A Calculated Return: Genius Heiress Reclaims Her Throne

When Zhang Lia returns home to China after eight years of chasing her dreams and earning a PhD, she isn’t greeted by success, but by betrayal. Her father has handed everything—her family’s inheritance, her position, and even her fiancé—over to her scheming stepsister. Heartbroken and furious, Lia finds herself at the edge of ruin, abandoned by the very people she trusted most. Enter Li Wei—a cold, enigmatic CEO with the kind of power that bends entire industries to his will. Their paths cross by chance, but the connection between them is anything but ordinary. --- Zhang Lia lifted her chin, her eyes gleaming with stubborn defiance. “Who said I needed you?” Li Wei’s lips curved into the faintest smirk, a dangerous glint in his dark eyes. “You think this is about need?” She faltered, but only for a second. “Isn’t it?” He leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. “No. This is about power. You want it back, don’t you? Then let me help you take it.” Her breath hitched, but she didn’t back down. “And what do you get out of it, Li Wei? A trophy to hang on your wall?” He chuckled softly, a sound that sent shivers down her spine. “No, Lia. I get something much more interesting.” She narrowed her eyes. “And what’s that?” He straightened, his gaze locking onto hers with a heat she hadn’t expected. “You.”