Mom''s voice was filled with concern. "Serena, I''m really worried about you."


    Seeing her tear-filled eyes, I couldn''t help but reach out and hold her hand. "Mom, don''t worry. These are just small matters.


    "Don''t listen to Julian''s nonsense. As for the situation online, Alex has already asked Oliver to handle it."


    Mom hesitated several times before finally saying, "That''s not what I''m worried about."


    "Then what is it?" I looked at her, and for a split second, I felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.


    "Serena, why do I feel like... there''s something going on between you and Alex?"


    Her gaze locked onto mine. I quickly averted my eyes, trying my best to keep my voice steady. "No... We don''t have anything going on between us beyond work- rted matters."


    I thought my answer was wless, but Mom''s expression gradually changed. "Serena, you''re being foolish."


    Her tone was filled with frustration. "Do you even understand who Alex is? He''s the CEO of Hastings Group-a man even more remarkable than his father. Serena, you..."


    Tears slipped down Mom''s cheeks. "Serena, are you really going to follow in my footsteps?"


    In my memory, after Mom married Mr. Hastings Senior, she had always been like this.


    On the surface, she was a normal person, but the moment anything about her rtionship with Mr. Hastings Senior was brought up, she would be irrational.


    When I was younger, I would be afraid. However, as I grew older, I gradually realized that Mom was punishing herself. But at the same time, she was also tormenting those around her.


    "Mom," I said helplessly. "There''s nothing between Alex and me like what you''re thinking."


    "Then what is it?" Mom suddenly stood up.


    "Serena, Alex would never fall for a woman like you. He''s just ying with you! He must still hate me, soz he''s taking revenge on you. How could Alex do this..." she muttered to daughter,


    herself. "You''re my onto


    the most important person to me. That must be why he''s doing this-to get back at me."


    "Mom!" I frowned and stood up as well. "What are you even talking about? Whatever is between Alex and me, we can handle it ourselves. Can you stop overthinking things?"


    "Handle it?" Mom was relentless. "If you could handle it, would things be like this now?"


    Seeing that she wouldn''t listen to anything I said, I felt a headacheing. I took a deep breath, deciding to calm her down before talking things through.


    But as luck would have it, at that very moment, Mr. Hastings Senior called Mom.


    Mom was quick. Before I could react, she had already picked up the phone. "I''m at the café across from thepany. Come over. I have something to talk to you about."


    I frowned and immediately grabbed the phone, hanging up the call. "Mom, what are you nning to say to Mr. Hastings Senior?"


    "Serena." Mom wiped away her tears. "I''ve been weak my whole life. I won''t let you suffer under the Hastings family too."


    "No one is bullying me," I said, frustration and helplessness welling up inside me. "Mom, can you please calm down?"


    "How am I supposed to calm down?" Mom suddenly raised her voice. "After everything that has happened, you expect me to stay calm? The Hastings family ruined me, and now, they want to ruin my daughter too."


    "What''s going on?" Mr. Hastings Senior had just entered when he heard Mom''s outburst.


    Since Mom had always been gentle, he was visibly startled. But his first reaction was to quickly walk over to her. "Why are you getting so upset with Serena?"


    "Mr. Hastings Senior." Mom suddenly turned to him, tears streaming down her face.


    "I beg you, please talk to Alex.


    Everything that happened between us was my fault. If he wants


    revenge, let him take it out on.


    me just don''t make things difficult for Serena."