Chapter 322

Ryan’s POV
I clutched my phone tighter, staring at Mr. Anderson across the polished conference table as he outlined his surprisingly generous proposal. The afternoon light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Toronto high-rise, casting long shadows across the room.
“As I was saying, Mr. Blackwood,” Anderson Sr. continued smoothly, his silver hair catching the light, “not only will we increase our investment by thirty percent, but I’ll personally ensure this plagiarism nonsense against your wife’s company is exposed as the misunderstanding it truly is. The Blackwood and Anderson families have too much potential together to let this… unfortunate situation torpedo our relationship.”
Unlike his complete moron of a son David, the senior Anderson clearly understood the art of negotiation. I nodded, satisfaction rippling through me.
“I appreciate your—”
Something stopped me mid-sentence. A sharp, inexplicable pain shot through my chest, making my breath catch. Not physical pain, but something deeper, like someone had reached into my chest and squeezed. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.
“Mr. Blackwood?” Anderson’s voice seemed distant suddenly. “Are you alright? You’ve gone white as a sheet.”
I pressed my hand against my chest, trying to steady my suddenly racing heartbeat. The feeling was overwhelming – a cold, creeping dread that made my skin crawl.
“Serena,” I whispered, the name escaping my lips without conscious thought.
“I beg your pardon?”
I took several deep breaths, trying to regain my composure. “Mr. Anderson, I apologize, but I need to cut our meeting short. Something urgent has come up.”
Confusion flickered across his face, but to his credit, he didn’t press. “Of course, Mr. Blackwood. We’re in no rush. Your health and family come first.”
I barely registered his words as I stood, straightening my tie with trembling fingers. My body moved on autopilot while my mind raced, every instinct screaming that something was wrong with Serena. I knew it with a certainty that defied logic.
The moment I cleared the conference room, I pulled out my phone and dialed her number. One ring. Two. Three. Voicemail.
“Shit,” I muttered, immediately calling again. Same result.
By the fifth unsuccessful attempt, my walk had become a full sprint through the corporate hallway. Employees dove out of the way as I barreled past, looking like I was about to commit murder. I couldn’t explain my urgency even if I wanted to – this bone-deep certainty that Serena was in danger was primal, beyond rationalization.
I jabbed at Ethan’s contact next, him answering on the second ring.
“Ryan, what’s up?” His tone was casual, unsuspecting.
“Where’s Serena?” I demanded, cutting straight to the chase.
Ethan’s confusion was palpable through the phone. “At home, I think? She hasn’t been feeling well lately. Mom’s been hovering over her. Why? What’s going on?”
“I can’t reach her. She’s not answering her phone.” My voice sounded foreign to my own ears – strained, borderline frantic.
The brief silence on the other end only amplified my anxiety.
“Let me call Mom,” Ethan finally said, his voice taking on a more serious edge. “I’ll call you right back. Give me two minutes.”
“I’ll be waiting.” The words came out more like a threat than a promise.
Those two minutes felt like two hours. I paced the hotel lobby like a caged animal, checking my watch every thirty seconds, ignoring the nervous glances from staff and guests alike.
When my phone finally rang, I snatched it up before the sound even registered.
“Well?” I barked.
“She’s not at home,” Ethan’s voice was tight now, matching my concern. “Mom said Serena left about an hour ago. She was heading to the office to put out some fire about the plagiarism allegations. She was driving herself.”
My blood turned to ice. “And she’s not picking up her phone?”
“No. Mom’s tried too. Ryan, I’m sure there’s some simple explanation—”
“I’m coming back,” I cut him off. “Right now. Have your security team start checking routes between your mother’s house and Dreamland’s offices. Traffic cameras, the whole nine yards.”
“Already on it,” Ethan assured me. “I’ve got people hitting the streets now. Ryan, don’t lose it yet—”
“Call me the second you hear anything. Anything at all.” I hung up before he could respond.
My mind spun with horrible possibilities as I strode toward the elevators. Serena had been feeling off for days. What if she’d fainted while driving? What if someone had targeted her because of these bullshit plagiarism claims? What if—
The elevator doors opened, revealing David Anderson’s smug face.
“Mr. Blackwood! Perfect timing. I’ve brought the contracts—”
“Get out of my way,” I growled, attempting to step around him.
He blocked my path, either oblivious to or ignoring my mood. “But sir, ARt has already issued a public statement completely clearing Mrs. Blackwood of all plagiarism allegations. Everything’s been handled exactly as my father promised. We just need your signature to—”
I snatched the papers from his hands, barely glancing at them. “I’ll have someone look these over later. Right now, I need to get back to New York. Family emergency.”
His face fell. “But the partnership—”
“Will continue as agreed,” I snapped, jabbing the elevator button like I was trying to break it. “Just not today. My team will be in touch.”
The elevator mercifully arrived, and I stepped inside, leaving a bewildered David Anderson standing there like an idiot.
As the doors closed, I leaned against the wall, closing my eyes briefly against the wave of dread threatening to drown me. The feeling that had started as a vague discomfort had exploded into full-blown terror.
“Please be okay,” I whispered, picturing Serena’s face. “Please, Serena. Just hang on.”
My phone buzzed in my hand – Ethan. I answered instantly.
“Tell me,” I demanded, bracing myself for whatever was coming.
His voice came through, tight with strain. “Ryan… there’s been an accident.”
The world stopped spinning. My heart suspended mid-beat. Everything around me seemed to fade into insignificance.
“Where is she?” I asked, my voice unnaturally calm despite the hurricane raging inside me.
“She’s missing, Ryan. There’s blood and wreckage at the scene. Serena was in a serious car crash. You need to get here now.”
I ended the call without another word, a singular thought consuming me entirely:
If I lost Serena, there’d be nothing left of me worth saving.