Chapter 38

Serena's POV I CHECKED MY WATCH as I walked through the hotel lobby. Our dinner with potential investors had gone exceedingly well, and the contract was practically signed. Dreamland Studio would soon have the financial backing to launch our international collection. "That went better than expected," I murmured to myself, a small smile tugging at my lips. Two years of relentless work was finally paying off. As I approached the elevators, my phone buzzed with a message from Maya—she'd secured the Japanese distributor we'd been courting for months. Perfect timing. Once we finalized everything tomorrow— The words died in my throat. Standing by an open hotel room door was Ryan—my ex-husband—with a woman clinging desperately to his chest. Not just any woman. Ivy Hart. I froze, a sudden chill washing over me despite my rational mind screaming that this shouldn't matter. Ryan's personal life was no longer my concern. We'd been divorced for years. Yet something sharp and painful twisted in my