CEO’s Regret After I Divorced (Serena and Ryan) novel Chapter 317

Chapter 317: Chapter 317 When Evidence Isn’t Enough

Author’s POV

Ryan’s investigation had finally hit pay dirt. The digital forensics team had traced Lance Draven’s connection to a company called ARt Design—a flashy new design firm making serious moves in Canada.

What they discovered about the plagiarism accusation was both simpler and more complex than anyone had anticipated. At its core, it had started as a coincidence. Both Lance Draven and Serena had drawn inspiration from the same viral internet image—standard practice in the design world. Lance had indeed published his initial design slightly earlier than Serena.

But the design Lance was now using to accuse Serena wasn’t his original work. It had been significantly modified after Serena published her creation—tweaked to more closely mirror her work, not the other way around. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

This was the smoking gun they’d been desperately searching for.

After Serena touched down in London, she was greeted with this breakthrough news. She and Maya immediately called an emergency war council. Not only did they have Ryan’s rock-solid evidence, but assistance from WhisperStream had blown the case wide open, allowing them to see the full scope of the deception.

"This completely destroys their narrative," Maya said, her voice tight with controlled anger as she shared her findings with Serena. "He’s orchestrated this entire character assassination."

Serena’s eyes blazed with fierce determination. "Send me everything you’ve found."

---

Within the hour, she had published a devastating analysis online. The post included three images side by side: Lance’s original design, Serena’s creation, and Lance’s suspiciously modified "original" that he was now claiming Serena had copied. She included a meticulous, professional breakdown pointing out how Lance’s revised design incorporated elements that had appeared in her work first.

Lance Draven hadn’t been plagiarized—he was the one pulling a fast one, modifying his work to frame her after seeing her successful design.

"This isn’t about creative similarity," she wrote in her final paragraph. "This is a calculated attack on my reputation and the integrity of Dreamland Studio."

The response was explosive. Design enthusiasts began comparing the three versions themselves, and many quickly reached the same conclusion. Some of Serena’s ride-or-die followers brought up her extensive portfolio, pointing out her consistent excellence and innovative approach—qualities Lance’s work had never demonstrated.

"Check out her entire body of work," one commenter wrote. "Lazuli has a signature style that’s been evolving for years. Lance’s work before this ’controversy’ looks like amateur hour compared to what he’s claiming is his original design."

Watching the tide begin to turn, Serena felt the knot in her chest loosen slightly. Evidence mattered. Truth mattered. People were starting to see through the deception.

"It’s working," Maya told Serena, scrolling through the responses. "The narrative is shifting."

At ARt Design’s headquarters, Lance Draven stared at his computer screen in full-blown panic mode. Serena’s counterattack was gaining traction, and he had jack shit for a legitimate response to her evidence. Everything she’d said was accurate.

He hastily arranged a meeting with his superior, the woman who had orchestrated the entire scheme: Sophie Hart.

When confronted with the problem, Sophie merely offered a cold smile. "Why are you freaking out? Your initial design was genuine, wasn’t it? And your revised version still predates hers."

Lance hesitated, then understanding dawned. "Miss Hart, are you suggesting—"

"ARt Design will issue an official stamp of approval," Sophie interrupted smoothly. "We’ll verify that your revised design was completed before Serena published hers. The documentation will go live this afternoon."

"You don’t need to respond to her accusations directly. Just keep playing the victim card. Let our paperwork do the talking."

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