“She's pulling through,”

A drone of a few voices invaded Diana's mind. Gosh. They were too loud. She wanted to silence them all. To shut them all. To get some peace in the darkness that promised to give her just that.

Once again, She stopped fighting and she was falling back into the deep, endless pit of darkness.

“We are losing her again!” A voice said. “Stay with me,”

It was begging for the impossible. Diana had lost every strength she had to fight. She just wanted it all to end.

“Diana,” She heard a male voice. It somehow managed to reach her down the pit, stirring the darkness around and calling out to her soul. “Diana, fight,” She could feel the breath of whisper against her ear. “Stay with me. You have to fight back Diana, don't cave into the darkness. I'm right here. I'm with you,”

His voice was like a lifeline tied around Diana's waist, refusing her the freedom of plunging to her death. “I won't let anything happen to you, I swear on my life. Come back to me, Diana. Please,” Those simple words weighed heavily on her. It was as if they held silent promises within them. One Diana wanted to uncover.

She made several attempts to open her eyes, but it was futile.

“We have her!”

“She's coming through,” Another voice sounded, but unfortunately, it wasn't the one she wanted to hear.

Diana mustered enough strength again and her dense black lashes twitched. And then with excruciating effort, she opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was a blurry vision of a woman in a white lab coat and nurses moving around, tending to her.

After a few seconds, Diana's vision steadied and then she saw him. She knew instantly that it was him. The one that kept her from plunging into the darkness.

And he was a sight to behold. God, he was beautiful.

Who was he? She still couldn't remember.

After a while, the doctor and her nurses left Diana and the handsome stranger alone. She glanced around and realized she was in a private ward in a hospital. She remembered what happened last night, Antonia had tried to kill her.

But how did she get here? And who was this man?

“Miss Diana Tate,” The man called cautiously, staring at her, and instantly, she recognized the voice. It was him. Killian Blackford.

“Killian Blackford,”

A smile formed on his lips, as he finally settled on a chair. “I'm glad you recognized me, I was worried you wouldn't,”

“How did I get here? Antonia tried to kill me last night after our conversation and—” Diana paused, looking at him. He was staring at her in an unusual manner. “What's wrong?”

“I'm also glad you remembered what happened, Diana, but that happened six months ago,”

She froze at his words. “What?”

“You've been in a coma, Diana. It was a miracle my people and I were able to find you just in time that night, otherwise, we wouldn't even be having this conversation,”

“Six months? And the guard who stabbed me, did you find her? Did she confess to everyone that Antonia had sent her?”

Killian remained silent, but Diana knew something was amiss.

“What happened, Killian? I don't see any prison guards around waiting to drag me to prison. Something else happened? Tell me,”

He leaned back into his chair, those piercing ice-blue eyes of his boring into her very own gaze. “I'm not sure where to even begin, Diana, because you're in for a lot of shock,”

“Tell me Killian, what the hell happened?”

“You died,” He stated bluntly.

“I know I almost died, I was stabbed—”

“No,” He shook his head; his face lacked any trace of emotion, making it hard to tell what he was thinking. “You really died, Diana. That night after I had left, my people realized you hadn't returned to your cell, so they started searching for you but they couldn't find you. I was already out but there was no way I could just leave you. I had to return. Somehow by some stroke of fate, one of the inmates started a fire. It grew out of control and when they couldn't contain it, everyone had to evacuate. It was sheer luck that I found you at the nick of time before the fire consumed you and got you out. The next day, it was reported some inmates had died in the fire, and you were one of them, Diana Tate. You were in critical condition, bleeding from the stab wound and the burns you sustained during the fire. The doctor considers it a miracle you hadn't died instantly,”

“So everyone… the whole world…”

“Thinks you died in that fire six months ago. My people made it possible for a random body of an inmate who also died in the fire to be identified as you with your wedding ring,”

“Oh my God, that also means I died like a criminal. I didn't get to clear my name, the whole world still believes I murdered my own father. Antonia and her daughter as well as that asshole of a husband won,”

“Is that what it looks like?” His eyes sparked with amusement as he stood up from his chair, picked up the small glass mirror on the table, and walked closer to her bed. “What it looks like to me is that the Saunders as well as your husband should better watch out because they would never be able to foresee what's about to hit them, love,”

“What do you mean?”

A small smile played on Killian's lips. “Trust me, Diana. You'll be able to clear your name, and we'll drag the Saunders to hell, along with your ex-husband of course, there's no way we'll leave him out of the fun,”

Killian pulled the mirror up and a gasp escaped Diana's lips at the new face staring right back at her in the mirror.

Diana could barely recognize her own body. There was nothing of her old self left in her. Diana had sustained serious burns from the fire. The doctors didn't believe she could survive. But she did, and now with a new face. And now a new identity.

Killian Blackford was right. Diana Tate had really died in the fire that night. And this wasn't just because of the surgery that changed her face and appearance, it was because that was exactly how she felt on the inside. Different.

