The interview had done its job. By the next morning, the headlines had shifted from suspicion to fascination—"Moreau's Love Story Melts the City's Heart." Serena almost allowed herself to breathe. Almost.
She was arranging flowers in the living room when the elevator chimed. Elias hadn't mentioned expecting anyone.
The doors slid open, and a woman stepped out as if she owned the place. Tall, stunning, with chestnut hair that spilled over a tailored cream coat, she carried an air of elegance sharpened by something colder.
"Hello, Elias," she said, her voice smooth as silk.
Serena's hands tightened around the vase. Elias emerged from his office, and for the first time since she'd known him, his expression faltered.
"Isabelle," he said flatly.
The name landed in the air like a stone. Isabelle smiled faintly, but her eyes were locked on him, ignoring Serena entirely. "You didn't tell me you'd gotten married. Imagine my surprise."
"Not your concern," Elias replied, his tone clipped.
"Oh, but it is," she said, stepping closer. "Considering we were engaged not so long ago."
Serena's pulse stumbled. Engaged? She glanced at Elias, but he didn't look at her—his gaze was fixed on Isabelle, steel meeting fire.
"I believe you returned the ring," he said evenly.
Isabelle's smile widened just enough to make it dangerous. "True. But the truth has a way of getting out, Elias. And I wonder how the press would react if they knew this marriage of yours was… unconventional."
There it was—the unspoken threat.
Elias took a step toward her, his voice dropping. "Careful, Isabelle. You're walking a fine line."
Finally, Isabelle's attention shifted to Serena. Her gaze swept over her slowly, as if assessing a competitor. "So, you're the one he chose. I wonder if you know what you've signed up for."
Before Serena could respond, Elias moved between them. "This conversation is over. You can show yourself out."
Isabelle's heels clicked sharply on the marble as she walked back to the elevator. Just before the doors closed, she looked at Serena again and said softly, "Enjoy the arrangement while it lasts."
When she was gone, silence settled heavily. Serena set the vase down, her hands trembling. "Who was she really, Elias?"
He met her gaze, his jaw tense. "Someone who doesn't matter anymore."
But the flicker in his eyes told Serena she'd just met someone who mattered a great deal—and might still.