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Chapter 49: The Child She Left Behind

作者: Sire Bliss
last update 最終更新日: 2025-11-19 00:11:39

I saw him by accident.

Three weeks after Fashion Week. Three weeks of meetings and contract negotiations and pretending I wasn’t slowly falling apart inside. Three weeks of existing in the same city as my son and not being able to see him.

I’d been walking through Central Park with Clara. Early morning. Cold. The park is mostly empty except for joggers and dog walkers. We’d needed air. I needed to escape the hotel suite that was starting to feel like a cage.

We’d stopped for coffee at a small café on the Upper West Side. Sat outside despite the cold, watching the city wake up.

That’s when I saw them.

A nanny pushing a stroller with a little girl. And beside her, a boy. Eight years old. Dark hair. Adrian’s eyes. Walking with his hands in his pockets, looking at everything with curious intelligence.

Ethan.

My son.

The world stopped. The sound faded. Everything narrowed to just him. The way he walked. The way he tilted his head when the nanny said something. The way he smiled at his litt
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  • I’m Back, Mr. CEO    Chapter 53: The Media Frenzy

    The next morning, the media storm hit.Not about custody. About something else entirely.I woke to my phone exploding with notifications. Texts from Marcus, Clara, Amélie, Diana. Missed calls from numbers I didn’t recognize. My social media accounts are flooded with tags and mentions.I opened Twitter with a sense of dread.The top trending topic: **#SerenaMooreReturns**Article after article. Blog posts. Think pieces. Everyone suddenly had an opinion about my return to New York.**“Serena Moore: Fashion’s Greatest Comeback Story”** - Vogue**“From Discarded Wife to Fashion Icon: The Serena Moore Journey”** - New York Times**“How Adrian Moore’s Ex-Wife Built a Half-Billion Dollar Empire”** - Forbes**“The Woman Adrian Moore Threw Away Is Now Worth More Than His Entire Net Worth”** - Page SixThat last one wasn’t true—Adrian’s net worth was in the billions—but the sentiment was clear. The media had decided I was the underdog who’d won. The phoenix who’d risen from the ashes. The woman

  • I’m Back, Mr. CEO    Chapter 52: Another Wait

    **Marcus:** *Heard Lucas made you an offer. Heard you declined. Proud of you.***Me:** *How did you hear?***Marcus:** *Lucas called me. He wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings about approaching you behind my back. I told him you’d say no. He didn’t believe me.***Me:** *Why did you think I’d say no?***Marcus:** *Because you’re not the type to let someone else control your success. You’re the type to build it yourself, brick by brick, even if it takes longer. That’s why I invested in you in the first place.***Me:** *Thank you. For believing in me when no one else did.***Marcus:** *I didn’t believe in you. I believed in your talent. You’re the one who proved you had the strength to back it up. Now go get your son. Show Adrian Moore that taking things that don’t belong to him has consequences.*I smiled at the phone. Marcus understood. He’d always understood.Tomorrow, the custody papers will be filed. Adrian would receive them. And the war would officially begin.But toni

  • I’m Back, Mr. CEO    Chapter 51: The Ally in Shadows

    Lucas Grant’s office was nothing like Adrian’s.Where Adrian’s was all dark wood and intimidation, Lucas’s was glass and light. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Manhattan. Modern art on the walls. A desk that looked more like a design piece than furniture.He’d invited me to lunch two days after Mrs. Harmon’s call. Said he had something important to discuss. I’d almost declined—had too much on my mind with the custody decision looming—but Clara had insisted.“He’s been nothing but supportive,” she’d said. “At least hear him out.”So here I was, sitting across from a man who’d offered me kindness when I had nothing, waiting to hear what he wanted now that I had everything.“Thank you for coming,” Lucas said, pouring water from a crystal pitcher. “I know you’re busy. The orders from Fashion Week must be overwhelming.”“They are. But I’m managing.”“More than managing. You’re dominating. ETHEREAL is the most talked-about brand in fashion right now. Every retailer wants exclusive righ

  • I’m Back, Mr. CEO    Chapter 50: The Child She Left Behind (Pt 2)

    “I want to testify. If you decide to fight for custody, I’ll tell the truth. I’ll admit I lied. I’ll give you everything you need to prove the case against you was fabricated.” She paused. “I know it doesn’t fix what I did. But maybe it’s a start.”I couldn’t speak. Couldn’t process what she was saying.Evidence. Real evidence that Adrian had paid someone to lie about me. That the custody battle had been rigged from the start.I could fight him now. Really fight. With money and lawyers and witnesses who’d tell the truth.But what would that cost Ethan? An eight-year-old boy who’d lived his whole life believing Vivian was his mother. Who was happy and stable and didn’t need his world torn apart by adults fighting over him.“I need to think about this,” I finally said.“Of course. I’ll send you my contact information. When you’re ready, call me. I’ll do whatever you need.”She hung up.I sat on the bed, phone in hand, mind racing.I could fight. Could take Adrian to court. Could present

  • I’m Back, Mr. CEO    Chapter 49: The Child She Left Behind

    I saw him by accident.Three weeks after Fashion Week. Three weeks of meetings and contract negotiations and pretending I wasn’t slowly falling apart inside. Three weeks of existing in the same city as my son and not being able to see him.I’d been walking through Central Park with Clara. Early morning. Cold. The park is mostly empty except for joggers and dog walkers. We’d needed air. I needed to escape the hotel suite that was starting to feel like a cage.We’d stopped for coffee at a small café on the Upper West Side. Sat outside despite the cold, watching the city wake up.That’s when I saw them.A nanny pushing a stroller with a little girl. And beside her, a boy. Eight years old. Dark hair. Adrian’s eyes. Walking with his hands in his pockets, looking at everything with curious intelligence.Ethan.My son.The world stopped. The sound faded. Everything narrowed to just him. The way he walked. The way he tilted his head when the nanny said something. The way he smiled at his litt

  • I’m Back, Mr. CEO    Chapter 48: The Encounter (Continued)

    “No. I built ETHEREAL to prove something to myself. You’re just collateral damage.”He studied me for a long moment. “You’ve changed.”“Yes.”“You’re harder. Colder.”“I’m stronger. There’s a difference.”“Is there? Because the Serena I knew was warm. Kind. Gentle.”“The Serena you knew was broken. This is what she became when she put herself back together.” I moved toward the door. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a charity auction to attend.”“Wait.” His hand caught my arm. Not rough, but firm. “Please. Just… wait.”I looked down at his hand on my arm. Then up at his face. “Let go.”“I need to ask you something.”“Let. Go.”He released me immediately. “Are you going to try to see Ethan?”There it was. The real reason he’d followed me out here. Not to apologize. Not to congratulate me. To make sure I wouldn’t threaten his perfect life.“Why? Afraid I’ll want my son back?”“He’s not yours. Not anymore. You signed away your rights—”“I signed under duress. While devastated. While you a

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