"You''re questioning me now?" Alex''s brows furrowed further, his eyes darkening with a trace of resentment. "You don''t go home either. Why is that? Your mom has been worried sick."


    I was taken aback as the answer seemed obvious. "I don''t go back to the Hastings residence because I''m not a Hastings. That isn''t my home."


    The car fell into an ufortable silence.


    As we reached the university gate, I unbuckled my seatbelt and was about to get out when Alex called out to me, "If you''re worried about your surname, you can always change it to Serena Hastings," he said in a firm voice that left no room for argument.


    I nced back at him but said nothing. Grabbing my things, I stepped out of the


    car.


    Alex was getting dumber by the day.


    Was this really about a surname? He only saw things on the surface. Hastings Group was bound to fail with that kind of thinking.


    I spent the entire walk back grumbling about Alex before finally pushing open the door to my dorm room.


    "Serena, you''re finally back!" L eximed, leaping at me as soon as I stepped in.


    "What''s up, L?" I tossed my coat onto the bed and copsed onto it.


    After a day like that, I was too exhausted to say much.


    "Get up," L demanded, pulling me to my feet by the cor. "Get up and exin."


    "Exin what?" I asked, feeling a bit anxious.


    "You''re from the Hastings family?" L asked, stressing each word.


    I wanted to avoid the question, but since Alex had already exposed me, there was no way out. Besides, after everything that had happened today, I realized L was on my side. As my only true friend, I didn''t want to hide anything from her.


    "My mother... is Alex''s stepmother," I said hesitantly.


    I didn''t want to hide anything from L, but it wasn''t something I''m proud of, and I


    was afraid she might see me differently if she knew.


    "I''m not actually a daughter of the Hastings family. My mom married into the Hastings family, and I lived with them for a few years. After I went to university, I''ve never gone back."


    "Why?" L asked, surprised. "But that''s the Hastings family!"


    The Hastings family... What a prestigious name. They were thergest business empire in Grandview and even all of Aldend. The Hastings family''s wealth was something many people dreamed of their whole lives.


    I felt as if my soul had been ripped out, and I copsed onto the bed.


    Remembering all the cold treatment I received from the Hastings family, my eyes welled up. "L, I hate feeling like a guest in my own home."


    L, sensing the tremor in my voice, seemed to understand. Shey down beside me and faced me.


    "I''m not really a daughter of the Hastings family, L. If I could, I''d just be Serena."


    "But you are Serena," L said, gently wiping away my tears. "Serena, you''re an adult now. You have the right to choose how you want to live. If you don''t want to go home, the dorm is always a good option."


    I nodded, smiling softly. "Yeah, and I have you here with me."


    L smiled back, nodding. We


    ve


    chatted for a while before she suddenly asked, "Serena, based on everything you''ve told me, it sounds like your rtionship with the Hastings family isn''t great. So, why did Alex announce to everyone that you''re a daughter of the Hastings family?"