right behind you by lisa gardner

Former gambling legend Ryker Miller, weary of the bloodshed and intrigue of the casino world, retreats from the underworld to live an ordinary life. Years later, Ironbriar Group chairman Bryan Taylor leverages an old favor to finally convince Ryker to emerge from retirement and help resolve a crisis threatening the corporation's survival. However, Ryker doesn't know that behind the Taylor family's glamorous facade, Bryan's son Jason Taylor is brutally tormenting his pregnant daughter-in-law, Carmen. Her suffering and despair are quietly brewing a storm powerful enough to overturn the entire Taylor family, and Ryker's return will inadvertently pull him into this vortex of family and power struggles.

Five years ago, Jeffrey Reid's wife betrayed him, his parents were murdered, his sister was abducted, his family destroyed. He barely escaped with his life. Five years later, he returns after martial training, carrying the oath "A World Without Darkness" as he infiltrates Rising Dragons. At a funeral, Jeffrey defeats assassins barehanded and becomes famous overnight, rising to a head. Jeffrey uses violence to fight violence, eliminating evil wherever he finds it. As his enemies fall one by one and the mastermind behind everything surfaces, he will use his own methods to restore peace to Houndvale City and honor his fallen family.

Erin Moore believes her marriage to Seth Hart is just a transaction, so she studies hard and pushes herself relentlessly, striving to become someone worthy of standing beside him. When she finally becomes her best self, she realizes he has already cleared every obstacle for her and has quietly supported her dreams all along. Only then does she understand—true love doesn’t bind you; it helps you become who you are.

The elite special forces duo known as "Twin Wolves" are betrayed by their superiors. During their escape, Ilya survives only because his partner sacrifices himself to hold off the enemy. Fleeing to his partner's hometown of Belyovsk, Ilya takes on the responsibility of fulfilling his last wish—to protect his mother and sister. But the town is far from peaceful. Criminal gangs collect ruthless debts, and corrupt elites exploit the weak. As Ilya digs deeper, he discovers that the true mastermind behind it all is connected to his former command. With nowhere left to retreat, he decides to confront his fears head-on. Eye for an eye, blood for blood—he will bring justice for his fallen partner and for himself.

Five years ago, Jeffrey Reid's wife betrayed him, his parents were murdered, his sister was abducted, his family destroyed. He barely escaped with his life. Five years later, he returns after martial training, carrying the oath "A World Without Darkness" as he infiltrates Rising Dragons. At a funeral, Jeffrey defeats assassins barehanded and becomes famous overnight, rising to a head. Jeffrey uses violence to fight violence, eliminating evil wherever he finds it. As his enemies fall one by one and the mastermind behind everything surfaces, he will use his own methods to restore peace to Houndvale City and honor his fallen family.

My stepsister falsely accuses me of causing her allergies to act up. My three brothers stuff me into the cramped cellar and chain the door shut. I pound on the door and beg them to let me out. My eldest brother, an outstanding businessman, snaps, "It's bad enough that you keep bullying Lori. How could you make her eat seafood when you know she's allergic to it? Isn't that just murder? Stay in there and reflect on your mistakes!" My second brother, an award-winning singer, and my third brother, a genius painter, scoff contemptuously. "It's unbelievable that someone as evil as you is making excuses to garner pity. You can stay in there and repent for your sins!" After that, they take our shuddering stepsister to the hospital. The oxygen in the cellar soon runs out, and it gets difficult to breathe. Ultimately, I die in there. My brothers only remember me three days later when they bring our stepsister back from the hospital. Unbeknownst to them, I've already died of asphyxiation.

My stepsister falsely accuses me of causing her allergies to act up. My three brothers stuff me into the cramped cellar and chain the door shut. I pound on the door and beg them to let me out. My eldest brother, an outstanding businessman, snaps, "It's bad enough that you keep bullying Lori. How could you make her eat seafood when you know she's allergic to it? Isn't that just murder? Stay in there and reflect on your mistakes!" My second brother, an award-winning singer, and my third brother, a genius painter, scoff contemptuously. "It's unbelievable that someone as evil as you is making excuses to garner pity. You can stay in there and repent for your sins!" After that, they take our shuddering stepsister to the hospital. The oxygen in the cellar soon runs out, and it gets difficult to breathe. Ultimately, I die in there. My brothers only remember me three days later when they bring our stepsister back from the hospital. Unbeknownst to them, I've already died of asphyxiation.

Erin Moore believes her marriage to Seth Hart is just a transaction, so she studies hard and pushes herself relentlessly, striving to become someone worthy of standing beside him. When she finally becomes her best self, she realizes he has already cleared every obstacle for her and has quietly supported her dreams all along. Only then does she understand—true love doesn’t bind you; it helps you become who you are.

Olivia Turner loved Zacharias Larson for nine years, but in the tenth year, she found herself imprisoned by Zacharias's own hands. Falsely accused of her grandfather's death and giving birth to another man's child, Olivia faced a wrongful sentence. The true culprit behind the conspiracy was her sister, mistakenly raised by the Turner family and later recognized into the affluent Larson family. Deception, identity substitution, and framing orchestrated Olivia's downfall. It wasn't until the brink of death that Olivia discovered the truth. Yet, Zacharias, the one person she needed to believe her, remained skeptical. Only upon witnessing her lifeless body did he descend into madness.

Olivia Turner loved Zacharias Larson for nine years, but in the tenth year, she found herself imprisoned by Zacharias's own hands. Falsely accused of her grandfather's death and giving birth to another man's child, Olivia faced a wrongful sentence. The true culprit behind the conspiracy was her sister, mistakenly raised by the Turner family and later recognized into the affluent Larson family. Deception, identity substitution, and framing orchestrated Olivia's downfall. It wasn't until the brink of death that Olivia discovered the truth. Yet, Zacharias, the one person she needed to believe her, remained skeptical. Only upon witnessing her lifeless body did he descend into madness.

