CEO's Regret After I Divorced Chapter 286 Collapse at the Boardroom

Serena’s POV

My world tilted on its axis. "Ethan!" I cried out. "What happened? Is he going to be alright?"

There was a mont of stunned silence before my brother responded. "Serena? You’re there too?"

"Yes, and I’m coming to London imdiately," I said, already rising to my feet. "What hospital is he at?"

"Royal London," Ethan replied, his voice cracking slightly. "The doctors say it might be his heart, but they’re not certain yet."

"We’ll be on the Blackwood jet within the hour," Ryan interjected, his decision made instantly. "Have soone et us at the airport."

After ending the call, I stood frozen for a mont, trying to process everything.

Ryan’s arms wrapped around , pulling against his chest. "He’ll be alright, Serena. Your father is strong."

I nodded against his shoulder, grateful for his strength even as anger still simred beneath the surface. "You should have told sooner."

"I know," he whispered against my hair. "I’m sorry."

Pulling back, I wiped away tears I hadn’t realized were falling. "We need to get ho and pack. I need to arrange care for Vivian—"

"Already done," Ryan interrupted, his phone in hand. "I’ve texted Simon to prepare the jet and called Mrs. Bennett to pack an overnight bag for us. Margaret has agreed to stay with Vivian. We can leave within the hour."

Despite everything, I felt a surge of gratitude for his efficiency. "Thank you."

As we rode the elevator down to the lobby, Ryan kept his arm firmly around my waist, his presence both comforting and steadying. Yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that this crisis was only beginning to unfold.

Ethan’s POV

The rhythmic beep of hospital monitors echoed in my ears as I stared through the observation window at my father’s unconscious form. For a man who had always embodied strength and resilience, he looked unnervingly fragile against the stark white hospital sheets.

I pressed my palm against the cool glass separating us, my jaw tight with frustration. This was exactly what I’d been trying to prevent. This was why I hadn’t wanted Serena involved.

"Damn it," I muttered, running my free hand through my already disheveled hair.

Three weeks ago, when the first whispers of scandal began circulating around Quinn Enterprises, I had convinced myself it was nothing—just another attempt by competitors to undermine our position in the market. Family-owned empires like ours always attracted jealousy and speculation. I thought we could weather this storm as we had countless others before.

How naive I’d been.

The soft click of heels against tile announced my sisters’ arrival before I saw them. I turned to find Eleanor and Zoe rushing toward , their faces etched with concern.

"Ethan!" Eleanor reached first, her normally perfect composure slipping as she gripped my arm. "How is he? What happened?"

I guided them away from the nurses’ station, lowering my voice. "The doctors say it’s exhaustion complicated by elevated blood pressure. They’re keeping him sedated while they run more tests, but they believe he’ll recover." I swallowed hard, forcing confidence into my voice. "He’ll be fine."

Eleanor peered through the window, her knuckles white as she clutched her designer handbag. "How could this happen? He was perfectly healthy at Sunday dinner."

"Healthy people don’t just collapse during board etings," Zoe interjected, she fixed with a penetrating stare. "What really happened, Ethan? All of it."

I glanced around to ensure we weren’t overheard before responding. "The board eting turned hostile. Grayson was leading the charge, demanding Father step down temporarily while the ’allegations’ are investigated." My voice hardened with contempt. "As if there’s anything to investigate beyond malicious gossip."

"Those ungrateful vultures!" Eleanor hissed, her elegant features contorted with rage. "After everything the Quinn family has done for them—the opportunities, the wealth we’ve created together. The minute there’s trouble, they circle like sharks."

Zoe remained calr, though I could see the calculation in her eyes. "Have you identified the source of these rumors? Soone must be orchestrating this."

I leaned against the wall, suddenly feeling the weight of four sleepless nights. "It has Uncle Edward’s fingerprints all over it. The timing, the specific details about Grandfather’s will—information only family would know."

"But Edward’s been gone for decades," Eleanor objected. "Why return now?"

"Because Father is approaching retirent age," I explained grimly. "The company is at its most valuable, and the succession plan will be finalized next quarter. If Edward wants revenge or a piece of the empire, this is his mont."

