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

**Rainport Federal Court – Emergency Hearing Room**


“Court is now in session for the arraignment of Vivian Lu,” the judge intoned.


Vivian sat shackled, her once-perfect hair tangled, expression blank. Her eyes never drifted to the gallery, where Julian and Serena sat side by side, flanked by Willow and armed security.


The prosecutor rose. “Your Honor, we present charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to defraud a federal health agency, child endangerment, cyber-terrorism, and faked death documentation—among others.”


Vivian’s attorney stood. “My client pleads diminished capacity. Years of undiagnosed trauma—”


“Permission to submit live confession footage, medical falsification logs, and algorithmic intent tracing?”


> Vivian’s voice echoed through the room:


> “You were never supposed to survive the crash. I made sure the brakes failed myself!”


Chapter 16 – Ashes and Judgment