CEO's Regret After I Divorced Chapter 193 Secrets Across the Sea

Serena’s POV

I wiped my face with a cool towel when Maya’s video call lit up my screen. Perfect timing.

"Girl, where have you been hiding? You’ve only sent those quick updates on WeChat," I teased as her beaming face appeared.

"How’s everything going with Mr. Quinn?" I couldn’t help asking, curiosity getting the better of . Maya and Ethan had been spending an awful lot of ti together in London.

Maya’s smile grew impossibly wider as she flipped the cara around without warning. There sat Ethan Quinn in all his glory—impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, focused entirely on cutting a steak with surgical precision.

"Wow, candlelit dinner already? You two move fast," I whistled, watching the soft glow of flas dancing between them.

Before Maya could respond, I witnessed sothing that made my eyebrows shoot up. Ethan slid his plate across the table toward her, a gentlemanly smile warming his usually serious face.

"Miss Carter, your steak is ready," his deep voice carried through the speakers.

Maya flipped the cara back to her face, grinning so wide I could barely see her eyes. "Gotta go! This steak isn’t going to eat itself!"

"Wait—" I started, but she’d already hung up.

"Who was that?" Ryan called from the other room, his voice still carrying that satisfied edge from our bath.

"Just Maya," I replied, running a comb through my damp hair. "She’s having dinner with Ethan Quinn."

"Quinn?" Ryan appeared in the doorway, a towel hanging dangerously low on his hips. "Interesting developnt."

If he only knew how interesting it really was.

Author’s POV

Lucian’s assistant had finally tracked down the two witnesses Ryan had provided, compiling their testimonies into a comprehensive report.

"Mr. West, here are the statents from both individuals," his assistant said, placing a folder on Lucian’s mahogany desk. "I’ve cross-referenced them, and they’re remarkably consistent."

"They should be reliable then," Lucian responded absently, his attention already focused on the docunts.

He studied the papers with laser precision, noting the witnesses’ employnt histories which confird their involvent in the suburban developnt project from years ago. Their testimonies clearly implicated Ryan’s parents in the scandal—almost too clearly.

The more Lucian read, the more his suspicions grew. These accounts contradicted several key details from his previous investigation. And the remarkable consistency between the two testimonies raised red flags—suggesting Ryan might have coached them thoroughly.

"Have there been any unusual deposits in their bank accounts?" Lucian asked, looking up from the papers.

His assistant shook his head. "I’ve checked, sir. Nothing suspicious."

Lucian’s fingers drumd against the desk as he considered his next move. "Put soone on them. Monitor their activities for the next few days and report back. Sothing doesn’t feel right."

"Of course, Mr. West."

The assistant remained standing, his posture revealing there was more to discuss.

"Is there sothing else?" Lucian raised an eyebrow.

"Regarding Ivy Hart, sir. HR has processed her termination as instructed, but..." the assistant hesitated.

"Speak plainly," Lucian commanded, irritation creeping into his voice.

"She’s unreachable. Her belongings are still at her workstation, and the termination paperwork remains unsigned."

Lucian’s expression hardened. "Why are you bothering with such trivial matters? Execute standard protocols for imdiate termination. Clear out her desk and make a public statent that she no longer represents Celestial Gems."

"Understood, sir."

After his assistant left, Lucian returned to the witness statents, a nagging feeling of inconsistency still troubling him. anwhile, HR packed Ivy’s belongings into a cardboard box and issued an official statent severing all ties between Celestial Gems and Ivy Hart.

---

Ivy’s face contorted with rage as she scrolled through the scathing comnts online. The announcent of her termination had only intensified the public backlash against her.

"Sophie, they’ve destroyed !" she wailed to her sister, pacing anxiously around the living room of Sophie’s luxury apartnt. "Not only did I fail to clear my na, but now my career is completely ruined!"

"What am I supposed to do now?" Ivy collapsed onto the sofa, genuine fear in her eyes. "People have already figured out roughly where I live. I’m terrified to leave the apartnt—what if so unstable fan decides to confront ?"

Sophie’s patience was wearing thin. Her younger sister’s constant whining and complete lack of strategic thinking had always frustrated her.

"Celestial Gems wouldn’t have cut ties so abruptly without Serena pulling strings behind the scenes," Sophie said coldly, carefully planting seeds of resentnt. "Are you really content to let her continue stepping on you like this?"

Sophie gave a contemptuous laugh. "I’ve realized that New York has no place for won like us anymore. And it’s all because of Serena Quinn."

"Without her interference, you’d still be the celebrated design prodigy," she continued, watching Ivy’s expression darken. "She stole your spotlight, your opportunity to work with Lucian West, everything. The Jewelry Season showcase should have been your triumph."

Each calculated word stoked the flas of Ivy’s hatred. Her previous admiration for her own talent transford into bitter resentnt.

"That bitch!" Ivy spat, her hands clenching into fists. "If it weren’t for her, I’d be the one making headlines with Celestial Gems right now!"

"I swear I’ll make her pay for this!"

"What good are empty threats?" Sophie taunted. "She’s pregnant and still untouchable. You’re powerless against her."

Ivy’s face flushed with anger. "Just watch , Sophie. I’ll make sure she’s humiliated at the Jewelry Season showcase. I’ll destroy everything she’s worked for."