I forced an awkward smile. The truth was, I didn''t actually like pork schnitzel. I


    only ordered it thest time I had dinner with Lucas because Alex liked it.


    "Thank you." I felt guilty and avoided looking Alex in the eye.


    Throughout the meal, Lucas was incredibly attentive toward me.


    "Serena, try this. The chicken is delicious."


    With great enthusiasm, he ced a piece of chicken onto my te. But before I could respond, Alex picked up a piece of fish. "She doesn''t like chicken. She''s a picky eater. Ever since she was a kid, she has always preferred fish."


    Lucas turned to look at Alex, who met his gaze without backing down.


    "I like both," I interjected, picking up my cutlery to break the standoff between them.


    The tension in the air was too thick. I was genuinely afraid it would escte.


    We managed to finish the meal despite the two''s silent rivalry. I let out a long sigh of relief when I put down my cutlery.


    Men''s power struggles were far scarier than women''s.


    Just then, Alex''s phone rang. He nced at the screen, and his expression turned serious as he stepped out.


    "Serena." The moment he left, Lucas leaned in. "Aren''t you and Mr. Hastings just step-siblings? Why are you two so close?"


    His question caught me off guard initially, but then I quickly realized something. "How do you know we''re step-siblings?"


    "I..." A flicker of panic shed through his eyes before he lowered his head sheepishly. "I''m sorry, Serena. I didn''t mean to look into you. I was just... curious."


    I stared at him, feeling a bit unsettled. Having someone dig into my background without my knowledge was already ufortable. But for it to be someone I considered a friend made it worse.


    "I didn''t do it on purpose," he added, slightly dejected. "I wasn''t going to tell you, but there was someone else in my life before-someone I thought was a friend, just like you. One day, she stole something very important from me. That''s when I found out she had been sent by Henry."


    Looking at him now, I was reminded of the vulnerable Lucas from the cocktail party. A pang of sympathy rose in my chest.


    "Forget it," I said with a sigh. "It''s not exactly a secret. Anyone could find out with a little digging."


    "So... you''ve forgiven me?" His eyes lit up with relief.


    I nodded.


    "Serena, you''re such a good person." He rubbed his nose and smiled. "You might just be my first real friend."


    "That''s a bit dramatic," I said with a chuckle.


    "You and Alex... seem really close." He probed once again, his tone filled with curiosity.


    I paused to think. "I guess that depends on how you look at it."


    "What do you mean?"


    "When we were kids, we got along well. But he never wanted my mom to marry into their family, so he always resisted. We didn''t speak for years it wasn''t until I was about to graduate that we reconnected. We''re naturally closer now that we work at the samepany."


    Lucas gave me a surprised look. "Serena, why are you telling me all this?"


    "Because we''re friends," I replied,


    meeting his gaze. "You were honest with me, so I should be honest with you too. That day when you fainted, Xena said I was the maid''s daughter. She wasn''t wrong."


    Alex''s face shed through my mind. I lowered my gaze slowly. "I really am just


    the maid''s daughter."


    I was never meant to be with Alex.