CHAPTER 230: CHAPTER 230 THE PROPOSAL PROJECT

Serena’s POV

I’ve been noticing Maya and Ethan spending a lot of time together lately. This isn’t the first time I’ve caught them whispering in Maya’s office.

"You two have been—" I started asking, but Maya cut me off immediately.

"Serena, don’t get the wrong idea. Mr. Quinn and I are just working on a collaboration."

Ethan nodded in agreement. "Yes, a collaboration."

I couldn’t help but smile knowingly. Ryan’s plan was clearly working—look at them, presenting a united front.

"Fine, collaboration it is. I’ll leave you two alone then." I backed out of the office tactfully, but not before giving Ethan an encouraging glance that said "go for it."

I lingered outside, chatting with a few designers, watching as Maya and Ethan eventually emerged from the office walking side by side.

"Looks like our Miss Carter’s spring romance is blooming," I said with a grin.

The designers giggled in agreement.

"Mr. Quinn and Miss Carter look so perfect together, even just from behind!" one commented.

Another chimed in, "Age-gap relationships are so interesting these days."

"Absolutely! Mr. Quinn has been coming to the studio constantly and doesn’t let anyone disturb them. They must be together already."

Their confident speculation made my eyes light up. "Really? They’re already together?"

"Well, I’m just guessing," one of the senior designers said, "but as someone with experience, these two clearly have feelings for each other. It’s only a matter of time."

I clapped my hands together excitedly. "That’s wonderful!"

The thought of my best friend marrying my brother—even though he didn’t know he was my brother yet—sounded like a dream. We’d be even closer than before. It was definitely worth celebrating.

Later that evening, I called Ryan to share the gossip.

"My plan is clearly working," he said. "Sometimes people just need to spend more time together."

Ryan chuckled softly but didn’t elaborate. Then he changed the subject entirely. "Serena, I think we should go to London in a few days."

My smile froze. That was unexpected. "London? Why?"

"Your past is something you’ll have to face sooner or later," Ryan said gently. "The therapy hasn’t been very effective. I think we need to take you to meet your parents in person."

"What do you think?"

I hadn’t expected this day to come so quickly. My heart raced as anxiety swept through me. My fingers tightened around the phone, and I must have been silent too long because Ryan’s voice softened further.

"Serena? Are you still there?"

"I’m here," I whispered, hating how small my voice sounded. "It’s just—I don’t know if I’m ready."

"You don’t have to face them alone," Ryan assured me. "I’ll be right there with you, every step of the way."

I closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing heart. "What if they reject me? What if they don’t want me back in their lives?"

"Then that’s their loss," Ryan said firmly. "But you deserve answers, Serena. You deserve to know where you came from."

I stood up and walked to the window, watching raindrops start to slide down the glass. "I’m scared," I admitted. "What if remembering changes everything? What if I’m not who I think I am?"

"You’ll always be Serena to me," Ryan said, his voice so warm and certain it made my eyes sting. "Nothing could change how I feel about you. Nothing could make me stop loving you."

The sincerity in his voice made my chest tighten. This was a far cry from the cold, distant man I’d married years ago.

"I’ll be with you through all of it," he continued. "If it gets too overwhelming, we’ll leave immediately. This is about healing you, not hurting you."

I took a deep breath. "Promise you won’t leave me alone with them?"

"I promise. We’ll face this together, like everything else."

His words steadied me, like an anchor in a storm. This man who once couldn’t bear to look at me was now promising to stand by me through one of the most frightening moments of my life.

"Okay," I finally agreed, my voice stronger. "Let’s go to London."

Ethan’s POV

I spent an absurd amount of time getting ready this morning. Changed my outfit three times before settling on a slate-gray suit with a navy tie. Even applied a touch of cologne—something I rarely bother with for business meetings.

Who am I kidding? This isn’t just any meeting. It’s Maya.

I arrived at the café early, picked a quiet corner table, and ordered us both coffees. When she walked in, something tightened in my chest. She wore a deep burgundy blazer over a cream blouse, her red-brown hair falling in soft waves around her shoulders.

"I think we’ve finally nailed the design," she said, sliding the finalized ring sketches across the table. But my mind was elsewhere.

"Why the sudden trip to London?" Maya asked, stirring her coffee. "Working on something with LUXE Jewelry?"

I shook my head, feeling the weight of the secret I was keeping. My sister was about to discover her true identity—her true family. Our family.

"Don’t tell me..." Maya narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "The proposal ceremony isn’t happening in London, is it?"

The question caught me off guard. I hadn’t expected her to jump to that conclusion.

"I doubt it," I managed to say, trying to keep my voice casual. "For something that significant, Ryan would surely want you there to witness it."

Maya made an indignant sound. "I better be! I’m Serena’s best friend. If Ryan dares to propose without me there, I’ll never forgive him."

She leaned forward, eyes intense. "You’re going back too, aren’t you?"

I nodded, guilt squirming in my stomach. Of course I was going—this whole trip to New York had been about finding my sister. Wherever Serena went now, I needed to follow.

"Then do me a favor," Maya said, oblivious to my discomfort. "Keep an eye on them. Let me know if anything happens."

I nodded again, feeling increasingly dishonest. She had no idea what was really happening, and I couldn’t tell her.

Our meeting was cut short when her assistant called. With Serena away, the studio needed Maya’s immediate attention.

As she gathered her things to leave, something desperate seized me. I couldn’t let her walk away like this—not when I didn’t know when I’d see her again.

"Maya," I called out.

She paused, sliding her phone back into her pocket. "Something else?"

I stood up, moved closer. Her perfume—something with notes of vanilla and jasmine—made my head swim slightly. Without thinking, I reached out to straighten her slightly rumpled collar.

She flinched away, eyes darting sideways, but not before I caught the flush creeping up her neck.

"What are you doing?" Her voice came out higher than usual.

"Your collar was crooked," I said, trying to sound matter-of-fact despite the thundering in my chest. My fingers still tingled from the brief contact. "I’m heading back to London soon. I don’t know when we’ll see each other again."

"If—" I started to say, wanting to suggest we stay in touch, wanting to tell her that meeting her had been the unexpected highlight of my trip, but she cut me off.

"Why would I need to see you?" The words came out sharp, defensive. "Ethan, haven’t we established this already? We’re strictly professional. These meetings have only been about Serena’s ring. Nothing between us is changing."

She took two steps back, creating a gulf between us. When she looked up again, her expression was perfectly composed, all traces of vulnerability gone.

"Mr. Quinn, I should go now."

All the things I wanted to say—that I couldn’t stop thinking about her, that she was the reason I kept finding excuses to visit the studio, that something about her pulled at me in ways I couldn’t explain—died in my throat.

"Right," was all I managed to say.

I watched her walk away, her confident stride never faltering as she pushed through the café door and disappeared into the crowd.

Only then did I let out the breath I’d been holding, a heavy sigh that seemed to carry all my unspoken words with it. I’d gone and done exactly what I promised myself I wouldn’t—I’d let myself develop feelings for someone who clearly had no interest in reciprocating them.

London suddenly seemed very far away, and very cold.