I was taken aback for a moment when I heard Alex''s words. Then, I said with an awkwardugh, "So, you already know."


    Alex said in a deep voice, "Yes. I thought you were nning on stubbornly taking the fall and ruining your life just like that. It looks like you''re not aplete fool."


    I decided to take that as apliment.


    I asked, "So, will you help me? I can''t prove my innocence, so the university wants to talk to my family."


    Deep down, I despised myself for this. Wasn''t asking Alex toe act as my guardian essentially making use of his reputation and wealth? But desperate times called for desperate measures.


    Alex paused for a moment before he said, "I can help you, but on one condition."


    Again with the conditions. Yet when Alex said it, I didn''t feel any disgust. Instead, I instinctively tried to guess what his condition was.


    "I''ll never move back to the Hastings residence. If you''re asking me to do that in exchange for your help, I''d rather find another way," I said firmly.


    "Do you have any other options?" Alex asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.


    "I..."


    I couldn''t think of anything right away, but I would surelye up with something eventually, right?


    "Did I say I wanted you to move back to the Hastings residence?" Alex said.


    I was speechless for a moment. I thought I had guessed what he wanted, but it was all just my assumptions. I imagined Alex narrowing his eyes and scrutinizing me, and my face suddenly turned red.


    It was so embarrassing!


    "If youe to work at Hastings Group, I''ll help you solve this matter," Alex said.


    I thought about it for a moment and said, "Deal!"


    "Prepare your resume and send it to me before the holidays," he replied.


    I nodded. "Okay. So, when will youe by?"


    "Tomorrow," Alex replied.


    My phone started to ring as soon as I got back to the dormitory. It was an unknown number, but I knew definitely Julian. After hesitating for


    was


    Call.


    "Serena, it''s me." Sure enough, it was Julian.


    "If you have something to say, just say it." My patience with Julian was already


    about


    "I''ve heard about the university''s ns to expel you. I can go see the principal tomorrow as long as you''re willing to reconcile with me. Peter is a friend of my dad''s, and Justin has been trying to curry favor with my dad too," Julian said with a sense of superiority.


    I snorted. "Are you trying to take advantage of the situation again? Julian, you


    truly are despicable."


    Julian retorted without a shred of


    guilt, "How could you say that? Ifd don''t help you, who will? Do you think Alex will? He''s so busy. There''s no way he''d bother with something


    so trivial."


    Julian''s tone sounded incredibly smug and treacherous. It seemed like he thought he had already won.


    This was precisely what I hated most about him.


    "There''s no need. I won''t reconcile with you even if I''m expelled." I said incredibly calmly.


    Julian''s voice immediately got louder. "What did you say? Serena, you''d better remember what you said today. You''ll pay for what you said eventually."


    I nodded indifferently. "Okay."