Serena's POV

"How bad is it?" I asked, my brow furrowed with concern.

"It's a mess I can't even begin to explain over the phone," Maya sighed. "Can you come to the studio? I'll show you everything."

Two hours later, I pushed open the familiar glass doors of Dreamland Studio, breathing in the scent of creativity and possibility that had once been my whole world.

Maya spotted me immediately, her red-brown hair bobbing as she rushed toward me, wrapping me in a fierce hug.

"God, I've missed you," she whispered, squeezing me tight.

"Missed you too," I replied, feeling a lump form in my throat. The studio was quieter than I remembered, with several design stations conspicuously empty.

After catching up over coffee in her office, I finally asked the question that had been burning in my mind. "So what happened with Celeste? What's going on with the studio?"

Maya's expression darkened as she pulled up files on her computer. "It's Ivy Hart. She's destroying us."

She explained that our studio was being completely blacklisted by Blackwood Enterprises because Celeste had somehow offended Ivy at a gallery opening last month.

They were facing enormous penalty fees for broken contracts, and Ivy was using Mr.Blackwood's influence to spread rumors that Celeste had plagiarized her designs.

"Look at this," Maya said, turning her screen toward me. "Ivy's latest collection for Hart Creations. Does anything look familiar?"

My blood ran cold as I stared at the designs on screen-they were near-identical to Celeste's work from this month, with only minimal changes to avoid outright copyright infringement.

"I have no doubt Ivy stole them," I said, voice tight. "Celeste would never do something like this."

Maya sighed, glancing at me. "I know. But we don't have proof-and with Mr.Blackwood still protecting her, it won't be easy."

That two-faced bitch.

Just because I was divorcing Ryan didn't mean I'd let this slide.

I don't turn the other cheek.

Every debt would be paid in full. With interest.

Ivy thought she could get away with everything she did to me?

She has no idea who she's dealing with.

Looking at Maya's indignant expression, I gently placed my hand over hers. "Don't worry, I'll handle this. Today."

Maya stared at me in disbelief. "Today? Honey, are you serious? I have a pile of orders waiting for you...I know you are talented, but you aren't made of steel!"

Her concern touched me, it really did.

But what she didn't know was-I had a secret weapon. One she'd never see coming.

"Relax. I've got this. You'll see." I said, reaching for my luggage.

I pulled out a thick portfolio case I'd kept hidden for years-my private collection of designs created during my marriage, never shown to anyone. My secret escape.

As I laid sketch after sketch across Maya's desk, her eyes widened. She reached out as if the pages were made of glass.

"Serena. these are. oh my god, these are masterpieces. You designed all of these while living with him?"

I nodded once. "Whenever he was with Ivy or working late, I designed. These sketches got me through some of my darkest nights. They should be more than enough to keep the studio afloat."

Maya flipped through them again, her awe giving way to gleeful excitement. "Forget keeping us afloat-these could bring the entire industry to its knees. You have to enter the Asian Jewelry Design Competition next week. It's the perfect chance to humiliate Ivy. Publicly. Brutally."

A slow smile tugged at my lips. For the first time in years, I felt powerful."I'm in. If we're doing this, we're doing it right. "

If I'm going to strike back, I'll make it hurt-she needs something permanent to remind her not to mess with me again.

I looked at her, steady and calm."When you send the designs to our partners, tell them clearly:the designer is me. "

"And go ahead and update the studio website too-make it official. I'm back."

I paused, then added with a smirk,"it's time they all remembered who built this place from the ground up.Ivy's reign is over."

Maya's jaw dropped. "Wait-seriously?! You're really coming out of retirement?!"

She looked like she might cry from joy. "When you left the industry, people never stopped talking about your work. Some said your pieces felt like poetry in gold."

I arched an eyebrow. "Well, it's time I start writing again."

Maya hesitated, then blurted, "Then I should return all the studio shares to you-"

I waved her off. "Not now. We've got more urgent things to deal with."

I pulled her laptop toward me, fingers flying across the keys.

As soon as I opened the news page, a flood of headlines popped up-negative press surrounding Celeste's incident and the studio's involvement.

[So much for being a 'genius designer'-guess it's easy when you sleep your way to the top.]

[Heartbroken for Ivy-she earned the final design rights fair and square, and still got assaulted?]

[Time to boycott this trash. And while we're at it, shut down Dreamland Studio too.]

[No! Dreamland was founded by the legendary Lazuli-just because she left doesn't mean we'll forget. Bring her back!]

[We miss Lazuli. The studio's designs died the day she walked away.]

My eyes narrowed. Enough was enough.

Then I contacted an old associate who owed me a favor-a hacker who went by the name "Triton".

Me: I need everything on Ivy and the Celeste incident-real dirt. I want it public by the end of the day.

He responded instantly.

