CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SELENE’s POV

By the next morning, the entire city was already talking. Riverton Maritime officially signed with Arden Corporation at exactly nine o’clock, and Laurent Group stock dropped before noon.

I stood inside the executive boardroom of Arden Corporation watching the news play across the massive screen while investors congratulated me, comments flying from different parts of the table

“Arden Corporation continues aggressive expansion.”

“Laurent Group expected to suffer major international shipping setbacks.”

“Selene Arden gains control over another major market structure.”

I took a slow sip of coffee without reacting. Around me, executives exchanged impressed looks while assistants moved quietly around the room passing reports and updated projections.

“Laurent Group shares already fell six percent this morning,” one board member announced.

Another smiled. “Investors are nervous.”

“They should be,” I replied dryly.

The room fell into a roar of laughter.

Clara slid another file toward me. “Three foreign investors requested meetings after the Riverton announcement.”

“Schedule them for tomorrow.”

“And Laurent Group?”

I lifted my eyes slowly. “What about them?”

Clara hesitated briefly before answering. “Their emergency board meeting started twenty minutes ago.”

A faint satisfactory smile touched my lips.

Good, let Adrian sweat a little. For years, I was the one left anxious while he stayed composed through business pressure and family humiliation, now the balance has changed and honestly, I liked watching it happen.

The meeting ended shortly after noon. By the time I stepped out of the boardroom, my phone already carried over forty unread notifications from reporters and business magazines requesting interviews. I ignored all of them.

“Your lunch meeting with the Milan investors has been moved to the rooftop restaurant,” Clara informed me as we walked down the executive hallway.

“Why?” I asked.

“They requested privacy.”

I gave a small nod. “Fine.”

The rooftop restaurant sat on the highest level of Arden Tower overlooking almost the entire city skyline. Quiet piano music played softly through hidden speakers while wealthy executives occupied private sections behind tinted glass dividers.

Conversations shifted the moment I entered, people noticed me everywhere now.

The Milan investors stood immediately when I approached the table.

“Miss Arden.”

“Gentlemen.”

The meeting moved perfectly. Discussoons were made about expansion, international routes and future contracts.

By the end of the lunch, both men were practically ready to hand me half their company willingly.

Of course, money always follow confidence.

One of them smiled as we stood from the table. “I understand now why everybody fears negotiating against you.”

“I prefer respect over fear,” I answered with a calm smile.

The older investor laughed. “The dangerous people usually say that,” and we all laughed over it.

My phone buzzed just as they walked away.

It was Clara.

I answered immediately. “Yes?”

Her voice was tensed when she spoke. “Miss Arden… there’s an issue downstairs.”

I frowned slightly. “What issue?”

“You should come see for yourself.”

Ten minutes later, I stepped out of the elevator into the main lobby of Arden Tower.

And stopped, my eyes landed on the massive floral arrangement sitting directly in the center of the lobby.

White orchids, hundreds of them.

Employees stood nearby whispering among themselves while security looked visibly uncomfortable.

“What is this?” I asked calmly.

Nobody answered immediately, then Clara handed me a small black envelope. “It arrived fifteen minutes ago.”

I took it slowly, no name outside, no company logo.

The entire lobby had gone unusually quiet now, every employee pretending not to stare while obviously staring anyway.

I opened the envelope carefully. Inside was a single handwritten card.

Welcome home, Serena.

Every sound around me disappeared, though my expression didn’t change, years of training stopped that much. But inside of me, I was deeply frightened.

I looked at the flowers again…white orchids.

Adrian used to buy me white orchids during the first year of our marriage because I once told him they looked elegant. Nobody else knew that, so how come this is here.

“Who sent them?” I asked evenly.

“The delivery company refused to provide details.”

“Remove them.” I said coldly.

Clara blinked. “Immediately?”

“Yes.”

One of the employees nearby hurried forward nervously. “Should we move them to your office floor instead?”

“No, get rid of them.” My voice came out colder this time.

The employee stepped back immediately. I turned toward the elevator again while Clara followed behind me.

“The flowers came through a corporate delivery account,” Clara said once the elevator doors closed.

I looked up briefly. “What account?”

She checked the tablet in her hand. “Laurent Group executive services.”

My fingers tightened around the card.

“Should I investigate further?”

“No need for that.” I said evenly.

No matter how I think about it, it still doesn’t make sense…Adrian couldn’t know.

Unless someone inside Laurent Group was playing games or worse someone wanted me to believe Adrian sent them.

The elevator doors opened onto the executive floor, and I walked straight toward my office. I sighted a small black box on my table the moment I entered. I walked straight to it, it was unmarked.

My pulse slowed briefly. “Who brought this in here?” I asked.

Clara frowned. “It wasn’t here five minutes ago.” All my instincts sharpened instantly.

I opened the box, inside was an old silver bracelet, it was slightly damaged.

My breath caught mid-air, because I recognized it immediately. It was the bracelet Ava gifted me on my twenty-fourth birthday. The same bracelet I was wearing the night my car went over that bridge.

And taped beneath it was another note.

THIS TIME, ASK YOURSELF WHY YOUR BODY WAS NEVER FOUND.