chapter 11

Serena pov

The car reached SkyBlade as the rain grew heavier. The parking lot was open-air—a stretch from car to entrance.

Adrian got out, opened an umbrella, and waited for Elena. Once she stepped down, they left together. He never once thought of me.

Of course—one wolf can't shield two from the rain with a single umbrella. I had long stopped counting his favoritism.

I opened the door, ready to dash through the rain. Though the distance wasn't far, late-autumn rain still bit coldly.

"Serena, wait for me."

Someone hurried from the entrance. It was Ryan.

He held an umbrella to fetch me. "This rain's chilly—easy to catch cold." He explained as he reached me. "Especially for she-wolves. It can let the cold seep in."

"Thank you, Ryan." I meant it.

"No need to thank me. That healer you recommended for my mate worked wonders. Two courses and she's much better. She told me to thank you properly in person—and invite you to dinner tonight!"

"Mrs. Sullivan is too kind. It was just a small favor."

We chatted and laughed as we walked back—harmonious.

Elena and Adrian stood waiting at the entrance. Seeing this, Elena raised a brow at Adrian. "Serena and Ryan seem close. No wonder he insisted on seeing her yesterday to continue talks."

Her words carried implication. Anyone in the business world would catch it.

Adrian's reaction was cooler than Elena expected. He withdrew his gaze, handed the umbrella to a nearby guard, and walked inside.

Elena was pleased with his response, lips curving as she followed.

As Serena and Ryan approached the meeting room, Elena was leaning toward Adrian, speaking softly. Their upper bodies naturally close.

Psychology says when you subconsciously like someone, your body leans in without thinking.

I thought I no longer cared. But seeing it still pricked my heart like a needle.

After loving him so many years, how could I let go instantly?

I shifted my gaze and took the seat farthest from them.

From the start, Elena was aggressive, insisting SkyBlade concede two points.

Ryan refused—agreed terms couldn't change on a whim.

"Before, Serena handled this project. She's just a secretary—lacking professional business judgment. That's why we're requesting a change."

Ryan looked to me, hoping I'd speak up. I kept my head down, scrolling my phone—whatever I was looking at.

Elena gave an almost imperceptible scoff, full of disdain.

"Ryan, I suggest you think it over. blackwood business has no shortage of good projects."

She leaned back, confident of victory.

Ryan struggled inwardly. SkyBlade desperately needed funding to keep running. The urgency stemmed from massive prior R&D spending.

Elena clearly saw this vulnerability and squeezed their margin at the critical moment. Pure business instinct.

But at her proposed ratio, SkyBlade's future would be bleak. Profits mostly in capital's hands—how could they survive?

After weighing it, Ryan decided to walk away. Finding new funding would delay operations, but they could grit through. Better than no future.

He was about to speak when I finally did. "Sorry—I have a few words."

I mirrored my phone to the screen, pulling up fresh news screenshots. Just released—plans to accelerate building an agricultural powerhouse.

"SkyBlade has always focused on agricultural drones, offering plant-protection drones and smart agriculture solutions applied in multiple countries and regions worldwide. When I wrote the deck, I factored this in. The data was backed—not pulled from thin air. With policy support, SkyBlade's future will exceed projections."

I kept it brief, then returned to my seat.

Ryan was deeply grateful. When negotiating with Elena again, his confidence grew. "Serena may be just a secretary, but her business sense and judgment are sharp—no worse than those with other packs MBAs!"

Elena's expression shifted slightly.

Adrian, silent until now, finally spoke. "Elena just returned and isn't fully familiar with domestic conditions and policies yet—that's why she overlooked it."

Clearly giving her an out.

I expected him to side with her, but not so openly. That must be what favoritism looks like.

So Elena smiled boldly. "My mistake. Sorry to make you laugh, Ryan."

Before Ryan could reply, Adrian explained for her. "It's not your fault. You just took over the project. Serena didn't handle the handover properly—that's her negligence."

His tone was even, yet each word stabbed like a dull blade into my heart.

Clean. Decisive.

Ryan couldn't stand it and defended me. "How can you blame Serena? This policy was announced ten minutes ago. She couldn't have suggested hypotheticals in the deck—that would be pie in the sky."

I no longer cared about any of it. I didn't even want to speak.

One by one, the matters before my eyes cleared. One by one, the lights in my heart went out.

"Sorry, I'm not feeling well. I'll step out."

No food all morning—my stomach protested again. The rolls in my bag were cold and hard. I forced them down anyway.

Fortunately, the pantry had hot water. Half a cup, and my stomach finally eased. After taking medicine, I felt better.

Adrian and Elena emerged from the meeting room, expressions relaxed and pleased. Ryan followed close behind, looking upbeat too.

The deal had gone through. I breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"Serena, Elena wants to tour SkyBlade's production line. Coming?"

Before I could refuse, Adrian spoke. "You already botched the handover and nearly derailed the deal. Aren't you going to show Elena around properly now?"

So he still believed the near-collapse was because I hadn't handed over the project well?

Ten years giving everything for blackwood business—and in the end, it meant nothing.