swept back to reveal the curve of her neck. Diamonds glinted at her throat, but it was her presence that turned heads. Samantha-no, Scarlett, he reminded himself-moved with a grace that seemed almost regal.
Nathaniel froze. His heart thudded in his chest, disbelief warring with recognition. She wasn't the same woman who had loved him, who had laughed in his arms. This woman was sharp-edged, untouchable, her eyes scanning the room like a predator assessing her territory.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, the world shrank, the noise of the gala fading into nothing. Her gaze didn't soften, didn't falter. There was no trace of the warmth he had once known.
And then, she looked away.
Beside her stood Julian Blackwood, Nathaniel's rival in every sense. Blackwood's smug expression sent a ripple of anger through him. The sight of Samantha-Scarlett-at Julian's side was a puzzle Nathaniel didn't yet understand, but his instincts screamed it wasn't coincidence.
---
Samantha felt Nathaniel's gaze the moment she entered. It was a weight, a heat she had anticipated but wasn't entirely prepared for. She didn't look at him right away. Control was everything.
Julian handed her a flute of champagne, his tone light. "You've made quite the entrance. Steele hasn't taken his eyes off you."
"Good," she said, her voice measured. "He needs to know I'm here."
Julian chuckled. "You've thought this through, haven't you?"
"I don't do anything halfway," she replied, her tone cool.
But as she sipped her champagne, the intensity of Nathaniel's stare tugged at her. Five years had changed him. His dark hair was still perfectly styled, his suit tailored to perfection, but there was something harder about him now. His commanding presence filled the room, a reminder of the man she had once loved-and the one she had vowed to destroy.
When he began crossing the room toward her, Samantha braced herself.
---
Nathaniel stopped in front of her, his voice low but unmistakably firm. "Samantha."
Her lips curved into a faint smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. "It's Scarlett now."
"Since when?"
"Since I decided to leave the past behind."
The air between them was thick, charged with unspoken words. Nathaniel's jaw tightened. He ignored Julian entirely, his focus locked on her.
"Why are you here?" he asked, his tone sharper than he intended.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Scarlett replied, lifting her glass in mock toast. "It's a public event, after all."
Nathaniel's patience frayed. "Don't deflect. You vanished without a trace. Now, you're suddenly back, standing next to him." He glanced at Julian, his contempt barely hidden.
Julian smirked. "Scarlett's been busy. New city, new beginnings. It's admirable, really."
Samantha cut in smoothly. "I don't owe you an explanation, Nathaniel."
His voice softened, though the tension in his frame didn't ease. "Maybe not. But I need one."
She studied him for a moment before nodding. "Five minutes. That's all you get."
---
They stepped into a quieter corner of the room. Nathaniel waited for her to speak, but Scarlett remained silent, her gaze steady and unyielding.
"Why now?" he asked, breaking the silence.
"I've been here for months," she replied. "You didn't notice. That's not surprising."
"That's not an answer."
"It's all you'll get."
The coldness in her voice stung, but Nathaniel pressed on. "Samantha-"
"Scarlett," she corrected.
His frustration mounted. "Fine. Scarlett. Why did you leave? You didn't even give me a chance to make things right."
Her expression didn't change, but her voice carried a sharp edge. "You think there was anything left to fix? After what your family did? After you stood by and let it happen?"
"I made mistakes. I know that. But I never stopped loving you."
Her laughter was quiet but bitter. "Love? Is that what you call it? Letting your mother humiliate me, ignoring me when I needed you most? That wasn't love, Nathaniel. It was convenience."
The words landed like blows, but Nathaniel refused to back down. "I've spent five years trying to fix what I broke. I've changed."
"So have I," she said simply. "But unlike you, I didn't have the luxury of a billion-dollar empire to shield me."
She turned to leave, but he caught her wrist. "Samantha-"
"Scarlett," she said again, her voice colder. "Samantha is gone. You made sure of that."
She pulled free and walked away, leaving Nathaniel standing in the shadows, her words cutting deeper than he cared to admit.
---
Back at Julian's side, Samantha allowed herself a small smile. The first move had been made. Yet beneath her satisfaction, something twisted-a feeling she couldn't quite name.
It was only the beginning. And the game was far from over.
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