Chapter 49: Serena’s Downfall Begins

Chapter 49: Serena’s Downfall Begins
Damien Blackwood’s POV

It seemed like all the things I had worked so hard to achieve and keep together were falling apart at an alarming rate. It did not help that my mum called me earlier; the feeling in my gut was still there. The office air was too thin to breathe. There was something wrong that I knew deep down. The puzzle pieces did not fit together, and now we knew the truth about Serena.

It made no sense to me. Even after everything that happened with Adrian, I stand by her side every day and trust her. She had lied to Kieran and kept him from finding out who Adrian's real father was. It made me sick to think that I had been so stupid.

But now, piece by piece, the truth was coming out. I had already seen the proof my mum sent to the board, but that was just the start. Serena's hold on Blackfang Enterprises and our family was weakening because the dam had broken.

I stood by the window and looked at the city. While the soft morning sun was shining on everything, I felt uneasy and could not get rid of it. I got here because of every choice I made and every step I took.

It looked like there was no way out now.

I had to act.

I had to stop Serena before she could destroy everything.

I ran my hands across my hair, frustrated, pacing back and forth. It wasn’t just about Blackfang Enterprises anymore. It was about Adrian. It was about my brother and the kind of man I was becoming. I had promised him that I would be there for him, that I would protect him. And yet, I couldn’t even protect him from the woman who had used us all for her gain.

I picked up my phone and dialled the number that had been disturbing me for weeks.

Kieran.

It rang a few times before he finally picked up, his voice as cold as ever. “Damien.”

“Are you sitting down?” I asked, my voice urgent.

“I’m listening.”

“There is something you need to know about Serena,” I said, I felt the weight of the words. “It’s all true. What we’ve been trying to figure out... it’s worse than we thought. The evidence Mom has—everything she’s uncovered, it’s real.”

I could feel his reaction even through the phone. After a short pause, he asked, "What do you mean by worse?"

"She lied to you." Everybody. Not just about Adrian, but about everything. You have been her way to get to Blackfang Enterprises. She is now making plans for something even worse.

His voice was low when he spoke again after a long pause. "Tell me everything." 

"I am trying to find out more, but I do not have all the facts yet." You need to ask the board to help. Right now, we need to take control before she makes her next move.”

“I’m on it,” Kieran said, his tone sharp. “And Damien… I’ll handle this. We’ll take her down.”

I hung up, my heart racing. Kieran was angry. I could hear it in his voice. I was not sure if that was enough to stop Serena from hurting herself more, though. I knew she would not give up without a fight because she was cruel.

I did not wait around. I called around and set up meetings with the right people to find out more about what was going on. I had to know what Serena had done and what she was going to do.

But I felt like something was not right. In the back of my mind, I had a strong sense that this was not actually about power, money, or the company. Serena did not just want to take Kieran's life, she wanted something much worse.

I was sure that my mum was right the whole time. Serena did pose a threat, yes. But she was hiding something much worse as well.

Not until later that afternoon, while I was waiting for everyone else to arrive in the boardroom, did I get a message from someone I know at work. It was brief and vague:

The truth about Serena's past is coming out. All of the files are here.

My heart stopped.  I was sick, but I tried not to show it.  I had to think about it.  Serena thought she had hidden something, but it was about to show itself.

The board members started coming in one by one after a while.  They all looked as tense as I did.  I tried to calm down by putting my hands on the cold tabletop while sitting at the head of the table.

In a low voice, someone on the board said, "Damien." “We’ve been informed that there’s new evidence regarding Serena Blackwood. Do you know anything about this?”

I nodded, my mind working overtime. “Yes,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "We have learnt some very important things about her." Everything she does is a lie, and we have proof. Before it is too late, we need to move quickly.

The board looked at each other, and shock shook the room. I did not wait for them to think about what I said. I had already given them a quick rundown of what had been found: emails, documents that had been changed, and officials who had been bribed. Now, though, it was time for the big surprise.

I took out a thick folder from my bag and set it down in front of me. I told them, "This is just the beginning." Serena has a history—one that she’s been hiding for years. I have reason to believe she’s not just after Blackfang Enterprises. She’s after control of everything, and she’s willing to go to any lengths to get it.”

I opened the folder and pulled out a few pages. As I handed them out, the room became quiet as the board members looked over the papers.

Oh, I saw it! It was what I was looking for.

It stood there and stared back at me. Everything Serena had tried to hide—her ties to organised crime and her business with shady people in the past—was now out in the open.

One of the board members asked with a shaking voice, "Who is this?" He was pointing to a name on a piece of paper.

"Someone from her past," I said, making my voice rough. "A coworker she has had for years." And we should have shown everything off long ago. We need to confront her, now.”

But just as the board members were talking about what to do next, my phone rang again.  I looked down at the screen and felt sick as I read the message.

It was from my mother.

“Adrian’s gone. Serena took him.”

My heart stopped beating.

"Damien?" asked one of the board members, who looked at me blankly.

I did not pay attention, though.  I got up, put on my coat, and began to leave the house.  After me, they yelled and asked questions, but it did not bother me.  I had to find Adrian.

I had to do it now.

The storm that was about to hit Serena was finally catching up with her, but I was not sure if any of us were ready for it.