CHAPTER 182: CHAPTER 182 THE ELEVATOR ENCOUNTER

Serena’s POV

Triton’s investigation pulled up the news about the Royal Gardens Road project - it was blowing up across media channels. Lucian West had been disqualified for bribery, and the project ultimately landed with the Blackwood Group.

Everyone saw it coming, honestly.

I decided to celebrate the news by bringing some homemade chicken soup to Ryan’s office. His chef had prepared it specially under my instructions - a small gesture after all his hard work lately.

When I arrived at his office, Ryan was in the middle of discussing project follow-up details with several department heads. The moment he heard movement at the door, he stood up instinctively.

"Serena, what are you doing here? Weren’t you supposed to be resting at home?" His eyes immediately reflected concern.

I hesitated, suddenly feeling awkward interrupting his meeting. "I just heard the good news and wanted to see you. Am I interrupting?"

Ryan shot a meaningful glance toward his team members, who immediately took the hint and filed out of the room. No words needed - just one look and they understood to give us privacy.

I carefully poured the soup into a bowl, blowing gently to cool it before offering it to him. The steam curled between us as I held it up.

"You’ve been working so hard on this project lately. This soup was specially made to help you recover some strength."

Ryan nodded, accepting my gesture without protest. After taking a few sips, Simon knocked and entered, bringing in a file of documents about Lucian West.

Ryan’s expression darkened as he flipped through the pages. I couldn’t help myself and peered over his shoulder, curiosity getting the better of me.

"You’re investigating Lucian?"

He nodded, brows furrowed in concentration. "His hostility toward me is too obvious. This project wasn’t even Celestial Gems’ specialty, yet he used so many underhanded tactics."

"It doesn’t make sense," he added, shaking his head.

I raised an eyebrow, having followed the news reports myself. Celestial Gems’ reputation in the city was in tatters after this scandal, and Lucian’s credibility had hit rock bottom. It seemed like a terrible miscalculation on his part.

"Have you found anything unusual?" I asked, genuinely curious about what could drive someone to such self-destructive behavior.

"Something strange here..."

I glanced down at the documents and immediately noticed something odd in Lucian’s background check.

"Wait - Lucian was adopted?"

Ryan nodded. "He was."

"Does that matter?" he asked, watching my reaction carefully.

My frown deepened as I tried connecting invisible dots. Celestial Gems had no previous conflicts with Blackwood Group, nothing that would explain such personal animosity. Maybe his behavior had roots in his life before adoption?

"Perhaps you should look into his background before he was adopted," I suggested, the thought forming as I spoke it.

Ryan seemed to find my suggestion insightful. "Good point. I’ll have someone look into it immediately."

We didn’t discuss Lucian further after that. Once Ryan finished the soup, I prepared to head home, feeling tired from the day’s activities.

Ryan insisted on escorting me to the elevator, clearly wanting to accompany me all the way home. But once inside the elevator, I convinced him to return to his work.

"The driver’s waiting downstairs," I said, already feeling the familiar ache in my lower back from standing too long.

"Alright, but call me when you get home," he instructed, concern evident in his voice.

"I will," I promised as the doors began closing.

This was the executive elevator, and I expected it would take me straight down to the parking garage. Instead, it stopped unexpectedly at the fifteenth floor.

"Ding—"

The doors slid open, and there stood Sophie Hart, looking as perfectly put-together as ever.

She stepped into the elevator without hesitation, a practiced smile on her face.

"What a coincidence, Serena." Her voice dripped with false pleasantry as she positioned herself directly across from me.

"Serena," Sophie emphasized my name with exaggerated sweetness that made my stomach turn.

"Don’t pretend we’re close," I said flatly. "We’re not friends."

I glanced pointedly at the executive elevator buttons, then back at her perfectly made-up face. "This is the CEO’s private elevator, by the way. You shouldn’t be here."

The corners of my mouth lifted in a subtle, knowing smirk. "Focus on your job while you still have one. Having inappropriate thoughts about things—or people—above your station will only get you fired."

Sophie’s perfectly manicured hand tightened around her designer handbag. "You think you’ve won, don’t you? The abandoned wife making her triumphant return." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "But we both know what happens when Ryan gets bored. And he always gets bored, Serena."

A familiar ache throbbed in my lower back, stronger this time. I shifted my weight slightly, refusing to show discomfort.

"Fascinating theory," I replied coolly. "But unlike you, I don’t measure my worth by Ryan’s attention. I never have."

The elevator finally reached the lobby, doors sliding open with a soft chime. I stepped forward but Sophie blocked my path, her perfume overwhelming in the confined space.

My patience snapped. "Move, Sophie. Unlike you, I have somewhere important to be."

She stepped aside with exaggerated courtesy. "Of course. Carrying the Blackwood heir is a full-time job, isn’t it?"

I walked past her, head high, refusing to give her the satisfaction of a response. The driver was waiting at the entrance, concern flashing across his face when he noticed my slightly labored breathing.

"Mrs. Selena, are you alright?"

"I’m fine," I assured him, sliding into the back seat with as much grace as my pregnant body allowed. "Just take me home, please."