Chapter 327

Author’s POV

London welcomed them with its signature gray skies and light drizzle as Serena stepped off the plane, herding her exhausted design team and clutching Rancy’s tiny hand. The air felt different here—heavier somehow, like it was charged with secrets she couldn’t remember.

Cedric Lancaster was already waiting at the arrivals gate, immaculately dressed in a tailored charcoal suit that emphasized his tall frame. When Rancy spotted him, she let out an ear-splitting squeal and broke free from Serena’s grasp, racing toward him like a tiny missile.

"Daddy!" The toddler’s excited voice practically echoed through the entire terminal.

Cedric scooped her up effortlessly, his usually stone-cold expression melting as Rancy planted sloppy kisses on his cheek. Serena watched the interaction with a twisted knot of emotions swimming behind her carefully neutral expression.

Her design team wasn’t nearly as subtle with their feelings. They nudged each other, stage-whispering just loud enough for her to hear.

"Mrs. Lancaster and Mr. Lancaster look like they walked straight off a movie set," one sighed dreamily.

"And that precious daughter! Some women seriously hit the jackpot," another added with barely disguised envy.

"When will I find a man like Mr. Lancaster? The way he looks at her—like she’s the only person in the world!"

Serena pretended to be deaf, though irritation flickered across her features. If they only knew the reality behind that supposedly fairy-tale marriage. She approached Cedric, immediately switching into all-business mode.

"I need to meet with someone about the collaboration," she said, handing him Rancy’s small pink backpack. "Can you take her off my hands for now?"

Cedric’s smile vanished like someone had flipped a switch. "Right now? You literally just got off a plane. Surely you need to rest first?"

His brow furrowed with concern that didn’t quite reach his eyes. What Serena couldn’t see was the calculating look lurking behind that worry.

"No time to waste," Serena shook her head firmly. "I just found out LUXE’s studio got caught up in a plagiarism scandal. If they can’t give me a damn good explanation, I’m pulling the plug on the collaboration immediately."

As a designer whose entire reputation was built on originality, plagiarism was her personal third rail. The fact that LUXE’s founder was implicated made it even worse—it suggested a toxic culture that could destroy her own brand by association.

Something dark flashed in Cedric’s eyes.

"Their explanation will just be damage control bullshit," he said smoothly. "If they’ve plagiarized once, why waste your time meeting them at all? Cut your losses and be done with it."

Serena paused, chewing on his words. "There’s logic to that, but I still should meet them face to face. Basic professional courtesy, at minimum."

"Serena," Cedric’s voice dropped to that intimate tone that always made her skin crawl. "Your memories of Europe aren’t pleasant ones. Let me handle this LUXE mess for you."

The suggestion made every alarm bell in her head go off. "Absolutely not. This is Elegant Realm’s business, not yours. I’ll handle it myself." She softened slightly at his expression. "I won’t meet with LUXE this round, but I’ll contact their manager directly."

Relief practically radiated off him in waves. "Good. In that case, shall we get out of here? Rancy’s dead on her feet from the flight."

As if she’d been waiting for her cue, Rancy rested her head against Cedric’s shoulder and reached toward him with grabby hands.

"Up, up," she demanded sleepily.

Cedric’s entire persona did a complete 180, his voice gentle as he adjusted his hold on her. "How about we get you something delicious to eat, princess? Would you like that?"

While he carried Rancy toward the waiting car, Serena yanked her assistant aside.

"Contact LUXE and tell their management I expect them to get in touch with me," she instructed, her voice like ice. "They need to explain the plagiarism situation, or they’ll be hearing from our legal team."

Her assistant looked like she’d been slapped. "Mrs. Lancaster, we literally just landed. Isn’t that approach a bit... nuclear for day one?"

Serena’s eyes went arctic. "LUXE deceived us first. I have zero tolerance for plagiarism." She tapped her fingers against her arm impatiently. "Find us some backup design houses to partner with, and dig deep into ARt Design’s background. I want to know everything down to what the CEO had for breakfast."

"Yes, absolutely," the assistant nodded quickly, recognizing the danger zone she’d wandered into.

By the time Serena slid into the sleek black town car beside Cedric, her mood had gone from bad to worse. This European expansion was supposed to be her company’s moment of triumph—and now this plagiarism scandal threatened to blow everything to hell.

"Mommy, are you sad?" Rancy’s tiny voice cut through Serena’s spiral, her little face pinched with concern. "You said you wanted to come back here. Don’t you like it anymore?"

The innocent question immediately cracked something open in Serena’s chest. She reached across to brush Rancy’s curls from her forehead.

"Mommy’s just tired, sweetheart. How are you feeling? Is it too chilly for you here?"

Rancy shook her head like a bobblehead, pressing her nose against the car window. "Look! Everything’s so gorgeous!" Her eyes widened with childish wonder. "Can we go exploring, Mommy? Pretty please?"

Despite everything, Serena found herself genuinely smiling at her daughter’s enthusiasm.

Before she could answer, Cedric swooped in. "Mommy’s going to be swamped with work, Rancy. How about Daddy takes you on adventures instead?"

Serena’s smile went tight around the edges. Since Rancy’s birth, Cedric had insisted on calling himself her father, despite Serena’s repeated pushback. Now that Rancy was old enough to understand relationships, she had completely accepted him as her dad—creating an emotional minefield Serena couldn’t navigate without casualties.

"Yay! Daddy gives the absolute best piggyback rides!" Rancy clapped her hands excitedly.

Watching them together, Serena felt that familiar knot of frustration twist in her chest. With Rancy between them, there was never a clean exit strategy with Cedric. He knew it, too—she could see it in that smug little smile he tried to hide whenever Rancy chose him.

The car glided through wrought iron gates, revealing a sprawling Georgian mansion nestled among magazine-perfect gardens. A line of staff stood waiting at the entrance, their posture like soldiers at attention.

"Welcome home, Madam," they chorused as Serena stepped from the car.

Looking up at the imposing house that had never once felt like home, Serena took a deep breath. London held answers she desperately needed—if only she could slip Cedric’s surveillance long enough to find them.