The doctor told me I had 72 hours left, unless I got access to the newest experimental treatment. However, there was only one slot available, and my husband Bowen Liddell gave it to my sister Yvonne Lawson instead. "Her kidney failure is more critical," he said. I nodded and swallowed the white pills that would only speed up my death. In the time I had left, I got a lot done. The lawyer's hand trembled as he passed me the documents. "Are you sure you want to transfer the two billion dollars in shares?" I replied, "Yes. Give them to Yvonne." My daughter, Candice Liddell, was giggling in Yvonne's arms. "Mommy Yvonne bought me a new dress!" I said, "It looks beautiful. Make sure you always listen to Mommy Yvonne, okay?" The art gallery I built from the ground up now had Yvonne's name on the sign. "You're too kind, Kathy," she said, crying. I told her, "You'll run it even better than I ever did." I even signed all my parents' trust fund away. That was when Bowen finally gave me his first genuine smile in years. "Kathleen, you've changed. You're not so aggressive anymore... You're beautiful like this." Indeed. This dying version of me finally became the 'perfect Kathleen Sullivan' in their eyes—obedient, generous, and no longer argumentative. The 72-hour countdown had already begun, and I couldn't help but wonder what they would remember when my heart stopped for good. The good wife who 'finally learned to let go', or the woman who completed her revenge by dying?

In a life she once lived, Linda Blake was betrayed by the man she loved and his mistress. They conspired to set her on fire, intending to kill her and her twins. To shield her children from harm, she sacrificed herself in the blaze. Miraculously, she was reborn 12 years later, now a teenager of 18, only to find her daughter overweight, her son vanished, her husband remarried, and her inheritance stolen.Determined to reclaim her life, she guided her daughter to a remarkable transformation, unmasked a ghost-singing scam, and collected evidence to put her adversaries behind bars. She severed ties with her husband, reunited with her son, and together with her children, they rose to prominence in the entertainment world.

Chiharu, once the heiress of a wealthy family, married Asahi in secret to repay his kindness, supporting his career behind the scenes. But for three years, Asahi misunderstood her, humiliated her, and let his mother mistreat her. On their anniversary, Chiharu was in a car accident—only to find Asahi with his pregnant ex, Misaki. Heartbroken, she chose divorce and returned to her powerful family. Realizing her importance too late, Asahi tried to win her back, sparking Misaki's jealousy and schemes. With help from her stepbrother Masato, Chiharu overcame every trap. Masato confessed his love, and Asahi began to pursue her again. Stepbrother or ex-husband—who will Chiharu choose?

Fifteen years ago, I casually helped a homeless kid who couldn’t afford a football. I handed him three hundred dollars and, half-joking, asked for 1% of his future company as “founder’s shares.” I just wanted to give him a push to chase his dream. Fifteen years later, the football club I built is on the verge of collapse. The three children I raised with my own hands team up to steal my company, drain my accounts, and grind me into the dirt. Players are demanding unpaid wages, my wife is dying of a terminal illness, and my most trusted friend forces me to my knees. Just to save my employees and my family, I swallow my pride and give up everything. Right when everyone’s waiting for me to finally break— A fleet of luxury cars from a thousand-billion-dollar empire rolls up to my door. That same scrawny, homeless boy who once had nothing… has come back.

Fern Burke's husband, Edwin Smith is supporting both households, his own and that of his sister-in-law. He argues that Vera Green, his sister-in-law, would become the subject of gossip since her husband has died, so he brings her along to the military, leaving Fern behind in the countryside. Every month, he sends Fern three love letters, yet gives all his military allowance to Vera. During the famine, Vera and her two children stay comfortably in Edwin's city home, eating meat buns, while Fern and her children starve to death in silence. Fortunately, Fern has been given a second chance at life. This time, she won't suffer quietly…

After spending over a decade in the palace, Song Ruyi finally saw the light again when she was allowed to leave. However, due to an inadvertent glance from the Emperor and the jealousy of Noble Consort Chun, she was subjected to a horrific fate. Out of jealousy, Noble Consort Chun cut her hair, severed her fingers, gouged out her eyes, and slit her throat. Her sister, Song Zhiyi, waited eagerly at the palace gate for Ruyi's return, only to be greeted by a lifeless and broken body. Determined, Song Zhiyi entered the palace, embarking on a path of revenge. She navigated through various schemes and intrigues, only to discover, after exposing Noble Consort Chun's crimes, that the true mastermind behind her sister's death was someone else...

Five years ago, Zoey Campbell, the medical talent, was set up with her babies carved out of her belly. The mastermind behind the scene seized the baby boy and drove a wedge between Zoey and her husband, Ian Fleming. Five years later, Zoey came back with her daughter Anna, a talented hacker, seeking vengeance! After a series of twisted plots, Zoey realized she had taken the wrong boy as her son. The boy's real mother was the same one who arranged the brutal operation five years ago. Zoey's real son had been kept this vicious schemer as her punching bag! And the one who planned everything was actually Ian's evil twin brother...

Fern Burke's husband, Edwin Smith is supporting both households, his own and that of his sister-in-law. He argues that Vera Green, his sister-in-law, would become the subject of gossip since her husband has died, so he brings her along to the military, leaving Fern behind in the countryside. Every month, he sends Fern three love letters, yet gives all his military allowance to Vera. During the famine, Vera and her two children stay comfortably in Edwin's city home, eating meat buns, while Fern and her children starve to death in silence. Fortunately, Fern has been given a second chance at life. This time, she won't suffer quietly…