After graduating from Sea Salt University, Sarah carried on as if nothing had changed. She kept her distance from her newfound identity and only had occasional dinners with Robert Davenport in quiet, low-key restaurants in the city. She wasn't ready to embrace her connection to him, so she turned down his offer to work at his company. Instead, she focused on building her path.
She partnered with David and started a company of their own. Sarah threw herself into her career with relentless determination. She was driven to prove she could accomplish wealth and status without anyone else's approval to succeed.
Her hard work paid off. Over the years, she climbed the corporate ladder, earning the respect of her peers and becoming one of the rising stars in the business world.
Her sharp instincts, strategic thinking, and calmness under pressure made her a force to be reckoned with. Her team admired her, and the board trusted her judgment. Sarah had made her mark, and everyone around her could see it.
But despite all the accolades and success, there was something else that fueled her ambition—something darker. Deep down, Sarah never forgot what Michael had done to her. The memory of his betrayal lingered, not as a source of heartbreak but as a fire that kept her going through the tough times. Every late night at the office, every deal she closed, every challenge she overcame—it all came back to that moment when Michael had chosen wealth over love, ambition over loyalty.
She told herself that she had moved on. After all, she had achieved everything she wanted. But every time she saw Michael's face in her mind, every time she thought about how he had thrown her aside for Amelia Davenport, the anger would rise again, sharp and unforgiving.
One day, while Sarah was reviewing a business proposal, her assistant came into the office with a folder. "Sarah. You have a meeting with a new client next week," the assistant said, placing the file on Sarah's desk. "It's a joint venture proposal. They're looking for someone with your expertise and prestige."
Sarah barely glanced at the file. "I'll look at it later. Who's the client?"
The assistant hesitated. "It's a company owned by Davenport Group. They are one of the partners on the project."
The name froze Sarah in her seat. Davenport. Memories flooded back—the whispers on campus, the rumors about Michael using Amelia's family connections to secure a future, and the last time Sarah had seen him with Amelia, laughing like nothing had ever happened.
Sarah opened the file with deliberate slowness, her heart pounding. As she scanned the documents, her eyes landed on the name she had long tried to forget: Michael Smith. He was listed as one of the key stakeholders in the project.
The universe had given her a gift.
A dark smile crept across her face as she closed the file. After all these years, she would finally get the chance to confront Michael—and she wouldn't be the same vulnerable, naive girl he had once left behind. No, this time, she would be the one in control.
In the weeks leading up to the meeting, Sarah devised a plan. She knew that Michael had always been driven by ambition, so she would use that to her advantage. She would charm him, make him believe that he still had a chance with her, and then, when he least expected it, she would destroy him—professionally and emotionally.
Her transformation was deliberate. She adopted a new persona—polished, confident, and alluring. Sarah had always been beautiful, but now she played up her appearance to command attention. Her wardrobe shifted to sleek, tailored power suits that hinted at sophistication and control. Everything she did was designed to exude power, wealth, and status—the very things Michael had once betrayed her for.
The day of the meeting arrived, and Sarah sat in a luxurious conference room, surrounded by high-powered executives. She exuded confidence, but beneath the surface, her mind was calculating every move, every word.
And then, the door opened. A tall man stepped in. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, charcoal gray with a subtle sheen that hinted at luxury without being flashy. His hair, once unruly, was now elegantly styled, and his clean-shaven face gave him a sharp, focused look.