Tears welled up in Mom''s eyes. "About what happened back then... I was wrong too. I''m staying with the Hastings family to make up for my mistakes."


    I didn''t know how to respond.


    "Mom," I said, raising my voice. "Why bother? Does anyone in the Hastings family even appreciate you?"


    "Robert is actually quite good to me, and so is ra." Nicole''s tears finally fell. "Serena, are you and... Alex still... the same?"


    I swallowed hard, slowly opening my eyes.


    I couldn''t bring myself to criticize Mom. I had always known she hadn''t been living the life of a wealthy housewife in the Hastings family, but I still couldn''t fully understand her.


    "Alex and I were never meant to be family," I said as I stood up. "Mom, take care of yourself."


    I turned to leave.


    "Serena," Mom called out.


    "If you have time,e back and visit," she added, her eyes red. "After all... we''re family."


    I wanted to say something, but in the end, I stayed silent and walked out of the


    room.


    After going downstairs, I didn''t see Alex. I figured he was still in the study, so I decided to wait for him in the car.


    When I was little, I loved the Hastings family. They had delicious food, a bigwn, and Alex. But now... I hated this ce.


    As I turned to leave, a voice called out, "Serena."


    I stopped and slowly turned around. It was Mr. Hastings Senior-Alex''s father and my stepfather.


    When I was younger, Mr. Hastings Senior had been kind to me, but everything changed over time. He never liked my mother, and naturally, he didn''t like me either.


    "Are you here to see your mother?" Mr. Hastings Senior asked, managing a strained smile.


    I returned a forced smile. "Yes, Mr. Hastings Senior."


    He nodded slowly at the way I addressed him. "Can we talk?"


    I hesitated, but he had already turned and entered the study. With a heavy sigh, I followed him.


    Alex was no longer in the room.


    "Have a seat," Mr. Hastings Senior said, pouring me a cup of tea. "Serena, it''s


    been a long time since you''ve been back."


    I listened to his familiar tone, but a lump formed in my throat.


    Since Mom married into the


    .n


    Hastings family, Mr. Hastings Senior had never been openly hostile, but he had always been somewhat. resistant. Alex, on the other hand, had outright opposed it. The Hastings family clearly didn''t wee me, so why was Mr.


    Hastings Senior saying this now?


    "Mr. Hastings Senior, please just get to the point," I said, taking a sip of water without responding.


    Robert sighed. "Well, I''m hoping you can help me, Serena. Could you persuade Alex to stop being so stubborn? It''s not good for him to keep avoiding us by nevering back home."


    I furrowed my brows.


    Alex hadn''t been home?


    As if reading my mind, Mr. Hastings Senior added, "Since you went to university and stoppeding here, Alex bought a new house and moved out. It''s been years, and unless something importanto happens, he neveres back."


    I frowned even deeper. What did that mean?