chapter 5

Serena

One week later.

The funeral was over. My father was buried beside my mother.

I stood at his grave long after everyone left.

"I promise you, Daddy," I whispered. "I will make them pay. I will take back everything. I will be strong. Just like you said."

The wind blew softly, and I felt it.

His presence. His strength.

I wiped my tears and walked away.

It is time. Time to become Serena Lawrence. Not Serena Wellington. Not anymore.

I am the daughter of Richard Lawrence, one of the richest and most powerful men in the country.

And now, I am the president of Lawrence Global Enterprises.

My father's empire.

My empire now.

*******

One week after my father’s burial, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at the woman I had become. My eyes were still swollen from tears, but behind them burned something darker… something stronger.

I wasn’t the same Serena who begged for love, who got thrown into the rain like trash or the Serena who lost her unborn child.

That Serena died the night Marcus watched me bleed.

A new one was born.

And today… she was taking over Lawrence Global, my father’s empire.

Today, I was ready to destroy Marcus and the family he worshipped.

I wanted to be their nightmare.

I wanted them to feel fear the same way they made me feel helpless.

My father’s loyal assistant, Mr. Desmond, stood beside me as we drove to the headquarters. He had spent the whole week briefing me—every lie, every betrayal, every greedy hand waiting to snatch my father’s company because they believed he had no living heir.

“They held secret meetings,” Desmond said. “They planned to divide the company among themselves before the board confirms the next president.”

I nodded slowly. “Let them try.”

He swallowed hard. “They think you’re too broken… too inexperienced to lead.”

A cold smile crawled onto my lips.

“Good,” I whispered. “Let them underestimate me.”

When I walked into the boardroom, silence swallowed the room.

Men who once pretended to respect my father now exchanged nervous looks.

Some even smirked, thinking I was weak.

I took the president’s seat without hesitation.

The leather felt warm, almost as if my father was telling me, sit, my child… this is yours.

“Let the meeting begin,” I said calmly.

Mr. Collins, one of the vultures Desmond warned me about, cleared his throat.

“With all due respect, Miss Serena… we believe you are not ready to handle such responsibilities. Regal Holdings is not a toy. It requires a capable...”

“Capable like you?” I cut in, my voice gentle… too gentle.

He blinked rapidly. “I... I didn’t mean...”

I tossed a brown file onto the table.

It slid right to him.

“Open it.”

His hand shook as he obeyed.

Inside were documents, bank statements, offshore transfers, hidden accounts.

Cold, undeniable proof.

“You stole forty-two billion dollars from my father over the past three years,” I said.

His face turned white instantly.

“Serena, I... this is a misunderstanding...”

“Next.” I threw another file at the second man. “Illegal partnerships and money laundering.”

The third man tried to stand, but I slammed a file in front of him too.

“Selling company information to competitors.”

The entire room froze.

Their lies… their greed… all exposed in seconds. And if I want to rule this company successfully, I need to remove all the bad eggs before they affect others.

I leaned forward, both hands on the table.

“For years, you thought my father was dying slowly, and you planned to kill his company with him.”

No one dared breathe.

“Well,” I continued, my voice low and sharp, “your time is up.”

I pointed at the first three men.

“You’re fired. Effective immediately. Security will escort you out.”

They didn’t move.

They just stared at me like they had seen a ghost.

“Did you not hear me?” I asked softly, dangerously.

“Get. Out.”

Security rushed in. Chairs fell.

Their protests filled the air, but no one listened.

They were dragged out like the criminals they were.

When the door closed, I turned to the rest of the board.

“If anyone sitting here believes I am not capable,” I said, “stand up and resign now.”

Silence.

No one moved.

Not even a breath dared to challenge me.

They were terrified.

And they should be.

Because I wasn’t just their new president.

I am a woman who lost everything, a woman who had nothing left to fear, a woman ready to burn her enemies to ashes.

I sat back in my chair, my heartbeat steady and cold.

“My name is Serena…” I whispered in my mind, “and this is the last time anyone will ever break me.”

The war had begun.