I nodded.


    "Serena, why don''t you stay with us? It''s such a big ce, and it feels a little lonely with just your mom and me here," Mr. Hastings Senior said after a short pause.


    I felt touched by his offer but shook my head. "Thanks, Mr. Hastings Senior, but it''s okay. I''m about to graduate and start working soon. Moving back wouldn''t be convenient."


    After hanging up, I slumped forward, feeling a wave of helplessness. The incident had happened so long ago, and finding evidence now felt impossible. Worse yet, I had no idea who was behind the video.


    Just then, my phone rang again. I frowned, wondering who would call me thiste at night.


    "Hello?"


    "I have the original surveince footage from outside the coffee shop," a distorted voice said on the other end. The words jolted me upright.


    "What do you want?"


    "Give me 500 thousand dors and I''ll sell you the video."


    I fell into deep thought when I heard the number.


    "This must be a scam! How could a video be worth 500 thousand dors? If you''re trying to scam someone, do your homework first. I''m just a broke student. I don''t have that kind of money to spend!"


    I moved to hang up, but the voice quickly interrupted, sounding panicked.


    "The price is negotiable. Make me an offer."


    Something about their tone made me pause. I frowned at the phone, sensing


    there was more to this than met the eye.


    After hanging up, I stayed in bed, lost in thought.


    Just then, L came out of the bathroom while towel-drying her hair. She nced


    at me. "What''s up, Serena? You still feeling down?"


    I held up the phone and replied, "L,


    somest called me, iming


    they the original surveince footage from the coffee shop. They wanted 500 thousand dors for it."


    "Fifty thousand dors? That''s weird." L frowned.


    "I think so too," I said with a nod.


    "So, what are you going to do about it?" she asked.


    "I don''t know yet," I admitted with a sigh. "Let''s just sleep on it. Tomorrow is another day."


    ...


    What I didn''t expect was for Alex to show up the next day.


    "What are you doing here?" Ever since I had reluctantly epted his help, we had grown closer. Just seeing him put me in a slightly better mood.


    "Serena." Alex leaned casually against the door of his Cullinan, his gaze fixed on me. "Are you a celebrity now?"


    Hisment caught me so off guard that I gave him a dark look. He had no idea how to have a normal conversation.


    to be!" I said, throwing


    "I don''t want to be!" I said


    up my


    in exasperation as I


    climbed into the passenger


    "But I don''t really have a choice, do f?"


    "And what about this whole coffee shop incident?" Alex started the car. This had be a routine of sorts. We''d grab a meal together whenever he came by.


    Sighing, I ryed the full story, including the ckmail call I receivedst night.


    "You''re saying someone called and tried to extort 500 thousand dors from you?" Alex frowned, ncing at me.


    "Yeah," I said with a nod. "Eyes on the road, please."


    He turned his gaze back to the road, but a sly smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Now this is getting interesting."