Chapter 219
By midmorning, the city was roaring with noise.
The news had broken only an hour ago, but by the time the first rays of sunlight hit the skyline, Serena Lin’s name was already stamped across every media outlet, trending on every social platform, whispered over coffee counters and boardrooms alike.
“Serena Lin, From Runaway Bride to Corporate Queen: Now the Owner of Zhao Group?”
“From Love to War: How the Lin Heiress Took Over Her Ex Fiancé’s Family Empire.”
“Ethan Zhao’s Fall, Lila’s Lies, a Fake Pregnancy, and a Violent Night.”
The stories multiplied like wildfire, snippets of truth tangled with rumor, public fascination mixed with schadenfreude. Every commentator wanted a piece of it. Every gossip site wanted the inside scoop.
No one could believe it, that the woman once humiliated on national television had not only walked away from her engagement but had now bought the entire Zhao Group from under the same man’s nose.
In cafés and offices, phones buzzed as whispers spread.
“Did you hear? Serena Lin actually owns Zhao Group now!”
“No way, wasn’t she supposed to marry Ethan Zhao?”
“She was! But I heard he cheated on her with that Lila girl, the one who’s in the hospital now.”
“Oh my God, yes! And apparently, the baby wasn’t even real. She faked the whole pregnancy.”
“So Serena dumped him, then turned around and took everything from him. Savage.”
“The Lins always said she was soft. Guess not.”
Even among the elite circles, the air was thick with speculation. Some called it poetic justice. Others, corporate manipulation.
But none could deny, Serena Lin had become the most talked about woman in the city.
At Hillside Estate... Florence leaned against the doorway of the grand sitting room, scrolling through her phone as the reports poured in. “They’ve gone completely mad with the headlines,” she murmured, amusement tugging at her lips. “You’re either being called a genius or a vengeful goddess.”
Serena sat by the window, sunlight tracing soft lines across her face. She wasn’t smiling, but there was a glint of quiet satisfaction in her eyes. “Let them talk,” she said simply, swirling the cup of tea in her hand. “They’ll believe what they want.”
Florence tilted her head. “And what should they believe?”
“That the Zhao Group is finally being run by someone competent,” Serena replied coolly. “The rest doesn’t matter.”
Florence laughed. “You sound just like Lucien when you say that.”
At that, Serena did smile, faintly, fondly. “He’s rubbing off on me.”
Across town, the Zhao mansion... Ethan Zhao sat slumped in the living room, the TV playing the morning news, each word another dagger.
“...and sources confirm that the acquisition was led by Feng Group subsidiaries, with Serena Lin listed as the primary beneficiary. With this, the Lins’ heiress becomes one of the youngest women to own a major conglomerate...”
He turned off the television with a shaking hand.
His father was pacing the floor, his voice sharp as a whip. “Do you realize what you’ve done, Ethan? You’ve humiliated this family beyond repair! First that sham of a marriage, then this pregnancy scandal, and now she owns us! The Zhaos will be the laughingstock of every investor in the country! You couldn't do the most simplest job, keeping your bitch in check.”
Ethan’s jaw clenched. “I didn’t know she was going to...”
“Of course you didn’t!” his father barked. “You were too busy chasing after that Lila girl! And now, she’s in the hospital, the media’s calling you an abuser, and our stocks are free falling!”
He slammed his cane against the marble. “Rein in your woman, Ethan! If you still have an ounce of sense left, get to Serena Lin and make her give back what she took. You know she still loves you, women like her don’t forget first loves so easily. I don't care the number of times you have to try.”
Ethan looked up sharply, face pale with anger and disbelief. “You think she did all this because she still loves me? I tried to reach out but she doesn't want to hear anything.”
His father’s glare was cold and deliberate. “I think she did it because she wants you to crawl. And if you’re smart, you’ll do it. Make her pity you. Make her trust you. Get those shares back before it’s too late.”
Back at Hillside... Serena’s phone wouldn’t stop vibrating, the endless stream of calls and messages lighting it up like fireworks.
Florence rolled her eyes and snatched it off the table. “You’ve got journalists, old classmates, and... oh, surprise surprise... Ethan Zhao himself.”
Serena didn’t even blink. “Block him.”
Florence laughed. “I like this version of you.”
Serena set her tea down, her voice steady, cold, and calm. “This version was always here. People just never cared to see her.”
.........................
Lucien Feng had been sitting behind his desk for over an hour, staring at the report spread across the table, a breakdown of the Zhao Group’s shares, the Lin Group’s stock reactions, and the media coverage.
Everything was moving precisely as he’d calculated.
The empire he’d built, the chaos he’d weaponized, was unfolding perfectly. At least, until his phone began to buzz.
It was Liang, one of his oldest subordinates. The name flashing on the screen made his chest tighten. Liang rarely called unless it was serious.
Lucien’s brow furrowed as he answered. “What is it?”
On the other end, the man’s tone was low, hesitant. “Sir… we found her.”
Lucien froze, every muscle in his body going still. “…Who?”
A long silence stretched across the line before Liang spoke again, his voice quieter this time. “Meilin.”