She may still be the same Diana Tate, but she has definitely changed. Diana wasn't the warm loving woman she used to be, and now the only thing burning in her veins was anger and vengeance. Diana didn't just want retribution for what they had done to her and her father, she wanted to expose their evil deeds and then send them to their very own hell worse than death.

“Diana,” Killian walked into her bedroom dressed in his usual expensive suit.

She knew the first time she had met him in prison he looked so familiar, but she really didn't expect it to be him. The almighty Killian Blackford. A man more powerful than anyone she'd ever known. He ruled the world of the wealthy and affluent and had more connections than Diana could ever possibly access in a lifetime. This man before her owned New York City and much more.

It had been weeks since she woke up from her coma and was brought to one of his mansions on Greek Island. Killian briefed her on everything that had been happening in Antonia, Emily, and Gabe's life and promised to help her with everything she needed for her revenge, but there was one thing Diana still couldn't figure out. Killian’s own goal.

Back in prison, he said they had a mutual enemy, which was Antonia Saunders. But Diana couldn't imagine there was any way Antonia would have messed with someone so powerful as him and survived.

“How are you feeling?”

“Good. I'm well rested and ready to talk now,” Diana stared at the man who had saved her. Killian was the reason she was alive. If she hadn't met him that night, she would have been dead. She knew there was no way she could ever repay him for that, but owed him her life.

“What do you want to know, Diana,” He took a seat, and Diana settled on one opposite his.

“Everything. I'm grateful you are helping me but you had once said we had a mutual enemy. You know my story, so I should know yours. Tell me Killian, what could Antonia ever do to someone like you?” She asked.

“She murdered the woman I loved,” His cold blue eyes stared intensely at Diana, as she froze.

“What? I'm… I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had been married,” There was barely anything public about Killian Blackford. His name alone and reputation could bring grown men to their knees but no one knew more than they should about him.

“No, I'm not,” He paused. “Her name was Karen Blackford, she was my sister. My parents had lost her when she had been kidnapped years ago as a child. She was only ten then, and we lost her. We thought she had been killed, but I never stopped searching for her through the years. By the time I found her, our parents were long gone. Just two years ago, my little sister was all grown up and had her own precious family with her husband, Jake, and a beautiful three-year-old daughter, Ava.” He chuckled bitterly, without a strain of emotion. But Diana could see the pain in his eyes. I could feel his pain. “But then Antonia Saunders happened. She had just started having an affair with Jake's widowed, wealthy father. And then suddenly, a man who never had any medical condition winds up dead from a heart attack, leaving his entire fortune to Antonia, someone who wasn't even his wife or family. Karen and Jake didn't care, they had things going on for them. But one night, I got a call from my sister. The only thing I could hear was her painful gasps while she struggled to stay alive. I also heard Antonia's voice in the background, laughing while she killed my sister. By the time I reached Karen's place dead in the night, I couldn't help her. They were all dead. I couldn't find Ava either, and Antonia was gone. The place was about to go up in flames. She had set things to look like a freak fire accident,”

“Oh my God!” Diana gasped in horror, pushing up from her seat. “Oh Killian, and your niece? What happened to Ava?”

“Luckily, I found her unconscious in her parent's closet and got her out in time. I don't know what she saw or heard that night but that child has never been the same. Antonia killed her parents. And two years have gone by, and with all the power I have, I couldn't find any incriminating evidence or witness to tie any crime to Antonia Saunders,” Killian stood up from his chair, sauntering to Diana. “Until you. Truth is, there were many times I contemplated just killing her, like she had killed everyone in her life, including all her three ex-husbands, but it wouldn't simply be enough. I want to take off that mask of hers and let everyone see the devil she is,”

The look in Killian's eyes caused a shudder to run down her spine.

“We'll make her pay for her crimes. Every one of them. I'm truly sorry I didn't meet you before you had to experience Antonia's evil, but there was no way you'd ever believe anything I had to say about the Saunders or worse, your husband,” He said.

“Ex-husband, remember,” Diana stepped closer to him. “And let's not talk about the past anymore, it doesn't matter. All that matters is how we're going to get our revenge,”

Antonia, Emily, and Gabe had had their fun for years. And in the name of every life they had ever destroyed, Diana swore she'd make them burn.

It's been over a year now. Nineteen months, to be precise, since Diana had watched her father being murdered by Antonia and her daughter and framed for his murder. Nineteen months after she discovered her beloved husband, Gabe had been having an affair with her step-sister and had married her solely so they could get their hands on the Tate fortune. Her fortune.

Diana had watched them, live their lives like nothing had happened, like they hadn't killed her father or ruined her life and the lives of so many before her. Well, now she was back and was nothing like the Diana Tate they once knew. After a year of settling into her new identity, and making necessary plans needed for her revenge,

she has returned with a new identity and a sole purpose.

