Chapter 168

Serena’s POV I left work with my mind buzzing. As I walked toward the entrance of Dreamland Studio, I spotted a familiar figure—Ethan Quinn. The moment our eyes met, his expression shifted from business-like to genuinely warm. "Serena!" He quickened his pace toward me. I smiled, genuinely happy to see him. "Ethan, you're early! I wasn't expecting you until tomorrow." He shrugged casually. "Thought I'd come see your brilliant operation ahead of schedule." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Though I just had the strangest meeting." My stomach tensed. "What meeting?" "Someone claiming to be Ryan's assistant approached me at my hotel. Oddly enough, she suggested we postpone our collaboration because you're apparently too... exhausted." I froze, my blood turning to ice. "What? I never—Ryan wouldn't—" The pieces clicked together in my mind. Someone was deliberately trying to sabotage my partnership with LUXE. "I figured as much," Ethan replied. "The whole thing felt off. She was quite insistent th