After a long pause, Alex let out a cold, disdainful snort. "Youck awareness, spout nonsense, and are utterly unreliable."


    Those words were delivered with such iciness and ridicule that Julian finally realized how silent the other guests had be. He had be the main character of this g-but it was the main character who was to be mocked.


    Julian was stunned at first. Then, his face turned a bright red. He had been upset at first, but he quickly became furious.


    He was enraged by the humiliation he just suffered.


    With Julian still standing in ce, Alex raised his wine ss slightly and said, "Enjoy yourselves, everyone."


    Under the soothing music, the g quickly returned to its lively, social atmosphere.


    Everyone was enjoying themselves, except for the tactless Julian.


    When the g ended, I had almost forgotten about the disruption Julian caused. On the ne back to Grandview, Alex suddenly asked, "So, the reason you asked me if the kes would be at the g on the way there was because Julian had already invited you?"


    Alex seemed to be in a good mood.


    I nodded.


    "Then why didn''t you ept his invitation?" he continued to ask.


    "I hate him." Just mentioning Julian filled me with disgust.


    Alex''s mood seemed to improve even further. "Once we''re back, I''ll have my assistant transfer the money into your ount."


    I nodded again. Thankfully, the money was there to soothe the disgust that Julian caused me.


    "Are you really that short on money?" Alex suddenly turned his head to look at me.


    "I am." I nodded without hesitation. "Who wouldn''t be? Not everyone''s as rich as you are."


    Alex chuckled and reached out to ruffle my hair.


    That felt so intimate. I looked at his handsome face and felt an involuntary rush of heat creep up my face.


    "If you really need that much money,


    you could move back into the


    Hastings residence," Alex said as he withdrew his hand. He quickly returned to his usualposed demeanor. It was as if what


    happened earlier was just a figment of my imagination.


    "You''ll be starting work soon, and the rental in Grandview isn''t cheap," he continued.


    I shook my head. "I won''t go back."


    "Why not?" Alex looked at me with a slight frown.


    Because that''s not my home.


    But I didn''t say that. Instead, I looked up at him and replied, "The one who


    is going back to the


    residence isn''t me; it''s


    you."


    swrevel


    I pressed on, "The things you''re


    бал


    concerned about... The wrongs may mother and... Basically, they have nothing to do with you. You shouldn''t be the one left without a home."


    Whenever this topic came up, it always felt like a heavy weight on my heart that suffocated me.


    Unsurprisingly, Alex''s expression darkened.


    I thought he would lose his temper, but his voice merely turned a bit colder. "I''ve


    already told you, this thing has nothing to do with you."


    I lowered my head slowly.


    But the Hastings residence wasn''t my home either.


    "If it''s something you can''t change, then there''s no need to feel guilty," Alex said in


    a frosty tone before picking up a book from the table.


    I remained silent.


    I really didn''t know how to respond.