the lost years mary higgins clark

I had been married for eight years when I inherited a fortune worth hundreds of millions that my grandfather left to me and my mafia boss husband. However, just as the lawyer was finalizing the transfer, we discovered my marriage certificate was fake. That meant the entire inheritance could only go to me. “Ms. Rivers, according to the system, you were divorced a year ago. Your husband, Zayn Levine, is legally married to… Whitney Sanders. According to the papers, you're single. In other words, Mr. Levine has no right to claim the inheritance.” Whitney, the woman Zayn had once loved before she went abroad, the one he never forgot. I stared at the lawyer’s message, unable to accept it. All of Zayn’s affection and tenderness over the years had been nothing but a lie. I had planned to tell him on our anniversary that after eight long years of marriage, I was pregnant. It was the miracle we had both been waiting for. Yet it seemed like he had never really been looking forward to it at all. As I gently rested my hand on my belly, I told myself that even if my twins grew up without a father, they would be just fine. In this place built on nothing but lies, the only thing left for me to do was run away.

She was a noble lady from ancient times, driven to suicide by her own family. Her spirit, bound by vengeance, lingered long after her revenge was complete—until her only remaining desire led her to a modern-day girl, equally betrayed and discarded by her blood. They strike a fateful bargain: the girl offers her body, and the vengeful spirit is reborn in her place. Now, inhabiting this new life, she finds herself in a world where a false heiress has stolen her identity, and her own parents and brother view her with nothing but disdain.Wielding the supernatural powers of her past existence, she begins to unravel the web of lies and injustices that doomed the girl whose form she now wears. Her quest for justice is intertwined with another, deeper search: for the lover she lost centuries ago. As past and present collide, she will use every ounce of her wrath and the aid of her rediscovered love to make the cruel family that wronged them both—in two different lifetimes—face a devastating reckoning.

Mike Bert, disciple of the Arcane Exorcist Order, was dispatched down the mountain by his master's order to search for the lost sect-suppressing artifact, the Exorcist's Seal. Penniless, he set up a street stall for fortune-telling, where he inadvertently saved Tess Baker, a female CEO possessing a pure dark physique, thus becoming entangled in urban conflicts. Facing Eden Pater, the wealthy young CEO coveting the Baker Group, and the Dark Warlock, an evil exorcist also seeking the Exorcist's Seal, Mike used Arcane Arts to break evil curses and Truth Spell to expose the truth. Joining forces with Renee Palmer of the Supernatural Investigations Agency and Lucy Pope, an exorcism-obsessed fangirl, he gradually pushed back against the evil forces. During his journey to protect the beauty and hunt for the treasure, he discovered that clues pointed toward the south, while the ultimate boss, Lester Watt, was secretly laying out his scheme. The true crisis had only just begun.

Six years ago, Winni and Chester were a loving couple, until Chester's old friend Ruth returned to the country. Ruth disguised herself with a kind face and became friends with Winni, secretly plotting to replace Winni as Chester's wife. Not long after, Winni became pregnant, but the doctor informed Chester that the child had no blood relationship to him. Chester iced out Winni and gradually grew closer to Ruth. Six years later, Winni's son, Ron, was critically ill with leukemia. Only Chester's bone marrow could save him. In order to please Chester, Winni had to bow down to Ruth. However, during their interaction, she gradually uncovered why Chester thought Ron was an illegitimate child.

William Coffey and Shelly Richards had been together for years, deeply in love. But just before they could get married, tragedy struck—William's sister Lea died in an incident involving Shelly's younger brother. The Coffey family was devastated and blamed Shelly, their grief turning into resentment. While William was in the hospital, his mother forced Shelly to leave. At the time, Shelly was already pregnant, but with nowhere to turn, she had no choice but to leave the country. Five years later, Shelly returned and ran into William again. The feelings he had buried for so long came rushing back. He still resented her for disappearing without a word, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stop loving her.

Stella Hart, once a wealthy heiress, is lost and taken in by her foster mother, Serena Cook, who arranges a betrothal between her and her son, Jason Vale. After Jason suffers an accident, Stella sells herself to a childless couple to save him. However, once the couple adopts her, they later have twins and decide to abandon her. Stella’s grandmother, unable to bear her suffering, takes her in and cares for her with great love, leading a life of mutual dependence. Meanwhile, Jason and his mother work tirelessly to find Stella, and eventually, Jason becomes the president of a publicly listed company. On the other hand, Stella faces a series of misfortunes, including betrayal and mistreatment by a man she thought she loved. When Jason finally finds Stella, the person he has cherished since childhood, he vows to make up for all her suffering. As their story unfolds, Stella’s true identity gradually reveals itself, and they eventually reunite, with true love prevailing in the end.

For ten long years, Cynthia had loved Ethan Luciano in silence. On the night he won the national championship, he finally pulled her into his arms: “I’ll marry you the moment we graduate.” The next morning. What she heard instead was Ethan’s cocky laugh echoing among his teammates: “She was so fucking eager… legs wrapped around me the whole time, telling me she loved me. She’s a good warm-up though. Looks innocent but takes it like a pro. I’m gonna use her a few more times until I get with Sylvia.” In that moment, Cynthia’s world shattered. The boy she had loved for ten years had never loved her back. She was never his future — only his practice.

To pay for her mom’s treatment, Ashley is assaulted by her uncle and betrayed by her boyfriend, cousin, and family—until a mysterious CEO, Orion, saves her. Ten years later, she returns as a billionaire to take revenge.

Alice Cooper, leader of the Cooper family, comes back after seven years to uncover the truth behind her mother's death. While seeking revenge, she catches the eye of the powerful Nova CEO, who later falls for her.

