This time, Jolene shoved me harder than before. I stumbled backward, my bnce tipping dangerously. I braced myself for a fall, only to collide with a solid chest.


    Turning my head, I froze.


    It was Alex. Of all times, he had to walk into the office right now.


    The moment Alex''s dark, stormy gaze swept over the scene, my heart dropped.


    "Mr. Hastings!"


    The previously noisy office became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone avoided eye contact, suddenly engrossed in their work. Only a few colleagues greeted him quietly.


    I could feel my pulse hammering as I quickly stepped away from Alex, my stomach churning with dread.


    "Are you incapable of standing up for yourself?" Alex asked sharply, his brows knitted in irritation. "She pushes you, and you just stand there?"


    "I..." My voice faltered as I nced at Alex, guilt and embarrassment swirling inside me. "I... didn''t react fast enough."


    Alex''s eyes swept over me, his expression unreadable. He took a single, deliberate step forward, stopping in front of Jolene. Without a word, he extended his hand.


    "You''re fired," Alex said tly as he ced the ne back in its box.


    Jolene''s face went nk with shock, but she quickly straightened, raising her voice in protest, "On what grounds?"


    "First, you assigned your work to a new hire and then tried to take credit for it," Alex began, his tone cold and controlled.


    "Second, as the supervisor to the office assistant, you invaded your boss'' privacy and disclosed personal matters publicly." He raised the ne slightly to emphasize his point.


    "Third, Hastings Group does not tolerate employees who incite internal conflict or division."


    With each word, Jolene''splexion paled further, but her eyes still burned with anger.


    "Mr. Hastings, are you firing me to protect Serena? She''s just a newbie with no qualifications or skills. And yet you took her to the g?" she questioned, her voiceced with venom.


    Though the others dared not say anything, I could sense that they, too, had their doubts. Some were even resentful.


    "I am protecting Serena," Alex said calmly.


    The entire office fell into stunned silence. Everyone turned their eyes to Alex.


    He turned and ced the ne in my hands. "Serena is my sister. We''re family. Of course, I''ll protect her."


    Relief washed over me for a fleeting moment, but it was quickly followed by an inexplicable ache as if something in my heart had shattered.


    "What?"


    Everyone looked at us in disbelief.


    The stark differences between Alex


    and me-our looks, personalities


    and even the way we carried ourselves-had led everyone to assume something entirely different about our rtionship.


    Hearing the truth directly from Alex left them all shocked.