Whitney had spent the last three years in seclusion, tending to the wounds—both physical and emotional—that had left deep scars on her life. The woman who had once been so full of love for Ludwik, determined to build a future together, had been broken by betrayal, loss, and a series of tragic events. Her body, scarred from the near-fatal incident after her desperate leap into the sea, was a constant reminder of her pain. But more than the physical injuries, it was the emotional scars—the deep sense of betrayal and the love lost—that had shaped her.
Yet, beneath the surface of the woman who now walked with a quiet grace, a fire burned. Every needle she placed as a renowned acupuncturist, every patient she helped, was another step toward rebuilding the life that had been stolen from her. She had done the impossible. She had survived. But there was more to it than survival. There was vengeance—vengeance that had been simmering within her for years, feeding her every action, every decision.
Whitney had learned to live in the shadows, with the memories of what once was haunting her. But now, three years later, she was no longer the woman who had fled, broken and beaten. She had forged herself into something sharper, stronger, more determined. The pain that had nearly destroyed her now fueled her pursuit of justice. She wasn’t just seeking revenge for herself, but for everything and everyone that had been hurt by Elaine’s malicious designs. And, of course, there was Ludwik. The man who had once pledged his heart to her, only to betray her in the cruelest way possible. His guilt would be his undoing.
Everything had changed in these three years. And everything had stayed the same.
Elaine’s manipulations had left her mark on the world, but Ludwik’s life was built on lies. He had settled into his new existence, thinking the worst was behind him, unaware that the storm he had caused was about to rage again. But Whitney was not the same woman who had once been deceived by his promises. She had spent every day since her escape building the strength to face him, to confront the choices he had made, and to make him pay for them.
At the heart of her plan was one key factor—the child. Sammy. Her son. Though young, he was the one thing that bound her to the past, to the betrayal, and to everything that had been lost. She had kept him close, hidden from the world, shielded from the consequences of the life she had fled. But he would also be her instrument of justice. Elaine might have thought she could manipulate the child, but Whitney knew better. Sammy was hers, and he was the key to everything.
It wasn’t just Ludwik and Elaine who had to face their actions. There was so much more at stake. Her uncle Keegan, wrongfully accused and sentenced to death. The fall of Skye Gem Ltd., once a company of immense power, now on the verge of collapse. And Tiana—humiliated, betrayed, and driven to the edge by Elaine’s ruthless ambition. All of them were victims of the same cruelty that had torn Whitney’s life apart. All of them would be part of her plan to expose the truth and make sure everyone paid for what they had done.
There was a time when revenge had felt like a distant dream—too far, too impossible. But now, it was within her grasp. The time had come. It was time to return home.
The trip wasn’t just for her. It was for her family, her friends, and everyone who had been hurt. But more than anything, it was for Whitney herself. She had spent too long in the shadows. It was time to step back into the light and reclaim everything that had been stolen from her.
Whitney’s return would not be a quiet one. The world had no idea what was about to come for them. She had trained for this, prepared for this moment. She had worked tirelessly to rebuild her life, and now, she was ready to tear down the walls that had been built around her. Elaine and Ludwik would face the consequences of their actions, and there was no turning back.
But even as she prepared to confront her enemies, there was something more personal driving her forward: the need to expose the lies. She would unearth the secrets that had been buried for too long and force those responsible to confront the havoc they had caused. She had been patient, waiting for the right time. But that time had come.
As Whitney sat in her villa, watching Sammy sleep peacefully, a flicker of coldness passed through her eyes. The pain she had endured had not been in vain. The woman who had once been broken was now stronger than ever, and the world would soon see the consequences of underestimating her.
She whispered softly, her words heavy with resolve, “You will know the truth, Sammy. You will know what they did to us. And when the time comes, they will pay.”
With that promise burning in her chest, Whitney prepared herself for the journey back to Harmonia Country. This time, she wasn’t just going to settle the score. She was going to make them all pay.
