Mira Thornvale

Five years ago, Serena Shi was declared dead—burned, disgraced, and erased by the man she loved. Framed for a crime orchestrated by her own sister, forced to abandon her newborn daughter, and exiled under a false name, Serena vanished from Rainport and its cold, glittering towers.

Now, she's back.

Not as a victim, but as a partner at one of the world’s most powerful law firms. Her mission is clear: reclaim custody of the daughter who was buried with her name, expose the lies that destroyed her life, and dismantle the algorithm that coded her death into corporate profit.

But fate—or something programmed to look like it—has other plans.

Julian Lu, her former husband and the CEO of LuTech, never recovered from losing Serena. When she resurfaces with a child who looks just like him and evidence that his empire is built on betrayal, he must choose: destroy the system he was born to lead or lose Serena all over again.

This is not just a story of second chances.
It's a war between law and love, data and destiny, guilt and grace.
And this time, no one walks away without answering to the truth.

Return Under a New Sky

**Washington, D.C. – Supreme Court of the United States**


“Case 22-501—Shi v. National Cyber Surveillance Agency,” the clerk announced.


Serena rose from the petitioner’s table, calm in a crisp navy suit. Opposite her, amicus counsel approached—the man who once signed her exile.


He stood tall in a modest gray tie, representing Lighthouse Initiative.


The Chief Justice raised a brow. “Ms. Shi and Mr. Lu, we rarely see co-architects of a case with this much personal history.”


Serena replied evenly, “The future doesn’t care about our past. It only obeys our precedent.”


Julian nodded. “We’re here to rewrite both.”


“She eviscerated the government’s argument,” one whispered. “He backed her with data no one could deny.”


The early ruling would come down that afternoon.


Inside the hall, Serena leaned against a column, breathing slowly.


Chapter 19 – Open Cases