Jana was the ultimate admirer of the school heartthrob Zell for three long years. She brought him breakfast, bought him medicine,and was on call 24/7, 365 days a year. On New Year's Eve, after her 1,081st confession was publicly humiliated, she declared "game over" and walked away. It turned out that she was actually the heir to the Carter Group. Three years ago, to win a bet with her childhood friend Zed, Jana had pretended to be a poor girl to pursue Zell. Three years later, with the bet concluded, Jana reclaimed her identity and left Zell. When Zell learned the truth, he was filled with regret. He teamed up with the malicious Wendy to seek revenge at Jana and Zed's wedding, but their plan backfired and they were utterly defeated!

For seven long years, Yvan Groove has cared for his wife Jenny Stones—who fell into a vegetative state after an accident—and their daughter, Nancy. (Unbeknownst to him, his wife is actually Rose Shaw, the missing daughter of the influential Shaw family.) To pay mounting medical bills, he has endured countless hardships. When local hospitals prove unable to treat her, Yvan takes his wife and daughter to Jensire in search of better care. By a twist of fate, he finds work at the mansion of Barry Shaw, the head of the Shaw family. Ravaged by guilt over Rose's disappearance seven years ago, Barry has lived alone in the vast villa ever since. The moment he lays eyes on lNancy, he is stunned because she looks exactly like Rose as a child.

Sophia, the sole heiress of Porthaven's powerful Jason family, spent five years honoring her promise. Five years ago, to save Justin, the man she loved, she struck a deal with Director Cloud.While he worked to develop the cure, she took responsibility for caring for his grandson, Warren, and Warren's young son, Joey, and supporting the declining Cloud Group.Under her protection, the father, the child, and the company all thrived. Yet Sophia's sacrifices were erased. She was treated as nothing more than a nanny. When Warren's ex-wife Quinn returned, they hurt Sophia time and again. When the five-year promise ends, Sophia walks away without hesitation, taking back everything she gave. As Warren loses it all, the truth finally comes to light.

Six years ago, Annie Sparks shares a one-night encounter with the drugged Ian Locke and becomes pregnant, but goes to prison to protect her pregnant sister Joyce McDonnell. Joyce uses half a pendant to marry into the Locke family under false identity. Six years later, Ian and his father return to the country. Andy Locke discovers the bullied child Charlie bears striking resemblance to the Locke bloodline and confirms he is Ian’s biological son. Joyce attempts to eliminate Annie and her son to conceal the truth. After Annie reunites with Ian, the family of three finally recognizes each other through numerous trials. Annie exposes Joyce’s crimes, and Joyce faces legal consequences. Annie becomes the rightful young madam of the Locke family, holds a proper wedding ceremony with Ian, and achieves family completeness.

On her own wedding day, Jane Shaw sacrificed herself by taking the fall to save her in-laws and spent five years behind bars.When she walks free, she returns to find her husband’s childhood sweetheart, Wendy Wood, has slipped into her life like a cuckoo in a borrowed nest, adored by the very in-laws Jane once protected. Wendy plays the sweet, wounded innocent in public while weaving poison behind closed doors. But Jane didn’t survive five years as the prison’s top dog by being soft.Rather than strike hard and fast, she plays dumb, letting the scheming girl overreach, then springs a carefully laid trap that unravels every lie Wendy has ever told, right in front of the family. The question is whether she can reclaim what was always hers.

Sophia, the sole heiress of Porthaven's powerful Jason family, spent five years honoring her promise. Five years ago, to save Justin, the man she loved, she struck a deal with Director Cloud. While he worked to develop the cure, she took responsibility for caring for his grandson, Warren, and Warren's young son, Joey, and supporting the declining Cloud Group.Under her protection, the father, the child, and the company all thrived. Yet Sophia's sacrifices were erased. She was treated as nothing more than a nanny. When Warren's ex-wife Quinn returned, they hurt Sophia time and again. When the five-year promise ends, Sophia walks away without hesitation, taking back everything she gave. As Warren loses it all, the truth finally comes to light.

Winter Gray wakes up with five years of memories gone and is completely unimpressed by her cold, distant husband, Troy Lowe. "A sc*mbag like you? I never wanted to marry you!" "Winter Gray, you're ridiculous!" he snaps back. Thinking divorce will solve everything, Winter is shocked to discover she has a five-year-old son, Kyle Lowe! She then deals with her unruly son and confronts the scheming mistress causing trouble. Balancing family and work, her life starts to thrive. As Troy watches her transformation, his frustration shifts to admiration. He realizes she’s the woman who saved him five years ago, nearly losing her leg in the process. Grateful, he vows to repay her, but winning her heart back will be a long journey.

In her previous life, Aurora was tormented by her family to death. Now, returned to life ten years prior, she embarks on a ruthless journey to send her cruel adopted sister to prison and make her family beg for forgiveness.

Clover Dunn was supposed to be the heiress of the Dunn family. However, her life took a dark turn as she was abducted and trafficked at a young age. In her absence, her parents adopted another daughter, Harley Dunn. Years later, Clover showed up and reunited with the Dunn family. However, her return sparked jealousy in her stepsister, who coveted the family's wealth. Hence, Harley conspired with Clover's fiancé, Bryant Cohen, to set Clover up, resulting in a tragic incident that claimed her mother's life. By a twist of fate, Clover is pregnant with the child of the Terence Knight. She faked her death to escape from the fire set by Harley.Five years later, she resurfaces, stronger and more determined, having her son by her side. With a steely resolve, she vows to make her enemies pay for the suffering they caused.