Author’s POV

That afternoon, Sally arrived with the day’s schedule in hand. Among the various appointments and deadlines, the most important item was, without a doubt, the upcoming Fashion Week.

This Fashion Week was everything for Elegant Realm—Serena’s first major domestic showcase, her big chance to make a splash in the local industry.

"Can you still make the meeting with Mr. Alvin tonight?" Sally asked, watching Serena carefully.

Mr. Alvin was the event coordinator for the Fashion Week. They’d scheduled this evening to discuss Elegant Realm’s concept and designs for the showcase. It was absolutely critical.

"Don’t worry," Serena nodded, straightening her posture. "I can handle it."

Sally bit her lip, clearly unconvinced. But no matter how much Sally wanted to step in, it wouldn’t work.

"Alright then. Call me if anything happens," she conceded. "Rest for a while now. I’ll go make sure the planning department revises that proposal and gets it to you ASAP."

"Thanks," Serena managed.

When Sally left, silence descended upon Serena’s office like a heavy curtain. She leaned against the sofa cushions, lost in thought as the scene with Ryan played on endless loop in her mind. His wounded expression grew more vivid each time she recalled it.

The contradiction tormented her— why would the villain in this story have such devastatingly sad eyes? Had she somehow misunderstood everything?

Serena shook her head vigorously, desperate to clear these dangerous thoughts. The evidence she’d uncovered was solid. This had to be another one of Ryan’s manipulative tactics. She absolutely couldn’t fall for it!

Rising shakily, she gathered her sketches and threw herself into work—her only reliable escape from these confusing emotions and those haunting gray-blue eyes.

The revised Fashion Week proposal arrived quickly. Serena made a few quick modifications before realizing it was time to leave for her meeting with Mr. Alvin.

They’d agreed to meet at Le Noir Café downtown—an elegant spot tucked away in the historic district, known for its privacy and perfect ambiance for business discussions. Serena took a deep breath before stepping inside.

"Mrs. Lancaster! What a pleasure to finally meet you in person," Mr. Alvin greeted her immediately. "The rumors of your beauty don’t do you justice."

Serena smiled politely, brushing off the compliment. "You’re too kind. The downtown traffic was terrible—I hope I haven’t kept you waiting."

"Not at all! I just arrived myself. We still have ten minutes before our scheduled time," he replied warmly. "You’re obviously someone who values punctuality."

His overly enthusiastic tone made Serena wonder what his angle was. In her experience, industry veterans like Alvin didn’t grovel unless they wanted something substantial. Why was someone of his position fawning over her like this? The coordinator of Fashion Week should be an industry powerhouse—what was his endgame?

The thought vanished as they got down to business.

"Mrs. Lancaster, this year’s Fashion Week will be a complete game-changer," he explained, leaning forward slightly. "We’re planning something much more spectacular than our previous events, and we’re looking for the right brand to co-host the event with us."

Serena’s eyes lit up instantly. "And you think Elegant Realm might be suitable?"

Mr. Alvin nodded eagerly. "You’re being far too modest. While Elegant Realm may be relatively new, you’ve generated incredible buzz and market penetration domestically."

"We’d be honored if you’d partner with us for Fashion Week."

Serena understood his calculation immediately—he wanted to leverage Elegant Realm’s reputation to boost the event’s profile. It was clever, but honestly, this was a win-win opportunity she couldn’t pass up.

"If you’re offering Elegant Realm such an honor, how could I possibly refuse?" she replied.

Mr. Alvin smiled broadly. "Wonderful! Let’s toast our coffee to this successful collaboration."

Serena raised her cup, matching his enthusiasm. They spent nearly two hours discussing the details of Fashion Week before finally parting ways.

Looking at the proposal in her hand as she left, Serena realized everything would need significant revision now. Being a co-host rather than just an invited designer changed everything—but the potential benefits for Elegant Realm were enormous.

Her mind raced with possibilities as she headed home, feeling genuinely optimistic for the first time all day.

When Serena walked through the door of the Lancaster mansion, Cedric noticed her improved mood immediately.

"Fashion Week discussions went well?" he asked, looking up from his laptop —always the picture of domestic tranquility when she returned home.

She nodded, unable to contain her excitement. "Better than well. Elegant Realm will be a co-host for the entire event."

Cedric raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised. "Really? Congratulations, then." He smiled that perfectly calculated smile. "I knew I was right about your studio’s potential."

Serena acknowledged his comment with a small nod, then remembered his earlier proposal. "About the collaboration you mentioned—I’ve given it some thought, and I don’t think it’s the right move."

"My suggestion? Stick to what Lancaster Group does best."

She’d framed her rejection as concern for his business interests, making it nearly impossible for him to argue without seeming petty. Serena could see the momentary flash of irritation in his eyes before he composed himself.

"Very well," he replied evenly. "I’ll follow your advice. I only suggested the partnership because I wanted to be there for you when you needed support."

Serena cleared her throat, deftly changing the subject. "I’ll be busy with Fashion Week preparations. How’s Rancy doing?"

"She’s fine. You got home too late—she’s already asleep."

"I’ll go up and check on her," she said, already moving toward the stairs.

"Perhaps you shouldn’t. You might wake her," Cedric cautioned.

Serena made a shushing gesture with her finger and continued upstairs anyway. As she left the room, she didn’t notice how Cedric’s face relaxed with relief.

Cedric had received word earlier about Ryan visiting Elegant Realm, staying there for quite some time. He’d barely restrained himself from rushing to the studio to confront the situation directly.

But at least for now, he was satisfied with the outcome—Serena had chosen to trust him over Ryan.