Chapter 40

Serena’s POV The moment the door closed behind us, regret crashed over me like a tidal wave. What was I thinking, inviting Ryan Blackwood into my room? The man who had shattered my heart and left me to pick up the pieces alone. But it was too late now. He stood in the center of my suite, tall and imposing, his presence filling every corner of the room. His eyes swept over the space—noting my open laptop on the desk, the design sketches spread across the desk. "Nice décor," he said, breaking the silence. I hugged myself, suddenly feeling vulnerable. "Thanks… it's all thanks to the money you gave me." He went silent, his expression unreadable, and the pause seemed to stretch. My stomach tightened, unsure if I'd said too much, or not enough. "Dreamland's doing well, then." His tone was casual, almost deliberately so." "We manage," I replied stiffly, unsure what to do with my hands, with myself. "Would you like something to drink? There's a minibar." Ryan shook his head, his gaze never lea