Zoe nodded slowly. "What evidence do we have to refute these claims?"

I ran my hand over my face, confronting the most frustrating aspect of our predicant. "That’s the problem. Grandfather changed his will just weeks before his death. On paper, it looks suspicious—especially to outsiders who don’t know the whole story."

"Uncle Edward embezzled company funds and nearly bankrupted our London office," Eleanor snapped. "Of course Grandfather disinherited him!"

"We know that," I said wearily. "But all the key witnesses are dead. The family lawyer who drafted the will. Grandfather himself. Even Mother, who could have testified to Father’s innocence."

"So what’s your plan?" Zoe asked directly. My eldest sister had always been the pragmatist, cutting through emotion to focus on solutions.

I hesitated. "I’ve been trying to contain it internally. Reassuring major clients, speaking individually with board mbers. But Grayson Henderson has turned this into a power play. He controls fifteen percent of our shares, and he’s convinced other minority shareholders to join his coalition."

"Why not go on the offensive?" Eleanor suggested. "Expose Uncle Edward’s past cris. Remind everyone why he was exiled in the first place."

"It would look desperate," I countered. "Like we’re deflecting rather than addressing the accusations. Besides, most of those records were deliberately sealed to protect the company’s reputation."

Zoe paced the small waiting area, her mind visibly working through scenarios. "We need to stabilize the company first. The rumors can be addressed later, when Father is recovered and can defend himself."

"I agree," Eleanor nodded. "Who’s leading the charge among the shareholders? Beyond Henderson?"

"Parker, and the Miyazaki Group," I replied, listing our most vocal critics. "They’re demanding an ergency shareholders’ eting next week."

"Perfect," Eleanor said with sudden determination. "I’ll handle Henderson. We financed his daughter’s fashion line last spring—he owes . Zoe, you take Miyazaki. You negotiated their last contract."

For the first ti in days, I felt a flicker of hope. With my sisters’ connections and influence, we might at least buy so ti. But I knew we needed more—sothing decisive to turn the tide completely.

"I’ve called in reinforcents," I admitted, checking my watch. "Ryan Blackwood and Serena are flying in. They should land in a few hours."

Eleanor raised an eyebrow. "I thought you were determined to keep Serena out of this ss. Sothing about protecting her from stress?"

I sighed. "That was before Father collapsed. We need all hands on deck now—and Serena’s not just any hand. She’s a Quinn. Plus, Ryan’s influence extends even further than ours in certain circles."

Before my sisters could respond, my phone vibrated with an incoming call—Maya. Relief washed over at the sight of her na.

"I need to take this," I said, stepping away from my sisters. "Maya’s been coordinating with our PR team."

I answered quickly, moving toward a quieter corner of the waiting room. "Hey."

"How is he?" Maya asked, her voice warm with concern.

"Stable," I replied, allowing so of my carefully maintained composure to slip. "But unconscious. The doctors are optimistic."

"I’ve finished at the office," she said. "Do you want to co to the hospital?"

"Please," I whispered, surprised by the raw emotion in my voice. "I need you here."

Twenty minutes later, I spotted Maya hurrying through the hospital entrance, her red-brown hair pulled back in a hasty ponytail, eyes searching the lobby until they found mine. The sight of her—determined, loyal, unwavering—loosened sothing tight in my chest.

I t her halfway, pulling her into my arms without caring who might see. The familiar scent of her perfu—sothing citrusy and clean—grounded in a way nothing else could.

"I’m so sorry about your father," she murmured against my shoulder, her arms tightening around . "But he’s strong, Ethan. Like all of you Quinns."

I pressed a kiss to her temple, allowing myself this brief mont of comfort. "Thank you for being here. For everything you’ve done these past weeks."

She pulled back slightly, her gray eyes eting mine with fierce certainty. "This is going to work out. We’ll fight through this together, I promise."

"Co on," I said, taking her hand firmly in mine. "My sisters are eager to update you on their plan. And knowing Eleanor, it’s already morphed into sothing terrifyingly effective."

Maya squeezed my hand, her smile brightening. "That’s what I’m counting on. The Quinn siblings united—heaven help whoever started this ss."