CEO’s Regret After I Divorced (Serena and Ryan) novel Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Chapter 119 The Truth Behind the Accident

Ryan’s POV

I cleared my throat loudly, interrupting their animated conversation. The sound finally drew Lucian’s attention away from Serena and toward me. He looked at me like he was just now noticing my existence.

"Ms. Quinn, and this gentleman is...?" His tone was polite but deliberate.

Serena smiled, reaching for my arm to pull me closer as she made a casual introduction. Her touch was light but sent electricity through my skin.

"Mr. West, this is Ryan Blackwood, CEO of Blackwood Group. I’m sure you’ve heard of him?"

Lucian made a drawn-out sound of recognition, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Ah, so you’re Mr. Blackwood. Your reputation precedes you."

I assessed him coldly. Such bullshit. If my reputation truly preceded me, he’d have recognized me immediately. He was either deliberately pretending not to know who I was, or trying to knock me down a peg. Either way, it set my teeth on edge.

"I’m also Serena’s family member," I stated firmly, watching his expression. "I’ve heard about what happened today. Thank you for what you did."

The words tasted bitter in my mouth, but I forced them out anyway. The man had protected her—that much I couldn’t deny.

Lucian nodded, his gaze meeting mine directly.

The air between us practically crackled with tension.

My instincts about people had been honed through years of business deals and corporate takeovers, and everything about this man screamed danger.

Not the obvious kind—the calculating, patient kind that waits for the perfect moment to strike.

"No thanks necessary," Lucian replied smoothly, shifting his attention back to Serena. "After all, Serena and I are business partners now. Protecting my partner is simply what anyone would do."

The way he said "partner" made my jaw clench. This wasn’t just courtesy—this was a challenge. But Serena, standing between us, seemed completely unaware of the silent power struggle playing out.

I slid my arm around her waist, pulling her against my side in a clear message of possession. Her body fit perfectly against mine, a reminder of what we once had. What we could have again.

"Just a business partnership," I remarked with a thin smile that didn’t reach my eyes. "You seem awfully invested for a simple professional arrangement."

Lucian’s gaze flicked to my hand on Serena’s waist, then back to her face, deliberately ignoring my comment. "Serena, I’ll leave the joint collection in your capable hands. I’m looking forward to seeing the results."

"I won’t let you down," Serena promised, her voice full of that determination I’d always admired.

"I should get going now." Lucian gave me one last measured look before turning to leave, his bandaged arm held carefully at his side.

The moment he was out of earshot, Serena pulled away from me, her eyes flashing with irritation. "What was that about?"

I reluctantly withdrew my hand, though every instinct screamed to keep her close. The jealousy churning in my gut wasn’t something I was accustomed to feeling.

"You and West seem very friendly," I observed, unable to keep the edge from my voice. The way they’d been talking—her using his first name, him looking at her like she was the only person in the room—it set off every alarm bell I had.

"And what if we are?" she shot back, her cheeks flushed with annoyance. "I need to get back to my studio. I have a thousand things to do today."

The "accident" at the design center—a strategically dropped object from several floors up—had been Lucian’s creation from start to finish. The fact that Ryan Blackwood had rushed to the hospital immediately confirmed what he’d suspected: Serena Quinn was the man’s weakness.

"What about the other matter we discussed?" Lucian asked, his voice dropping to a more serious tone as they pulled away from the hospital.

Davis hesitated before responding. "We’ve located the man named Derek. He’s being held in a Blackwood property on the outskirts of the city. According to our sources, he was imprisoned after attempting to kidnap Ms. Quinn."

Lucian processed this information, connecting the dots of this increasingly complicated relationship web. A soft, derisive chuckle escaped his lips.

"Kidnapping Serena? That takes considerable nerve," he remarked, genuine surprise coloring his voice. Few people would dare target someone connected to the Blackwood empire, regardless of how estranged the relationship might be.

Davis nodded in agreement. "What would you like us to do about this situation, sir?"

Lucian’s eyes gleamed with calculating intensity as he stared out at the passing cityscape. "If Blackwood is so determined to keep thisDerek character locked away, perhaps we should... assist him in regaining his freedom. Create a small distraction for our dear CEO."

The implication wasn’t lost on Davis. An enemy’s enemy could be a useful tool, if nothing else.

"I’ll arrange it immediately, sir."

"Be discreet," Lucian cautioned, his voice smooth as silk. "Once he’s free, bring him to me. I want to hear what he knows firsthand."

"Of course, sir."

As his vehicle pulled away from the hospital, Lucian’s mind was already racing ahead, plotting his next moves like a chess grandmaster anticipating his opponent’s strategies.