Chapter 488

Suddenly, Serena loosened her grip on the speech in her hand. Facing the barrage of camera flashes, she began her opening remarks with practiced ease. However, her thoughts had drifted far away. She was thinking back to the early days, when she and Zach had just started their business. The two of them had stood nervously under the spotlight. Zach always stood slightly in front of her, taking on the entire speech. Meanwhile, she quietly stayed in his shadow, trusting him to handle everything. Now, things had changed. Zach was no longer her guardian angel. She didn't need him—or his title as CEO of Zarena Group—to attend formal occasions in her place. And she was no longer the "supportive partner" working quietly behind the scenes. Now, she stood on the platform alone, receiving attention from all sides. Some looked admiringly, some expectantly, while others showed contempt or mockery. Yet in that moment, Serena felt nothing but calm. The experiences of the past had become her gr