Triton: Holy shit-Serena? You just resurrected my whole damn system. I thought you were dead.

Me: Don't get dramatic. I want this over in 12 hours.

Triton: Say less. Consider it done.

Once I finished, I logged into my long-dormant social media account under the name Lazuli-my identity as a jewelry designer.

I stared at the blinking cursor for a moment. then typed:Justice may be delayed, but it never fails to arrive.

P.S. I'm back.

Ryan's POV

"How dare she!" I growled, staring at the divorce papers on my desk, my anger simmering like molten lava beneath the surface.

I'd built the Blackwood empire from a strong regional power into the dominant force in North America.

As CEO, I'd doubled our company's reach, expanded our business empire into new markets, and established our family's supremacy through both strength and strategy.

No one challenged my authority-no one.

Except, apparently, my wife.

"Your morning coffee, sir," Simon, my assistant, announced as he entered. One look at my thunderous expression made him hesitate. "Bad time?"

The last time I'd been this angry, I'd crushed three competing CEOs who'd attempted to form a coalition against us.

"She wants a divorce," I said, each word clipped with barely contained rage.

Simon's eyes widened slightly. "Mrs. Blackwood? But you're-"

"Apparently something she's willing to walk away from," I growled, taking the coffee and downing it in one scorching gulp.

The divorce papers had arrived this morning, perfectly drafted, requiring only my signature to end our three-year union.

Three years of her being at my beck and call, three years of her desperate attempts to please me, three years of her being a placeholder for the woman I truly wanted.

Sophie.

Even thinking her name still brought that familiar pain.

Sophie Hart had been my first love, my college sweetheart and almost-fiancée before that tragic accident took her away five years ago.

We were supposed to merge our families' companies through marriage - a perfect blend of love and business, until that fatal car crash on a rainy night changed everything.

The day I lost her, I swore I'd never let anyone into my heart again. Instead, I channeled all my energy into building the Blackwood empire.

Sixty-hour workweeks, aggressive acquisitions, and ruthless business strategies became my only companions. The boardroom became my sanctuary, and profit margins my sole purpose.

The business world soon learned to fear my name - I became known as the 'Ice King' of Wall Street, the CEO who never smiled, the man who could destroy companies with a single signature.

Then Serena came into my life-a mysterious woman I met by chance, with no recollection of her past.

The resemblance to Sophie was striking, and coincidentally, she turned out to be a perfect match according to my family's standards.

My grandmother, ever the traditionalist and always concerned about our family's reputation in business circles, had practically orchestrated the whole thing.

She insisted that as the CEO of Blackwood Enterprises, I needed a suitable wife to maintain our social status and carry on the family legacy.

'A man in your position needs a proper wife,' she'd said. 'The merger with the Hart Group fell through after Sophie's accident. We can't afford any more setbacks.'

I'd married her, but I'd never truly accepted her. Sophie's ghost lingered between us, and I'd made sure Serena knew it.

"Sir," Simon ventured carefully, "perhaps this is just a negotiation tactic? Mrs. Blackwood has always been... devoted to you."

I scoffed. "Exactly. This is just another one of her little games. She thinks by threatening to leave, I'll suddenly start paying attention to her."

"And will you?" Simon asked, his tone carefully neutral.

I shot him a cold look. "She needs to understand her place. As my wife, her role is to support me, not challenge me."

Walking back to my desk, I picked up the divorce papers. She wanted nothing from me-no alimony, no property, nothing. It was almost insulting.

As if she could simply walk away from everything I'd built, everything I represented.

"Freeze all her accounts," I ordered abruptly. "Cancel her credit cards, restrict her access to any Blackwood assets. Let's see how serious she is about independence when she can't pay for a cup of coffee."

"She just survived a kidnapping-"

I clenched my jaw at the reminder.

The guilt was still raw, though I refused to acknowledge it.

"She needs to learn that defying me has consequences," I stated firmly.

As Simon left to carry out my orders, my phone vibrated with a text from Ivy Hart.

She was asking about our meeting later that day, suggesting we have dinner afterward. I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

Ivy Hart. Sophie's younger sister, with her golden waves and amber eyes that reminded me so much of her sister.

After my family rescued her from a business dispute three years ago, she'd attached herself to me like a barnacle, constantly seeking my attention and support.

She wasn't Sophie-she could never be Sophie-but she was a connection to the past I couldn't let go of.

I never understood why Serena seemed so threatened by Ivy.

There was nothing romantic between Ivy and me, never had been.

I tolerated her, supported her design career, met with her regularly... all because she was Sophie's sister. It was my way of honoring Sophie's memory, of keeping that connection alive.

I texted Ivy back with a quick no. I wasn't in the mood for her, or anyone, really.

Then my desk phone rang-it was my grandmother.

"Ryan," her voice was sharp with disapproval. "I just heard from my sources that Serena has filed for divorce. Tell me this isn't true."

