"What''s wrong?"


    "Why would someone try to extort 500 thousand dors from a college student who hasn''t even graduated yet? It doesn''t make sense," I said, frustrated by the sheer absurdity of it.


    Alex, however, looked like he had it all figured out. "Because they''re confident you cane up with the money."


    "Confident? How could they possibly believe that? I don''t have that kind of money," I eximed.


    "They believe you''ll find a way."


    "And how am I supposed to do that? Steal it? Rob a bank? Honestly, at that point,


    I''d rather just deal with the online hate," I scoffed, finding the entire notionughable.


    "Or maybe, I''m the way they think you''ll get it from," Alex said, his gaze steady and full of certainty.


    "You..." I started to argue but then froze, realizing what he meant.


    "Back then, you were practically invisible. No one cared enough to pay attention. That''s why they held onto the video, waiting for the right moment to strike. But now that I''ve helped clear your name, they''re taking a shot—not at you, but at me. They''re betting I''ll pay to protect you."


    It made sense. To a regr person, 500 thousand dors was a fortune. But to Alex, it wouldn''t even make a dent in his bank ount.


    "You''re not as clueless as you look," Alex said with a smirk as he parked in front of a hotel. It was clearly one of his properties.


    As tes of beautifully presented food were brought to the table, I couldn''t help but dig in. It had been days since I had eaten a proper meal. I had been too consumed by everything happening around me.


    "So, to sum it up, this isn''t about you; it''s about me. What you need to do now is stay calm and let things unfold," Alex said and began to eat.


    Taking his advice to heart, I spent the next few days holed up in my dorm, ignoring everything happening online.


    One afternoon, L suddenly burst into the room, looking frantic.


    "What''s wrong, L?" I asked, setting down my pen.


    "Serena, you need to check the news," she said, her face pale. "Julian cleared your name."


    "What?" I frowned, grabbing my phone.


    Sure enough, Julian had posted the original surveince footage on his ount,pletely unedited.


    "Why would he do that?" I muttered, utterly confused. Had Julian suddenly decided to grow a conscience?


    "I heard it''s because of Mr.


    Hastings," L whispered, leaning in. "Apparently, Mr. Hastings has beening down hard on the ke


    family''s business. And now, the


    ke family has been exposed for using substandard materials and tax evasion."


    "What?" My eyes widened in shock.


    "With the ke family under so much fire, even if Mr. Hastings backs off, the public isn''t going to let them off the hook," L said, shaking her head.


    I was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. Alex had told me not to worry, and it seemed he had taken matters into his own hands.


    "Serena, what''s on your mind?" L asked, watching me with concern. "You''re not feeling bad for Julian, are you?"


    I frowned. "Feel bad for him? He deserves this."


    Julian had dragged me into this mess without a second thought, turning me into the target of public


    fage. I wasn''t some saint who''d


    forgive him for that.


    "I''m just worried," I admitted with a sigh. "I don''t want to cause Alex any trouble."


    "Go to sleep," L said, clearly


    relieved I wasn''t softening toward


    Julian, "Don''t you have the first


    round of screening tests for C


    Hastings Group tomorrow?"


    I nodded.