I was listless. "If I say I''m really happy, but I just can''t feel it, would you believe me?"


    "What''s wrong this time, mydy?" L chuckled. "Alright, let''s meet at our usual spot this afternoon. You can tell me everything then."


    At the restaurant, I devoured my food like I hadn''t eaten in days.


    "Are you starving?" L stared at me in shock. "Has Hastings Group gone so broke that they can''t even afford to feed you?"


    "You won''t believe this," I said after swallowing my food, feeling a little dejected. "I got suspended."


    "What?" L was dumbfounded. "A few days ago, you were still a project manager at Hastings Group, and now, you''ve been suspended?"


    "Life is just full of unexpected twists," I sighed, looking at her. "Julian interfered, so I got suspended."


    "What about Alex?" L''s tone wasn''t gossiping this time; she was genuinely concerned. "Tell me everything from the beginning."


    I happened to have been bottling up my grievances with nowhere to vent, so I recounted everything to her. By the time I finished, I actually felt a lot calmer. "So, that''s basically what happened."


    "This is so unfair!" L looked at me with sympathy. "I thought that with you at Hastings Group, Alex would be able to protect you. But I never expected something like this to happen. What are you nning to do now?"


    "What else can I do?" I let out a long sigh. "This isn''t something I can control."


    "So... what did Alex say?" L asked, testing the waters.


    I shrugged. "What else could he say? Mr. Hastings Senior said he''d pick a suitable time to publicly announce that I''m part of the Hastings family and hold a banquet for me."


    "What?" L shot up from her seat. "You... You agreed to it?"


    I nodded, forcing a smile. "What else could I do? Besides, being


    edged as a family member


    of Hastings is not an opportunity just anyone gets."


    L stared at me in silence for a while before suddenly scoffing. "Yeah, keep pretending. Deep down, you''re really struggling with this, aren''t you?"


    I said nothing.


    L gently reached out and hugged me. "Do you really think I don''t know what''s going on in your heart? You can''t let go of Alex, but you also feel there''s a gap between you. Serena, this is so hard on you."


    After everything I had been through, I hadn''t felt wronged or exhausted. But L''s


    words and gestures made my eyes sting with emotion.


    "Just like Alex said, consider this a vacation for a few days. I''ll be here with you


    the whole time," L reassured me, patting my shoulder gently.


    ...


    L and I spent the next few days holed up at home, ying video games, ordering takeout, staying upte, and drinking soda. We


    My mind finally rxed, and it felt like I had temporarily forgotten all my troubles.


    But good times neverst.


    On the fifth day, I suddenly received a phone call.


    Seeing the name "Elena" shing on my screen, I hesitated.


    "Who is it?" L leaned over, and when she saw the name, her expression also darkened. "What does she want from you?"


    "I don''t know." I shook my head. "She hasn''t bothered me in a long time."