Chapter One Hundred And Twenty Four

Chapter One Hundred And Twenty Four
Serena’s Pov

I shook my head slowly as I looked down through the window again. The delivery men were still downstairs, trying to arrange the large boxes that had my name written on them. Some of my employees were outside, taking pictures and murmuring among themselves. It was already starting to look like another scene that would end up online.

“Unbelievable,” I muttered under my breath.

Then I turned around and called, “Bridget!”

She came rushing in, slightly out of breath. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Tell the security men to clear out whoever brought those boxes downstairs,” I said firmly. “I don’t care who sent them, and I don’t want them anywhere near this building.”

Bridget blinked, surprised. “Should we at least check what’s inside?”

“No,” I replied without hesitation. “If it’s from who I think it is, then it’s nothing I want to see.”

She nodded quickly. “Understood, ma’am.”

I could still hear the faint noise outside as she hurried away to carry out my instructions. I leaned slightly on my desk, exhaling. Killian was really over doing himself now. It seemed like every new day came with another stunt.

A few minutes later, the door opened again and Bridget stepped in. 

“They’ve been cleared, ma’am. The security team escorted the men out, and the boxes are being taken away.”

“Good,” I said, walking back towards the window. 

I peered outside once more and confirmed that the men and the boxes were gone. Peace had returned to the building.

“Thank you, Bridget. You can go,” I said softly.

She smiled politely. “Of course, ma’am.”

After she left, I sat down and massaged my temples for a moment. Everything was happening so fast, the news, the online chaos, Killian’s dramatic displays, but somehow, I felt completely in control. He was moving on impulse, and I was moving with strategy.

By evening, I finally packed up my files, grabbed my purse, and left for home.

When I walked through the front door, I was greeted by the warm light of the living room. Adrien was there, sitting on the couch with a glass of wine in his hand. His expression, though, wasn’t his usual calm one. There was a heaviness in his eyes that I could sense even from a distance.

“Hey,” I greeted softly, closing the door behind me.

He looked up at me, his tone neutral. “Hey.”

I walked towards him and smiled faintly. “Rough day?”

“Not exactly,” he said, setting the glass down on the table. “Just thinking.”

I could already tell something was wrong. I sat beside him and studied his face carefully. 

“You’re quiet,” I said. “Did something happen?”

Adrien leaned back, sighing. “Serena, can I ask you something?”

“Of course,” I said, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

He turned his head slightly towards me, his blue eyes sharp but not angry. “What exactly is going on between you and Killian?”

I froze for half a second, blinking. “What do you mean?”

“You know exactly what I mean,” he said quietly. “It’s all over the internet. The gestures, the banners, the messages. He’s suddenly gone from being this cold, arrogant man to acting like he’s madly in love with you again. And the whole world seems to be watching it unfold.”

I let out a small sigh and looked down at my hands. I had expected this conversation sooner or later, but it still stung to see how uneasy he looked.

“Adrien,” I began gently, “I understand how it looks. But trust me, there’s nothing going on between us. Whatever Killian is doing right now, it’s just him playing his own game.”

He frowned slightly. “Then why aren’t you stopping him? Why aren’t you saying anything publicly to deny it?”

“Because sometimes silence speaks louder than denial,” I said calmly. “Let him make a fool of himself. Every move he makes, every headline he creates, it’s all giving me the upper hand. He just doesn’t realize it yet.”

Adrien studied me quietly for a moment. “So this is still part of your plan.”

“Yes,” I said firmly. “And I need you to trust me. I told you before, I’m never going back to him.”

He exhaled, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “You really mean that?”

“Of course,” I said softly, placing my hand on his arm. “Adrien, I wouldn’t trade what we have now for what I had with him. What Killian and I shared ended a long time ago. This… this is just me watching him fall apart.”

He looked into my eyes for a long moment before nodding slowly. “Alright,” he said finally. “I’ll trust you. I just don’t want this to hurt you or turn into something ugly.”

I smiled faintly and leaned closer, wrapping my arms around him. “It won’t. I promise.”

He hugged me back, his hands warm around my back. “You always say that,” he murmured.

“Because it’s always true,” I replied with a small laugh.

When we pulled apart, he gave me a tired smile. 

“You’re something else, Serena.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I teased lightly.

He chuckled, shaking his head. “I just hope whatever show you’re putting on doesn’t end with fireworks.”

“Don’t worry,” I said, pressing a kiss to his cheek. “Just sit back and enjoy the show.”

He sighed again but smiled faintly. “Okay. I’ll try.”

After that, I went upstairs with the intention of bathing, but as I got to my room and was about to pull off my clothes, my phone rang.

It was Ryan.

Then I answered immediately. 

“Ryan, what’s going on?”

“Ma’am,” his voice came through in a rush, “Social media are skyrocketing right now. Everything Mr. Blackwood has been doing today, the boxes, the public messages, the photos, it’s all over every major platform. It’s trending in multiple countries. Some people are calling it the biggest corporate-love scandal of the year.”

I walked to the window and looked out into the quiet night. “I’m not surprised,” I said simply.

“Reporters have been calling our PR office nonstop,” Ryan continued. “They’re asking if we have a statement or if you’re planning to respond.”

I took a slow sip of the drink that was in the room, thinking for a moment. “Let them wonder for tonight,” I said finally. “But tomorrow, we’ll give them something to talk about.”

Ryan paused. “What do you mean?”

I smiled faintly. “Arrange a press conference for tomorrow morning,” I said clearly. “It’s time we set the record straight.”

“Understood, ma’am,” Ryan said immediately. “I’ll handle the arrangements right away.”

“Good,” I said, ending the call.

As I lowered my phone, I stared out the window again. The city lights flickered below, the world still spinning with rumors and noise. Tomorrow, everything would play out just the way I wanted it to.

And as I stood there in the quiet of the room, the faint vibration of another message came through my phone.

It was a notification from one of the news outlets.

“BREAKING NEWS: Serena Calloway to hold press conference amid public love controversy with ex-husband Killian Blackwood.”

I smiled slowly.

Exactly as planned.