I sighed. "It's just a tantrum, Grandmother. She'll come around."

"A tantrum?" she repeated, her tone dangerous.

"The girl was kidnapped, beaten, and when she woke up, you weren't by her side. And your response is to call her legitimate grievances a tantrum?"

I bristled. "I don't need relationship advice-"

"Clearly you do!" she cut in. "Do you have any idea what you're risking? The marriage contract is binding, Ryan. It's not something to be trifled with.

And Serena is not just any woman-she's extraordinary. I knew it the moment I met her. And a husband ought to recognize and return his wife's love and trust, not leave it unanswered."

The accusation stung more than I wanted to admit.

My grandmother had been the matriarch of our family business for forty years before my father took over.

When both my parents died in a car accident, she had stepped in to guide me, teaching me everything about business politics and corporate responsibilities.

I jaw tightening as I struggled to keep my voice steady."But I didn't ask for this contract. It was shoved down my throat like everything else in this damn family.

You all expect me to play the part of the perfect husband without asking whether I was ever ready to be one."

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "What do you want me to do? Beg her to stay? Grovel?"

"I want you to grow up," she replied coldly. "Sophie is gone, Ryan. She's been gone for five years.

And while you've been clinging to a ghost, you've had a living, breathing wife who's been desperately trying to love you."

Before I could respond, she hung up.

I stood there, staring at the phone, feeling a smug satisfaction beginning to replace my anger.

Obviously, Serena had put Grandmother up to this call.

It was just another manipulation tactic, proof that she wasn't serious about leaving me at all.

Of course she wasn't. How could she be?

She was desperately in love with me-had been since the day we met.

This divorce nonsense was just her way of getting my attention, forcing me to chase after her.

I wouldn't give her the satisfaction.

When she came crawling back, acknowledging her mistake and begging for forgiveness, perhaps I'd consider taking her back.

My cell phone rang again. Ivy.

"Ryan?" Her voice was shaking, tearful.

"Something terrible has happened. I'm being attacked online-someone's accusing me of stealing designs, and-"

She sobbed dramatically "-they're saying I used your influence to blacklist other designers! You have to help me!"

I frowned, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Slow down, Ivy. What exactly is happening?"

Author's POV

Within hours, Serena's post-shared under her designer alias Lazuli-had garnered thousands of likes and comments, with fans and followers expressing their joy at her return.

"Queen is BACK!"

"We missed you so much!"

"Dreamland Studio rises again!"

But Serena's return did more than just excite her fans-it completely shifted the narrative surrounding the Celeste scandal.

The designer who had been accused of stealing designs from Ivy Hart was suddenly receiving support from all corners of the internet.

"If Lazuli supports Celeste, then I do too. #TeamCeleste"

"Wait, wasn't Ivy Hart the one who started all this drama? Something feels off..."

"I always thought there was more to this story than what we were told!"

The hashtag #CelesteInnocent began trending, and soon enough, a full-blown online war erupted between Ivy's supporters and Lazuli's defenders.

The tide had turned so quickly that Ivy was caught completely off guard.

In her luxurious apartment, Ivy Hart paced back and forth, her golden waves bouncing with each agitated step.

Her amber eyes blazed with fury as she scrolled through her phone.

What had been a decisive victory against Celeste-and by extension, Dreamland Studio-just yesterday was now unraveling at alarming speed.

"This can't be happening," she whispered, her golden waves falling across her face as she hunched over the device. "How did she manage to turn the tide so quickly?"

She dialed the number of Martin, the project lead who had been instrumental in spreading the story about Celeste's supposed design theft.

"Martin, you need to release the video now," she demanded without preamble. "The one showing Celeste trying to seduce you for the contract."

There was an uncomfortable silence on the other end of the line.

"Martin? Did you hear me?"

"I... I can't do that, Ivy," Martin finally responded, his voice small and hesitant.

"What do you mean you can't? We had a deal!"

"Someone's already leaked the full video."

"What?" Ivy's heart rate spiked. "What full video?"

"The unedited footage. It shows everything-me making advances on Celeste, her rejecting me, the whole thing. It completely contradicts the edited clip we released."

His voice dropped to a whisper. "#CelesteVindication is trending everywhere."

Ivy felt the blood drain from her face. "That's impossible. Nobody had access to that footage except you and me."

"Well, someone did," Martin said, voice tight. "And I only helped you because of Mr.Blackwood. If the company wants a scapegoat, it won't be me. I'll make sure they know where the idea really came from."

The call ended, leaving Ivy in panicked silence.

Her phone buzzed with notifications-brands that had been considering dropping Dreamland Studio were now publicly announcing their continued support and welcoming Serena back to the industry.

The momentum was building against her.

With shaking hands, Ivy called the one person she believed could fix this mess.

