CHAPTER 30: CHAPTER 30 RISING TIDES

Serena’s POV

With the new funding and resources secured, Dreamland Studio reached heights I’d never imagined possible.

Maya and I were working around the clock, signing new designers and moving into a significantly larger office space.

We even gave Julian his own private office—though strangely, he didn’t seem particularly thrilled about it.

When moving day came, he almost seemed reluctant to leave our shared workspace.

Dreamland was finally making waves in the industry. Resources and opportunities that had once been pipe dreams were now flowing toward us like a tide that wouldn’t ebb.

Maya was practically giddy just from handling the contracts and partnerships—she joked about getting calluses from counting all the money.

Julian had been with us for about two weeks when he finally unveiled his first original piece for the studio.

It was selected as the opening showcase for our inaugural jewelry exhibition, drawing everyone’s attention exactly as I’d hoped.

Standing on stage under the spotlights, microphone in hand, Julian captivated the audience as he explained his creative process.

"When I was younger and more foolish, I entered the entertainment industry simply because I was told I had the face for it," he said with a self-deprecating smile that had several women in the front row sighing audibly.

"But that world clearly wasn’t for me. Deep down, I always harbored a passion for design."

He gestured elegantly toward his creation, the lights catching on its delicate curves.

"Perhaps it was fate, but I discovered I had some natural talent for design. And despite being a late-blooming amateur, I was fortunate enough to catch Lazuli’s attention."

"When my entertainment career collapsed, Lazuli was the one who reached out and offered me sanctuary at Dreamland Studio. Everything I’ve accomplished today, I owe to her."

Under the stage lights, Julian was absolutely magnetic.

The confidence radiating from him was something I’d never seen before—the women in attendance were practically swooning.

"To me, Lazuli is family, a sister, and my closest friend," he continued, then extended his hand toward me, his eyes burning with an intensity that caught me off guard.

The cameras captured this moment perfectly, and it instantly became viral online.

Before I knew it, social media was buzzing with speculation about our relationship, fans insisting we were "meant to be."

I brushed off these rumors as nothing more than internet gossip. WhisperStream even messaged me directly to ask if there was any truth to them.

"You’re into shipping people too?" I texted back.

"Why not? You two look perfect together! Gorgeous man, beautiful woman—it’s eye candy!" came the enthusiastic reply.

I shook my head and closed the chat.

My hand instinctively moved to my stomach, where my pregnancy wasn’t yet showing.

The relentless pace of work was beginning to take its toll, and exhaustion was becoming my constant companion.

After the jewelry showcase, I still needed to leverage our momentum by hosting several networking events to cement our studio’s reputation.

The to-do list seemed endless, but I couldn’t afford to slow down now.

Rubbing my temples, I decided to rest on the office sofa for just a moment.

Maya had bought this couch specifically for me, knowing my workaholic tendencies—she insisted that comfortable furniture might encourage me to take occasional breaks.

As night deepened, I drifted off without realizing. When I woke, I found a man’s jacket draped carefully over me—Julian’s, by the scent of it.

I sat up just as he entered with a steaming mug.

"If you’re this exhausted, shouldn’t you be resting at home instead of working yourself to death?" His tone was gentle despite the bluntness of his words.

"Here," he said, passing me the mug. "Drink this."

I thanked him and took a sip. The water was pleasantly sweetened.

"I added some honey. Your voice has been sounding raspy these past few days."

"It’s nothing," I assured him. "Just the sudden change in weather making my throat dry."

Julian nodded and settled into the chair across from me, his eyes scanning my face with concern.

"If you need help with anything, just ask. You don’t have to shoulder everything alone. You’ll collapse at this rate."

I started to decline, but Julian’s frown stopped me mid-sentence.

"Don’t you trust my abilities?" he asked, sounding genuinely hurt.

"Of course I do," I said quickly. "I’m just... cautious. The studio’s profile is growing so rapidly—I feel like I need to oversee everything personally."

