Mom nodded weakly, then whispered, "Serena, I just... I noticed that Alex treated you differently, so I was worried about you."
Her words left me speechless. Alex treated me differently? Even Mom had noticed?
"I''ll take some tea to Mr. Hastings Senior in the study." I wanted to avoid the conversation and quickly found an excuse to leave.
As I reached the study door with the tea, I overheard a heated argument inside.
"She''s your sister, so you''d better put those thoughts away." Mr. Hastings Senior''s voice carried a warning.
"I''ll restrain my feelings, but I absolutely won''t allow Serena to be kicked out of Hastings Group," Alex said firmly. "She has brought a lot of value to thepany during her time here."
"You want to keep her in Hastings Group just because of her value?" Mr. Hastings Senior pressed. "If it''s only about that, I might tolerate it. But if it''s not, then there is no way she can stay."
Hearing this, I felt as if all the blood in my body had frozen. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of my chest. I knew I shouldn''t be eavesdropping, but my feet refused to move.
"Why?" Alex sounded frustrated. "You could ept Madam Burke, so why can''t I have Serena?"
My grip on the cup loosened, and it nearly fell to the floor. Scalding hot tea spilled over the rim and onto my hand.
The burning pain snapped me out of my daze, and I forced myself to leave while blinking back tears.
"What happened?" Mom gasped when she saw me.
"I..." My voice was choked with emotion. "I knocked over the tea and spilled it on my hand."
"You careless child," Mom scolded gently, her tone filled with concern. "It was boiling hot water! Come here. Let me treat it before it blisters."
Just as we reached Mom''s room, the sound of a door mming echoed from downstairs.
"What happened?" Mom got up to check, but I quickly grabbed her arm.
"Mom, just focus on treating my burn. It really hurts."
Her attention immediately shifted back to me. "Alright, alright. Just hold on for a bit."
A short whileter, I heard Alex''s footsteps as he returned to his room.
I didn''t expect him to say those
things. Just when I had finally epted reality, his and Mr. Hastings Senior''s conversation nearly reignited the foolish desire I
had been trying so hard to suppress.
"Serena." Mr. Hastings Senior''s voice came from outside Mom''s room. "I want to
have a word with you. Are you free?"
Mom''s eyes shed with concern. could tell she wanted to refuse
speak, I answered first, Oulde!!
my behalf, so before she co
"Yes,dll be
right there."
"Serena..." Mom frowned once Mr. Hastings Senior had walked away. "He and
Alex were probably arguing just now. Are you sure you want to go?"
I nodded. "Mr. Hastings Senior has always treated me well. Besides, Mom, do you think he''s the kind of person who would take his anger
out on me?"
Hearing that, Nicole finally relented.
I made my way to the study, where Mr. Hastings Senior still looked as kind and
"Serena, have a seat. What happened to your hand?"
I nced at my bandaged hand and smiled lightly. "I burned it while pouring water
for my mom just now. It''s nothing serious."
"Oh." Mr. Hastings Senior nodded. Then, his expression turned thoughtful. "I
called you here today because I want to ask what you think of Alex."