Ryan's deep voice answered after two rings, businesslike and cold. "What is it, Ivy? I'm in the middle of something."

Ivy's voice trembled as she forced the perfect mix of panic and fragility.

"Mr.Blackwood, something terrible is happening... They're accusing me of fabricating evidence.People are saying I used your influence to blacklist other designers."

She swallowed hard, adding a subtle sob. "I didn't do any of that. You have to help me... please."

"Slow down, Ivy. What exactly is happening?"

"I don't understand what's going on. This designer called Lazuli has fans attacking me, spreading lies about me. And I remember she works with Serena's friend Maya at that studio. Do you think-"

There was a pause before Ryan spoke, his voice measured. "And you think Serena is behind this?"

"I don't want to accuse her, but she was so angry before, even wanting a divorce from you. I just think if she's targeting me now, it makes sense.

After all, she's always misunderstood our relationship."

"Stay calm," Ryan commanded, his tone low and firm. "I'll handle everything. No one crosses me and gets away with it."

"How will you handle it? By exposing the truth-"

"No. You stay out of it. And don't say anything online these next few days."

She bit back the urge to argue. It was obvious he was trying to protect Serena. That realization settled like a stone in her stomach.

".Of course, Ryan" she said smoothly, masking the heat in her voice. "Whatever you think is best."

The second the call ended, she threw her phone across the room. It hit the wall with a sharp crack and dropped to the floor.

Her fingers curled into fists as she stared ahead, her expression calm, but her eyes glinting with restrained fury.

"This isn't over, Serena," she whispered. "Not even close."

* * *

Serena's POV

Across town in Maya Carter's spacious loft apartment, I emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a plush towel, my damp hair clinging to my shoulders.

The hot shower had washed away the lingering scent of hospital antiseptic, but nothing could erase the memory of those terrifying hours in captivity.

"Feeling better?" Maya asked, looking up from her laptop where she'd been monitoring the online fallout from my post.

"Much," I replied with a small smile, accepting the cup of tea she offered. "What's happening out there in the digital wilderness?"

Maya grinned wickedly, turning the screen toward me. "Your Instagram post was like dropping a nuclear bomb in the family territories."

"Everyone's talking about you-and more importantly, they're all defending Celeste now."

I settled onto the couch beside my friend, scanning through the flood of social media updates.

The transformation was remarkable; brands that had distanced themselves from Celeste just days ago were now issuing apologies and demanding that the project executive who had harassed her be fired.

"It worked even better than I hoped," I murmured, scrolling through comment after comment.

"People respect power," Maya observed, twirling a strand of her red-brown hair.

"And right now, you're the most powerful voice in the industry. One word from you was all it took to change the tide."

"But this is only the beginning," I replied, my eyes hardening as I pulled up Ivy Hart's profile. "The fire hasn't reached her yet."

I knew deep down that Ryan was likely protecting her already. His blindness when it came to anything connected to Sophie Hart still hurt, even now.

Maya raised an eyebrow. "You're not planning to let her off easy, are you?"

"After what she did to Celeste? After using her designs without credit?" I shook my head firmly. "No, Ivy Hart doesn't get to walk away from this unscathed."

I reached for my phone, dialing a number few people had access to.

"Triton," I said when the call connected.

"I need you to dig deeper into the Celeste situation. Find out who at the partner company was involved in targeting her, and how Ivy manipulated them. I want everything-emails, texts, meetings, payments."

"Already on it,"Triton replied. "I've traced some interesting communications between Ivy and a project director named Martin. You were right-this goes way beyond a simple design rejection."

"Send me everything you find," I instructed. "and thank you for helping with the video leak. The timing was perfect."

"Just doing my job, queen," he said with a hint of pride. "People always underestimate you-especially the ones who think they rule the world."

As the call ended, Maya studied me with curious admiration. "You know, for someone who just left a toxic wife bond and survived a kidnapping, you're incredibly strong and composed."

I felt a small smile form on my lips, more genuine than any I'd shown in the past three years of my marriage to Ryan.

"I spent three years being a doormat, Maya. Three years letting Ryan walk all over me while supporting Ivy and her schemes. I'm done letting it happen."

Maya raised her coffee mug in a toast. "To the queen's return."

I opened my mouth to respond, but just then, my phone buzzed.

A notification popped up on the screen-a text from my bank.

Credit card ending in 7281 has been frozen.

I stared at the number for half a second, and recognition hit. It was the card Ryan had given me.

A bitter smirk curled at my lips.

So, he must've gotten the divorce papers. Probably signed them too. Can't wait to be done with me, huh?

I mean, I get it. If he's planning to cut ties, there's no reason to keep me on his account.

I still had a few things left at his place, but whatever.

I'd head over tomorrow, get my stuff, and while I'm at it-drag him to the courthouse to make the divorce official.