Chapter 135

Author’s POV
The receptionist had seen Ryan Blackwood at the studio several times before. His commanding presence was truly unforgettable.
The photo, though taken from what looked like a sneaky angle, clearly showed Ryan as the man in the background.
Ivy deliberately held the phone longer than necessary, her expression growing increasingly smug. She knew rumors spread fastest when they caused chaos.
“See it clearly now? Ryan and Sophie are the real couple. This Serena who suddenly appeared is nothing but a homewrecker!”
The receptionist snapped back to reality, finally realizing these people had come specifically to cause trouble.
“If you don’t have an appointment, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
Serena was a generous boss who treated her employees exceptionally well, offering benefits unmatched elsewhere. Naturally, the receptionist’s first instinct was to protect her.
“Is this how you treat potential customers? Is this Dreamland’s idea of customer service?”
Ivy secretly pointed her phone camera at the receptionist, recording everything.
“Without an appointment, Dreamland cannot accommodate you. Please leave.”
The receptionist’s expression had hardened, though she was still trying to maintain professional courtesy.
When the group continued making a scene, security was called to escort them out.
At the base of Dreamland’s tower,, Ivy reviewed the secretly recorded video with satisfaction, a small smile playing on her lips.
The women surrounding her immediately changed their demeanor, crowding her and asking for payment.
Since her reputation as a designer had been tarnished, Ivy had few real friends left. These women were merely hired help.
Still, the performance had gone well, and she was happy to pay. Sophie would cover the expenses anyway.
Finding a quiet corner, Ivy dismissed the women and sent the video to a gossip blogger along with some old photos of Sophie and Ryan.
“Job done. There’ll be a bonus in it for you.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle this perfectly!” replied the blogger.
The blogger edited the video skillfully, cutting out the group’s initial provocations and emphasizing the receptionist’s changing expressions.
Half an hour later, the first viral headline appeared:
“DREAMLAND JEWELRY: ELITIST BOUTIQUE REFUSES SERVICE TO ’UNWORTHY’ CUSTOMERS!”
An army of paid commenters flooded the post with vicious reviews, each more scathing than the last.
Dreamland’s reputation took an immediate hit. As more genuine users joined the conversation, the scandal exploded.
Maya spotted the news while scrolling through her phone and immediately confronted the receptionist.
“I had no idea it would blow up like this,” the receptionist explained frantically. “They came in claiming Mr. Blackwood ordered jewelry for some woman named Sophie, then showed photos of them together and said terrible things.”
“If you don’t believe me, we can check the security footage.”
Maya immediately reviewed the surveillance videos, confirming everything the receptionist had described.
“They were clearly here to stir up trouble! Thank God Serena wasn’t here or this would have upset her terribly.”
Maya had the full security footage uploaded online to clear the air, urging people not to judge based on edited clips.
The PR team immediately began damage control, working to counter the false narrative.
But this was just the beginning. Within an hour, another bombshell headline appeared:
“DREAMLAND FOUNDER SERENA QUINN: THE OTHER WOMAN WHO STOLE RYAN BLACKWOOD? Original girlfriend Sophie Hart allegedly pushed out of the picture!”
The article included several photos of Ryan with Sophie, presented as evidence.
The piece dramatically described how Ryan and Sophie had once been deeply in love, until Serena allegedly seduced Ryan and got pregnant to secure her position.
The term “homewrecker” has always inspired public outrage, and the added suggestion of pregnancy as manipulation quickly inflamed readers’ anger.
The two stories combined created a perfect storm against Serena.
“No moral character AND her business treats customers like dirt! Talk about karma!”
“BOYCOTT DREAMLAND JEWELRY! Don’t support homewreckers!”
“Ryan and Sophie look so perfect together. How could such a vicious woman come between them?”
“So the other woman becomes a famous designer while the real girlfriend gets pushed aside? What kind of world are we living in? So unfair!”
Lucian West scrolled through the online firestorm, a slight smile playing on his lips.
“This Sophie certainly has some talent,” he remarked quietly.
—
Serena’s POV
The moment Ryan and I stepped onto the stage and took our seats at the long press table, the room erupted into a frenzy—reporters shouting over each other, camera flashes going off like fireworks, and the low hum of livestream feeds buzzing in the background.
I sat down stiffly beside him, keeping my face composed, even as my heart pounded from the sheer chaos of it all. I hadn’t agreed to this. Not really. Not like this.
Ryan held up a hand, calm and authoritative. Just like that, the noise began to die down.
“I’ll address all your questions,” he said, his voice cool and commanding. “But first, let me make a statement.”
And of course, they listened. They always did.I watched him command the room with just his presence, feeling a mix of irritation and—damn it—reluctant admiration.
“The purpose of this press conference is simple,” Ryan stated firmly, his voice carrying effortlessly through the packed room. “We’re here to address the false rumors circulating online.”
I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, my lips pursed in annoyance.
What was he thinking? Sure, clearing up the homewrecker accusations was necessary, but a whole press conference?
This felt like he was trying to define our relationship publicly before I’d even agreed to anything. Classic Ryan—making executive decisions about my life without consulting me first.
I hated the way that felt.