جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 40

Serena's POVI watch Ryan's eyes widen slightly at my threat. Good. Let him be surprised. I'm not the doormat he married anymore.When he doesn't make another move, I force a smile back onto my face and walk toward another group of potential clients.Throughout the evening, I notice him lurking in the corner, drinking steadily.I instinctively reach for my phone, almost texting him to stop—his stomach can't handle that much alcohol. Then I catch myself.We're divorced. If he wants to drink himself sick, that's his problem now. I deliberately turn my back and focus on the investors in front of me.By the time the gala ends and I've seen off the last guest, he's nowhere in sight. I assume he's finally gone home.The venue is only a short walk from my apartment. Rather than call a car, I decide to enjoy the night air and clear my head.My feet are killing me after hours in heels, but I came prepared. I swap my stilettos for the flats I stashed in my clutch and feel instantly revitalized.

Ryan’s POVI stumble through the doorway of the Blackwood mansion, my head spinning with alcohol and rejection.The grand foyer seems to tilt around me, marble floors gleaming mockingly under the chandelier light.Simon rushes forward to steady me, his concerned face blurring before my eyes."Mr. Blackwood, you're burning up," he says, pressing a hand to my forehead.I push him away, swaying dangerously. "I'm fine."But I'm not fine. The cold night air after leaving Serena's apartment has seeped into my bones, mingling with the whiskey in my system.My thoughts are a jumbled mess of her defiant eyes, her trembling lips after our kiss, and the wall she's built between us."Sir, please let me call the doctor," Simon insists, hovering nearby as I drag myself toward the staircase.The grand staircase suddenly looks impossibly steep. My legs give way beneath me, and the world goes dark.---Voices float around me in fragments. A needle prick in my arm. Cool cloth on my forehead. The clinica

Serena's POVGrandmother Blackwood glanced at the receipts, then let out a cold laugh that sent chills down my spine. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the papers directly into Ivy's face."Have I gone senile? I don't recall any connection between the Blackwood family and you, Ivy Hart. These clothes you're buying—why should the Blackwoods pay for them?"The humiliation on Ivy's face was immediate. Around us, the store employees began whispering, barely concealing their amusement at her predicament. I fought to keep my expression neutral, but inside I was experiencing a shameful sense of satisfaction."Mrs. Blackwood, I was only—" Ivy stammered, her usual confidence crumbling."Don't think I'm unaware of your recent antics," Grandmother cut her off with brutal efficiency. "You've been dismissed from Blackwood Enterprises. Where you work now is none of my concern, but if you ever misuse the Blackwood name again, I won't be so lenient!"Her eyes narrowed dangerously, radiating an aut

Serena's POVI CHECKED MY WATCH as I walked through the hotel lobby.Our dinner with potential investors had gone exceedingly well, and the contract was practically signed.Dreamland Studio would soon have the financial backing to launch our international collection."That went better than expected," I murmured to myself, a small smile tugging at my lips. Two years of relentless work was finally paying off.As I approached the elevators, my phone buzzed with a message from Maya—she'd secured the Japanese distributor we'd been courting for months.Perfect timing. Once we finalized everything tomorrow—The words died in my throat.Standing by an open hotel room door was Ryan—my ex-husband—with a woman clinging desperately to his chest. Not just any woman. Ivy Hart.I froze, a sudden chill washing over me despite my rational mind screaming that this shouldn't matter. Ryan's personal life was no longer my concern. We'd been divorced for years.Yet something sharp and painful twisted in my

Serena’s POVThe moment the door closed behind us, regret crashed over me like a tidal wave. What was I thinking, inviting Ryan Blackwood into my room?The man who had shattered my heart and left me to pick up the pieces alone.But it was too late now. He stood in the center of my suite, tall and imposing, his presence filling every corner of the room. His eyes swept over the space—noting my open laptop on the desk, the design sketches spread across the desk."Nice décor," he said, breaking the silence.I hugged myself, suddenly feeling vulnerable. "Thanks… it's all thanks to the money you gave me."He went silent, his expression unreadable, and the pause seemed to stretch. My stomach tightened, unsure if I'd said too much, or not enough."Dreamland's doing well, then." His tone was casual, almost deliberately so.""We manage," I replied stiffly, unsure what to do with my hands, with myself. "Would you like something to drink? There's a minibar."Ryan shook his head, his gaze never lea