CEO's Regret After I Divorced-Chapter 379 How did we actually meet

I checked my watch compulsively as afternoon arrived. Two o’clock. Time for the verdict.

Zoe was already waiting in the hospital lobby when I arrived, her pristine suit somehow still unwrinkled despite the day’s stress. She gave me a confident smile that made my stomach twist with anxiety.

"Ready?" she asked, her voice gentle but excited.

I nodded stiffly, not trusting myself to speak. We walked together to the doctor’s office, a heavy silence between us.

The doctor handed me the envelope first. "The results of your comparative DNA analysis," he said professionally.

My hands trembled slightly as I took it. This small piece of paper could rewrite my entire existence. With one deep breath, I pulled out the report and scanned for the conclusion.

The relief that flooded through me was almost dizzying. "Well," I said, turning to Zoe with the report extended toward her, "this is your result. Take a look."

Her smile froze as she read the paper. The test clearly stated: no genetic relation detected between samples.

"This... this can’t be right," Zoe’s composure cracked for the first time since I’d met her. "There must be some mistake."

She stormed over to the medical staff, her voice rising. "This report is inaccurate!"

"Ma’am, these are the results directly from our lab equipment," the technician responded, clearly uncomfortable. "If you’re unsatisfied, you’re welcome to seek testing elsewhere, but please don’t disrupt our other patients."

I stood there, watching her perfect poise disintegrate, feeling a strange mix of vindication and disappointment.

"Ms. Quinn," I said coldly, "you can fulfill your promise now and leave me alone. And while you’re at it, please remind Ryan Blackwood to stop pursuing me as well. I have zero interest in being someone’s replacement in whatever game you’re all playing."

Zoe grabbed my arm, shaking her head desperately. "Something’s wrong here. Someone’s interfered. Serena, we need to go to another hospital."

I yanked my arm away, fury rising in my chest. "Ms. Quinn, stop making a scene. You suggested this test, you chose this hospital, and now that the results aren’t what you wanted, you can’t accept them? Is this how the Quinns do business? Making promises they have no intention of keeping?"

She fell silent, unable to argue against the evidence right in front of us.

I turned and walked away, not looking back. I could feel her eyes on me but didn’t care. I was done with this charade.

Outside the hospital, I took several deep breaths of fresh air, trying to settle my nerves. I’d just pulled out my phone to call my assistant when a familiar car pulled up beside me.

Cedric rolled down the window, surprise registering on his handsome face. "Serena? What are you doing here?"

I frowned slightly. "Cedric? Why are you..."

"Just a minor checkup," he said smoothly. "Nothing serious. Did you drive here?"

I shook my head, not wanting to explain the real reason for my visit.

"Need a ride to the studio? Hop in."

I climbed in without hesitation, grateful for the escape. The last thing I needed was Zoe chasing after me with more wild theories.

Once we were moving, Cedric studied my expression carefully. "You seem upset. Are you feeling unwell?"

"I’m fine," I lied. "Just a follow-up appointment my doctor recommended. I didn’t want to bother the driver."

"I heard Fashion Week ended on a high note despite the complications. Elegant Realm is really making waves now. Congratulations."

I relaxed slightly, grateful for the distraction. "Yes, it was quite the silver lining. The controversy actually generated more publicity than we expected."

"I knew you’d succeed," Cedric said with a smile. "Lancaster Group’s investment is proving to be an excellent decision."

I raised an eyebrow, remembering that I’d already politely declined his offer. This time, I needed to be clearer.

"Lancaster Group isn’t in the fashion industry, Cedric. Our partnership isn’t really necessary."

He just smiled. "You’re my wife, Serena. If Lancaster Group can provide you advantages, it’s my pleasure to help. Besides, do you only want to stay within one brand? Have you considered expanding to other areas?"

"Other areas?" I frowned. "I love design. I don’t know other fields well enough to succeed in them. It would be too difficult."

I knew my strengths. Building one brand to excellence was already consuming all my creative energy. I didn’t want to dilute my focus.

"You’re so stubborn sometimes," he said, his voice soft but persuasive. "Times are changing. Fields you think you can’t master might actually suit you perfectly. Why not try? Haven’t you always wanted to experience new things?"

His hand reached out to squeeze my shoulder. "Besides, you have me as your support. Whatever you want to do, I’ll back you completely. With me, you’re always safe."

I pressed my lips together, uncomfortable but not wanting to seem ungrateful for his support. "Maybe someday. Right now, Elegant Realm is just finding its footing domestically. I need to consolidate our market position first."

I smiled and subtly shifted away from his touch. His smile faltered briefly as he withdrew his hand.

"Serena, a lot has happened lately. Your mind must be in chaos."

"I—" I began, but he cut me off.

"Don’t deny it. I can see it. You’re struggling with your missing memories, and now the Quinn family is confusing you even more. "

I stiffened, surprised he would bring this up unprompted.

"So is what they’re saying true or false?" I finally asked, voicing the question that had been eating away at me.

Cedric turned my body to face him, his eyes boring into mine with intensity.

"Serena, you are Serena Lancaster. Not anyone else. For over twenty years, you’ve never had any connection to Serena Quinn. The resemblance is nothing but coincidence."

He continued, his voice earnest. "Why question yourself because of strangers’ claims? Doesn’t that seem absurd?"

I searched his eyes for any sign of deception but found only sincerity.

"But what about you and Serena Quinn?" I pressed.

Cedric’s eyebrows shot up, and then his eyes brightened with understanding.

"Are you jealous?" he asked, looking almost hopeful. "Yes, Serena Quinn and I were classmates from families with social connections, but her personality was completely different from yours. I’ve always loved you, not her."

Before I could react, he pulled me into an embrace, his hand stroking my hair as joy spread across his face.

"I’m so happy you’re jealous, Serena. Since your accident three years ago, you’ve kept me at a distance. Sometimes I feel more like a stranger than your husband."

His voice cracked with emotion. "These three years have been torturous—loving someone who’s right in front of me but always feeling like I might lose you. I’ve lived in constant fear that you and Nancy would leave me someday."

His embrace was gentle and loving, but I felt myself stiffen further. Still, his words made me hesitate to push him away. My heart felt torn between not wanting to hurt him and feeling deeply uncomfortable.

Were we really in love before?