"I understand your concern," he said. "But what if I promise to consult you before making any decisions? Would that help you feel more at ease?"

Faced with his persistence, I reluctantly agreed. I handed over the responsibility for organizing our next two networking events to him.

With half my workload lifted, I managed to get some decent rest over the following days.

Tonight was our final event—the most important one, with influential figures from various industries attending. I needed to make a strong impression.

I went shopping for a new gown, planning to dress formally for the occasion.

Maya and Julian were still tied up with preparations, so they wouldn’t be attending. Tonight, I would be representing Dreamland solo.

Taking a deep breath, I made sure to eat something substantial before heading out.

This event needed to go perfectly—we’d sent invitations to elite professionals across industries, including several from Blackwood Enterprises.

Julian had carefully avoided sending one directly to Ryan, choosing instead to invite various Blackwood executives.

I was browsing through the evening gowns at an upscale boutique when a familiar voice made me freeze.

"Well, well, if it isn’t the almighty Lazuli," Ivy Hart drawled, stepping into view from behind a rack of designer dresses. "Shopping for something to make yourself look important?"

I turned slowly, genuinely surprised. "Ivy. I didn’t expect to see you shopping so... carefree. Shouldn’t you be updating your résumé? Or did you forget you’ve already been fired by Ryan?"

Her smug smile twitched. "What are you talking about?"

I raised a brow. "Come on. Hart Jewelry is done. Dissolved. And as for your position at Blackwood Global? I believe the term was ’terminated immediately.’"

Ivy scoffed, but the flicker of panic in her eyes betrayed her. "That’s ridiculous. Baseless rumors. Ryan would never fire me. I’m family."

I could see she was barely keeping it together.

I took a step closer and said quietly,"Let’s not pretend, Ivy. You know what’s funny, Ivy?Ryan only fired you because I asked him to."

Ivy grabbed my arm, her nails digging in. "What did you do? What lies did you tell Ryan?"

I looked pointedly at her hand until she released me. "I didn’t need to lie, Ivy. Your own actions did all the talking. The evidence of you stealing Julian’s designs was quite compelling."

"You bitch," she hissed, drawing curious glances from nearby shoppers. "You think you’ve won? This isn’t over."

"Actually, it is," I said, keeping my voice level despite the satisfaction bubbling inside me. "Your career is finished. No design house will touch you now that word is spreading about your plagiarism."

Ivy’s face contorted with rage. "Ryan won’t let this stand. I’m Sophie’s sister—I’m all he has left of her!"

"Yet he fired you anyway," I pointed out, unable to resist twisting the knife. "What does that tell you about your importance to him?"

She raised her hand as if to slap me, but I caught her wrist easily.

"Careful," I warned. "Assault charges won’t look good on top of everything else."

A store attendant approached cautiously. "Is everything alright, ladies?"

"Perfect timing," I smiled at the young woman. "Could you show me to a fitting room? And perhaps Ms. Hart would like to see herself out before security gets involved."

Ivy’s eyes darted between us before she snatched her purse from a nearby chair. "You’ll regret this, Serena. I swear you will."

I didn’t even blink.

"And the only thing I regret," I said coolly, "is not exposing you sooner."

I watched her storm out, shoulders shaking with fury. Only when she disappeared did I release the breath I’d been holding.

"Are you sure you’re okay, ma’am?" the attendant asked.

"I’m fine," I assured her, though my heart was racing. "Just an unfortunate professional disagreement."

Slipping into the champagne-colored gown—which hugged every curve just right—I caught my own smile in the mirror.

Ivy’s face when I told her she’d been fired? Absolutely priceless.

The woman who had caused me so much grief was finally getting her comeuppance, and I hadn’t even needed to lift a finger.

Ryan had kept his word after all.

Part of me wondered why he’d so readily abandoned Ivy after years of protecting her, but I quickly dismissed the thought.

His motivations didn’t matter anymore—only the results did.

Tonight’s gala would be my moment to shine, and now nothing could spoil my mood.