She was now Scarlett Johnson, fiancee of the almighty Killian Blackford. Killian and Scarlett announced their engagement a few months ago, but almost no one had any idea who Killian's fiancee was and how she looked.

Killian had done the necessary papers to adopt little Ava as his daughter. And that was something Scarlett wholeheartedly agreed with. Ava had been through a lot; even at an early age, she was not spared from Antonia's evil.

Scarlett kept swimming in the pool. It was at the peak of midnight, and as usual, the pool was quiet and closed for the night. There shouldn't be a single soul around, but yet she could feel the lingering presence that blended with the night.

He'd been there since the second she dived into the pool in nothing but her red bikini swimsuit, and him still being there only meant one thing. She'd caught the interest of her ex-husband, Gabe Patterson.

It'd been just a short time, a year and seven months since she'd last been this close to him. Since she discovered his betrayal, so many things have changed. Gabe got what he wanted, he was now the president of the Tate Group, and Emily was the vice president, living their lives like nothing happened.

Throughout the months, she’d managed to gather incriminating evidence against Gabe; even with all the wealth he had, he was still stealing the company's money, channeling it into the paper company he had created where he laundered money. And Emily wasn't left out as well; the best PIs she hired had found some dirt on Emily as well. That alone was enough to put them behind bars for a few good years, but that wasn't enough. So far she couldn't find anything that could tie them and Antonia to her murder or that of her father.

The only way she could break all of them was from the inside, and Gabe was going to help her.

Nothing had changed between him and Emily, they were still secret lovers and that was surprising because, with the way Gabe had rushed the divorce, she was almost certain they'd be married by now. It was satisfying to find out her husband hadn't changed. He was still a cheating bastard who went after anything wearing a skirt. And that would just be his downfall.

Scarlett had her eyes on him from the second he checked into one of the private suites in Royale hotel, with his whore for the night. It was New York's best hotel and one of the many hotels that belonged to Killian.

Scarlett got out of the pool and was about to pick up her robe when she heard the sound of silent footfalls behind her. She turned around just in time to see the figure step out of the darkness.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you,” She heard Gabe's familiar voice as he took more steps closer. “I was just taking a midnight walk and then…”

“And then, you decided to spy on me?” Scarlett's voice held a little anger, meeting the eyes of the man who had once meant everything to her.

“No. I didn't. I just saw a beautiful goddess taking a swim, and I couldn't look away. I know it was wrong, but I just couldn't look away… you are very beautiful,” He paused, looking almost flustered for a second, but Scarlett could tell it was just an act.

Scarlett rolled her eyes, fastening her robe on her body. “This part of the pool is closed off for guests at midnight, everyone knows that I suggest you remember that in the future because next time I won't be this forgiving,”

She picked up her phone and a few belongings from the pool chair and turned to leave.

“Once again, I'm sorry. And I really don't want you to have a bad impression of me. So can we forget what just happened and start afresh? I'm Gabe Patterson, owner of Tate Group,” He smiled at her. Scarlett no doubt knew he thought sounded charming as he introduced himself confidently, too confidently, as if expecting her to fall to his feet.

Well, the truth was, any woman would. Tate Group was one of the most powerful leading companies in the corporate world, and everyone knew it.

Scarlett knew exactly what he was expecting, after all, that charming smile and the proclaimed title of the owner of Tate Group was exactly what got women into his bed. Well, except her.

She looked straight into his eyes, raising a brow. “I don't care who you are, Gale Peterson,”

“Gabe Patterson—”

“I still don't care. Do me a favor, and don't appear before me again,”

His lips parted in shock. He probably didn't expect that from any woman. Gabe was an egoistic asshole, and she wondered why she couldn't see that before.

Without waiting for his response, she continued walking away.

“Wait,” He tried to grab her hand, but before he could, a suited man stepped out of the darkness, pulling out a gun and training it on Gabe.

“It's okay Trey. This man lost his way, and now he's walking in the opposite direction, aren't you?” Scarlett said, eyes on Gabe whose shock hadn't vanished from his face.

He glanced at the bodyguard and then at the beautiful woman he'd just met, taking a step back. “As you wish, my goddess,” He muttered with a smile. “I guess I'll just see you around, then,”

Without responding, Scarlett kept walking using one of the private back doors into the hotel.

She knew she'd definitely be seeing him tomorrow night at the exhibition in her new museum. Over the past year, she joined Ford Empire Group and also made a name for herself, being a famous artist.

Everyone who meant anything in the business world would be there. And Gabe and Emily weren't an exception. She was secretly hoping Antonia Saunders would be there as well, even knowing the sly fox was currently in Spain and was in talks for her fourth marriage.

Regardless, neither Gabe nor Emily could ever be prepared for what awaited them tomorrow night. But Scarlett knew one thing for sure, there was no way Gabe would be getting any sleep. At least not without dreaming of her.