a sword of shadow and deceit

In her past life, Wendy Croft was a bright and beloved college student, cherished by her family. Yet her trust was betrayed—by a biased fiancé, and Vicky Bush, who stole her college admission letter and condemned her to a tragic marriage, drowning her in endless children birth. Given a second chance, she refused to relive the same nightmare. When her fiancé conspired to harvest her brother's heart for Vicky, Wendy decisively signed the organ donation form herself, turning the tables. Before Vicky could steal her identity to attend university, Wendy secured her own rightful place, crushing Vicky's ambitions. And when faced with her fiancé's manipulative mind games and the deceit of a two-faced rival, she ensured they reaped what they had sown. Determined to walk her path alone, she never expected to catch the eye of the campus heartthrob—only to discover he had been silently guarding her, life after life...

In the wake of her marriage to Bart Snow, Nicole Hill gave birth to three daughters. But as the girls were still young, the Snow Group teetered on the brink of collapse. To stave off disaster, Nicole stepped in to steady the ship, a mission that would consume most of her time in the following two decades. Throughout their formative years, the cunning maid, Hilda, manipulated the narrative, instilling in the daughters a belief that Nicole was a heartless mother. As Nicole anticipated her return to domestic bliss and retirement, Hilda hatched a plot to eliminate her and seize her place. When Bart and the daughters walked in on the attempted crime, Hilda's persuasive deceit turned the tide of suspicion against Nicole, making her the accused rather than the victim. Amidst her desolation, Nicole drew her last breath, her final moments marred by the sight of her daughters rallying around Hilda, who showed no respect for the deceased. In her final moments, Nicole vowed that if fate granted her another chance, she would exact a heavy toll from those who had wronged her.

In the early days of their youth, Carol Wells and Dylan Felix had forged a promise to one another amidst a fire. As the years unfolded, Carol had been Dylan's savior, her blood coursing through his veins on more than one critical occasion. Yet, when Dylan's health was restored, a twist of fate saw Bess Meg stepping into Carol's shoes, casting a shadow of betrayal over their bond. Heartbroken, Carol chose to part ways with Dylan. In the aftermath, Carol's reemergence at the return banquet was nothing short of a triumph, her radiance outshining the whispers of doubt that had once haunted her. As for Dylan, with each passing day, he found himself drawn deeper into the realization of his true emotions for Carol and began his journey again to find her back.

Since childhood, Melanie Llyod has lived under the shadow of loss, her mother gone and her stepmother intent on securing a vast inheritance. Raised in a world of fragile comfort, Melanie grows weak and dependent. But after a sudden accident, Ashton Llyod reappears in her life, urging her to find strength and independence. The emotions they've suppressed for years begin to surface. Though they share no blood, they've lived as siblings for 18 years. But in the 19th year, everything changes… Kate Llyod, determined to steal Melanie's fiance, relentlessly tries to expose the secret connection between Melanie and Ashton. Amidst the growing misunderstandings, Melanie decides to bury her feelings and honor her engagement. Ashton, too, chooses to distance himself, focusing on his responsibilities. But when a twist of fate leads to a murder attempt, Ashton is left gravely injured and hospitalized. At last, both must confront their true feelings for each other. Yet, the challenges ahead are far from over…