Serena’s POV
The next morning, I impulsively decided to take Vivian shopping. We needed to get out of the house, just the two of us. Sothing about the mounting tension with Ryan made crave this simple escape—just and my daughter exploring the world without the weight of expectations or disappointnts crushing us.
I was buckling her into her stroller outside Bloomingdale’s when I heard a familiar voice.
"Is that little Vivian Blackwood?" Cedric approached, smiling broadly. "She has your eyes."
My heart did this weird little skip. I hadn’t prepared to run into anyone I knew, least of all him.
"Cedric," I said, surprised. "What are you doing around here?"
"My hotel’s just down the block. I was about to grab coffee before so property viewings." He knelt to Vivian’s level. "Hello there, beautiful."
Vivian, normally shy with strangers, gave him a gummy smile and reached for his finger. The ease of their connection hit right in the chest—a bittersweet what-if that I quickly shoved away.
"She likes you," I observed, genuinely surprised. Vivian usually took forever to warm up to new people. Even so of Ryan’s business associates she’d seen multiple tis still got her legendary death glare.
"I have that effect on the ladies," he joked, standing. "Shopping day?"
I nodded. "She’s growing like a weed, needs a whole new wardrobe."
"Mind if I tag along? I could use a break from real estate agents, and afterward, we could hash out so preliminary ideas for our collaboration over coffee."
I hesitated for a split second. A voice in my head—sounding exactly like Ryan’s—warned this wasn’t appropriate. It was just shopping and a work eting, but sothing felt... complicated. Still, having another adult to talk to while navigating departnt store aisles sounded like heaven. And God knows I needed soone who understood my creative vision to bounce ideas off of.
"Sure, why not?" I finally said, telling that nagging voice to shut up.
Shopping with Cedric was surprisingly amazing. He had an eye for color and made Vivian giggle by trying on tiny hats alongside her. There was no awkwardness between us—just the comfortable rhythm of old friends who shared both history and passion for the sa craft. The hours lted away, filled with laughter and easy conversation that made realize how starved I’d been for this kind of intellectual connection.
Three hours later, loaded down with bags and with a very happy baby, we headed to a café near Central Park.
"So I’ve been thinking about your fine jewelry line," Cedric began after we’d ordered. "What if we combined your signature settings with so of the sustainable sourcing thods I’ve developed in East Africa?"
I leaned forward, my creative brain instantly firing on all cylinders. The artistic part of lit up like a Christmas tree, sketches and designs already forming in my mind. "That could work brilliantly with the direction I’m taking Dreamland. Tell more about these sources—"
"Serena."
The deep, ice-cold voice sliced through our conversation like a knife. My entire body tensed before I even fully registered who was speaking. I looked up to find Ryan looming beside our table, his eyes hard as granite as they moved between Cedric and .
"Ryan," I managed, suddenly feeling like I’d been caught cheating, though I knew I hadn’t. My face burned with guilt I had no reason to feel. "How did you even find us?"
Ryan didn’t acknowledge the introduction. His gaze fixed on Vivian, who was contentedly playing with a stuffed animal Cedric had bought her. The muscle in his jaw twitched—that familiar warning sign that he was barely keeping his temper in check.
"Get your things," he said, his voice controlled but loaded with tension. "You and Vivian are coming with ."
"Ryan, we’re in the middle of a eting—" I started, embarrassnt quickly morphing into fury. How dare he swoop in here like I was so runaway kid?
"Now, Serena."
I swallowed hard, humiliation and anger colliding in my chest. Every eye in the café seed to be on us. "I’m sorry, Cedric. Perhaps we can reschedule?"
Cedric stood politely. "Of course. Lovely eting you, Mr. Blackwood." He extended his hand, which Ryan completely ignored.
With my cheeks on fire, I gathered Vivian and our shopping bags. Ryan took the baby from without a word and began walking toward the exit where his car waited at the curb. His back was ramrod straight, shoulders squared like he was heading into battle. I followed behind, a hurricane brewing inside . Who the hell did he think he was? We’d co so far in Vegas—or so I thought—and now he was back to treating like property.
Inside the car, the silence was thick enough to choke on. I was just working up the courage to explain the innocent nature of the eting when Ryan spoke.
"We’re going to have another wedding."
I blinked, sure I’d lost my mind. "What?"
Ryan turned to , his expression unreadable. "I want to marry you again. Properly this ti. I want everyone to know you’re Serena Blackwood."
My jaw hit the floor, but no words ca out. After our secret reconciliation in London, we’d quietly resud our married life, except I’d kept my maiden na, staying Serena Quinn professionally.
Why was he bringing this up now?
I looked at Ryan like he’d just announced he was moving us to Mars. His face was dead serious, jaw set in that stubborn way I’d co to recognize as his "this is happening" expression.
"A wedding?" I finally managed. "You’re bringing this up now? After making a scene in front of my business associate?"
"It’s not about the damn wedding!" Ryan’s voice carried through the door, his footsteps heavy as he followed . "It’s about us, Serena!"
I whirled around when he entered, my arms crossed defensively. "I’m buried under deadlines, Ryan. The Quinn-Dreamland rger needs my personal attention, the London boutique launch is in three weeks, and I’ve already missed too much ti with Vivian."
His jaw tightened, that muscle twitching the way it always did when he was trying not to explode. "And where exactly do I fit into your jam-packed schedule? Between conference calls and bedti stories?"
"That’s not fair." I ran my fingers through my hair, exhaling slowly. "You know how important this is to . I finally have everything—my family, my identity, my work—"
"And your husband?" Ryan moved closer, his gray-blue eyes intense. "Where does he fall on that list?"
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