Chapter 324

Author's POV A shadow loomed over New York as Ryan paced his office, trapped between desperation and determination. Every hour without Serena felt like a lifetime. While his private investigators chased down leads across the city, he scrutinized the footage for the hundredth time, searching for any detail he might have missed. Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the design world erupted in chaos. The Design Association had finally rendered their verdict on the plagiarism accusations against Serena—guilty as charged. The announcement spread like wildfire across social media platforms. "The official statement confirms it—Serena really is a plagiarist," one comment read. "Wait, didn't she provide evidence clearing her name? And didn't ARt company back her up? Is this just about money talking?" questioned another user. "The officials have spoken! You Lazuli fans still expecting some miracle turnaround? This is solid proof, don't you understand?" "Lance Draven was actually merciful. If it were