Unexpectedly, Alex looked up at me. "Serena, don''t go. Stay with me for a while."


    I nodded. "Get some rest first. I''ll keep an eye on the time and wake you when it''s time."


    Hey down on the couch, and I found a nket to cover him. Maybe it was because he wasn''t feeling well or maybe the medication was taking effect, but he fell asleep before long.


    I sat beside him, watching him as he slept. Gone was the sharp, calcting businessman who always had a n. The fever had tinged his cheeks with a faint flush. At this moment, he was no longer the decisive andmanding Mr. Hastings he was just Alex.


    My fingers moved involuntarily, tracing the curve of his brow. The heat from his skin seeped through my fingertips, sending a slight tremor through my heart.


    At some point, I must have dozed off because when I woke up, I was lying in a bed in one of the rooms.


    I vaguely remembered that Alex had woken up and carried me upstairs, cing me on the bed. And before he left, it seemed like... he had kissed me-right at the top of my left eyebrow.


    I reached up and touched the spot. The sensation in my dream had been like a soft flutter. But now that I was awake, the feeling lingered. It felt so vivid, so real.


    And yet, it also felt impossible.


    Alex was alwaysposed and restrained. He wouldn''t do something like that. And he had no reason to.


    A kiss left no trace, and I had no proof.


    I opened the door and went downstairs to search for him.


    Hearing faint soundsing from the study, I took a deep breath and slowly moved toward the door.


    The study was closed. In this regard, Alex was just like Mr. Hastings Senior. Whenever he was working, he liked to shut himself away, ensuring no one could disturb him.


    I respected that. And besides... facing him now would feel a little awkward after what happened.


    Inside, his international meeting was in full swing. I could hear his steady, confident voice, but mixed in were asional coughs he couldn''t quite suppress.


    I quietly made my way to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and took out some ingredients after deciding to make him some hot honey lemon for his cough.


    Once it was done, I felt much calmer.


    He was still in the study. I pulled out my phone to message him but


    hesitated, not wanting fel


    A moment, I opted for pen and


    instead to leave him a note.


    As I stepped outside, a sudden gust of wind swept over me. The chill sent a shiver through my body, clearing my mind.


    "Just focus on work," I muttered with a sigh. "Chasing after illusions will only slow me down from making money."


    ...


    Hastings Group''s new productunch was only days away. The day before the release was always the busiest for the R&D department.


    Amid the chaos, a loud argument suddenly erupted in the office.


    Pushing through the crowd with Patricia, I was surprised to see that one of the people involved was Scarlett.


    "Scarlett, do you think you''re something special just because you''re the team leader now?" A


    young woman from an unknow


    department jabbed a finger at Ker. "Hurry up and send me the data I need!"


    "Stacey, you''re asking for this data way too fast minute. I''ve got a ton of things on my te right now. Your request isn''t urgent. Can''t you wait a little longer?"


    "No, I can''t," Stacey Zucker scoffed arrogantly. "You used to just scrape by under Mia''s leadership. Now that you''re in charge, you''re already putting on airs?"