Pattern Recognition

"You can't walk away," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "Not now." I never should've followed him. I knew it the second I saw his dark, predatory eyes lock onto mine across the bar. But I couldn't stop myself. I was drawn to him, to the danger simmering beneath his cool, controlled exterior. "One night," I told myself, "just one night." But it wasn't just a night. It was a raw, thrilling ride into darkness, where he took control in ways l'd never imagined. "Do you like it when I make you beg?" he growled, and I did. God, I did. By morning, I was tangled in his sheets, marked by his touch, my body still aching from the things he'd done to me. But when I opened my eyes and saw his face in the cold light of day, reality hit like a punch to the gut. The man l'd spent the night with, the one who made me surrender in every way possible, wasn't just a sexy stranger. He was a mafia kingpin-one of the most feared men in the city. And me? I'm the future district attorney, the one assigned to take him down. "You belong to me now," he said, his voice a deadly promise. And as much as I wanted to deny it, I knew he was right. But what happens when the lines between law and lust blur beyond recognition?

One night. One mistake. One child he never knew existed. I never planned for him to find out. Five years ago, I gave him one night. A one, reckless encounter with the man who destroyed my heart before he ever completely held it. Then I vanished pregnant, alone, and determined to shield my kid from his brutal world. But fate is harsh. Now, standing in his billion-dollar boardroom with his steel-grey eyes focused upon me, I feel it, the spark of recognition, the wrath, the incredulity. And my secret is ready to erupt. She believed she could keep my child from me. Anna Carter, the woman I’ve tried to forget is back, and she’s hiding something far more deadly than her curves or her lies. My son. The heir I never knew existed. The single person who could ruin the empire I built… or the only one who could save my dark, twisted soul. And I will stop at nothing to claim them both. But nothing is simple. My adversaries are closing in. Her past is worse than I thought. The lady I believed betrayed me is involved in secrets that might doom us all. I want her submission, her love, her forgiveness. She wants to keep our son safe from me. Neither of us can have it all. When betrayal strikes from within my world and her life is threatened, we’re thrown into a hazardous. game of deception, seduction, and deadly truths. Will we survive the conflict between us… or will her ultimate secret ruin all I’ve ever loved?

I have been married to Andrew Connolly for four years, but whenever his gaze meets mine, there is no recognition at all. Even my voice doesn't register. He remembers everyone around him, yet the one person he never remembers is that I am his wife. If I put on a hat, he asks who I am. When I tie my hair up, he assumes I am a new hire at his company. To help him remember, I repeat the same outfit, the same makeup, the same hairstyle. Still, despite my daily presence, he treats me like a stranger. I tell myself Andrew is simply buried in work, that the neglect is accidental, right up until a concert night. I watch him cut through the crowd and embrace his first love, whom he has not seen in years. When the stage suddenly collapses, I seize his arm and beg, "Honey, please save me." Andrew shoves me away, his voice flat and cold. "You're not my wife. My wife is at home." I am crushed beneath the falling debris. Choking on blood, I can only watch as Andrew rescues his first love and walks away. That is when I realize it's not that he can't remember me, he just doesn't love me. The bodyguards drag me out of the wreckage. Later, I spend a month confined to bed with serious injuries. While I am in the hospital, I get a photo of Andrew kissing his first love. The blows land one after another and mercilessly jerk me awake. I am done with love, and I am done with him!

In a tale of revenge, rebirth, and romance, Ashlyn Knight rises from the ashes of public humiliation to become one of the most powerful figures in the business world. After being betrayed at her wedding by her fiancé Christopher White and his mistress Penelope, Ashlyn transforms through a strategic marriage to mysterious billionaire Richard Walker, who shares a connection to her past life as a military commander named Hannah. Ashlyn methodically dismantles the White and Knight families' empires, revealing dark secrets including Penelope's involvement in her mother's death and Christopher's illegitimate status. Her revenge plot takes an unexpected turn when she discovers she's actually Steven White's granddaughter through his illegitimate daughter, giving her a legitimate claim to both family empires. Richard, initially a partner in her revenge scheme, proves to be more than just an ally. Their marriage of convenience evolves into a powerful love story as they discover their shared past lives - he was a fellow commander who failed to protect Hannah in their previous existence and has spent this life making amends. The story climaxes at the International Business Summit, where Christopher's desperate attempt to destroy the couple backfires spectacularly. Multiple confrontations lead to Penelope's arrest, Christopher's imprisonment, and the public recognition of Ashlyn's birthright. In a dramatic moment, Richard renews their vows, transforming their tactical alliance into a declaration of true love. The narrative concludes with Ashlyn and Richard's unified empire becoming a model of ethical business leadership. They establish a foundation in her mother's name, helping others who face similar injustices. Their story becomes legendary in both business and social circles, proving that the sweetest revenge isn't just in destroying enemies, but in building something greater from the ashes of trauma while finding true love along the way.

In my second year running the company, my high school class monitor suddenly started tagging me nonstop in the group chat. [Alice, Vivian was only joking with you back then. Why won't you come to her party? Are you trying to make her feel guilty?] I didn't understand what was going on. Only after reading the messages did I realize that our class beauty, Vivian Spencer, had recently found her biological parents—and today, she had thrown a party to announce it to the world. Me: [I'm busy.] I had no intention of attending a party hosted by someone who used to bully me. But my answer didn't shut them up. Instead, it stirred up even more absurd speculation. [Don't tell me you're doing some kind of labor job and can't take leave?] [We're all former classmates. If you show up, I'll give you sixty dollars. That should cover two days of your salary.] Vivian chimed in as well. [Alice, it was just a joke back then. And I'd already dropped out by then. Why can't you let it go?] I stared at her message for a long moment before typing: [Only trash would call bullying a joke.] The group exploded instantly. [Vivian's no trash! She's a wealthy heiress. She's not even in the same league as you. Poor people really love to nitpick.] Vivian, ever the hypocrite, tried to smooth things over. [No matter what, today marks a new beginning for me. I hope you'll come to witness it. [We're classmates, after all. I don't hold it against you for forcing me to drop out. If you're short on money, I can even ask my dad to arrange a job for you.] Then she sent a screenshot of her chat with her father. When I saw her father's profile picture, I froze. Wasn't that the same profile picture as my freeloading dad? But I look seventy percent like my mom—it's impossible for me to be a fake daughter. And Vivian was two months younger than me. I let out a laugh. "Alright, I'll definitely attend your recognition party."