Amanding voice cut through Julian''s words. The sound was unmistakable, and I instinctively looked up.


    It was Alex.


    For once, he was dressed casually, yet hismanding presence was as unshakable as ever. His effortless confidence seemed to silence every conversation around us.


    Alex strolled over, his gaze locking onto the ne in Julian''s hand. His brows furrowed slightly as he asked, "The kes from Grandview... Are they really that broke now?"


    The casual remark hit like a p, and Julian''s expression darkened instantly.


    He had a knack for subtly unting his wealth at the university. Though he never openly discussed his family background, his wardrobe was a constant disy of designerbels. The sympathy he garnered from his ssmates came from their obliviousness to his true status.


    Upon hearing Alex''s words, a local ssmate from Grandview raised an eyebrow. "The ke family? As in the one in the electronics industry?"


    Julian''s face went pale.


    While the ne was undoubtedly extravagant for an ordinary student, it appeared surprisingly modest for the heir of the ke family.


    "Serena," Julian said, finally regaining hisposure. His incredulous gaze


    locked onto mine. "Is he... Is he your sugar daddy? Is that why you won''t get back together with me?"


    I scoffed. "Julian, stop ying the victim. Not everything is as filthy as your imagination makes it out to be."


    Julian shook his head and stared at me. "No, it has to be him. You climbed the socialdder because of this guy, didn''t you? That''s why you''re leaving me. Who is he?"


    I frowned. Julian had no idea who Alex was.


    But then it all clicked.


    Alex had taken over his family''spany the moment he came of age, making him a peer to Julian''s father. He was in apletely different league from someone like Julian, who seemed far more interested in manipting others.


    "I think I wasn''t clear enough," Alex said, stepping forward. "Allow me to introduce myself. I''m Serena''s brother, and I''m the CEO of Hastings Group."


    "Hastings Group?" The students around them whispered in awe, their voices filled with disbelief.


    "Could it really be... thergest business empire, that Hastings Group?"


    "Is Mr. Hastings really that young?"


    Julian''s mind went nk. After a long pause, he stared at Alex in disbelief. "Y- You''re Alex Hastings?"


    Alex nodded slowly. "You little prick from the kes. Since you pulled that prank on her, I take it you don''t like her. If that''s the case, then stop bothering her."


    Julian''s face shifted from pale to red, and then from a bright red to a deeper shade.


    "What did Mr. Hastings just say?"


    "He''s Serena''s brother? Well, you really can''t judge a person by their appearance."


    "Why do they have differentst names? One''s Hastings, the other''s Ashford."


    "That''s simple. One took the father''s surname, the other took the mother''s."


    The surrounding chatter grew louder, and suspicions about Julian began to grow.


    "We didn''t know Serena''s background, but Julian must have known, right?"


    "The Hastings and the kes families are frompletely different worlds. I think Julian''s


    trying to marry into a wealth


    family."


    Many of the students around us covered their mouths andughed. Julian wanted to exin himself but was left speechless. Naturally,


    wouldn''t stay and prove that no


    he


    wasn''t the type to mooch off women.


    I grabbed Alex and pulled her away from the chaos.


    We had only taken a few steps when Alex unexpectedly took the lead and led me


    out of the university''s gate.