"Serena, listen to me..." Alex''s voice carried a trace of panic as he gripped my wrist tightly, his hold strong enough to make it hurt.


    I yanked my hand away with force, rubbing my wrist as I red at him. "What''s there to exin? What do you take me for? Your puppet on a string?"


    He froze for a moment but quickly regained hisposure. "That''s not what I meant. I just "


    "Just what? You just think I should obediently follow your arrangements, go to thepany you picked, and live the life you''ve nned for me?" I cut him off.


    "Alex, what makes you think you have the right to control my life? What are we to each other that you think you can meddle this much?"


    He opened his mouth as if to say something but nothing came out in the end.


    Alex just stared at me in silence with aplicated gaze as if he had a thousand words to say but didn''t know where to start.


    I didn''t want to be entangled with him any longer and turned to leave. But he grabbed my wrist again, this time with a much gentler grip as if he was afraid of hurting me.


    "Serena, you''ve really misunderstood me. I—"


    "Enough!" I shook off his hand again. "Alex, you have no right to interfere in my life!"


    With that, I walked away without looking back.


    Behind me, I heard his voice calling my name, "Serena..."


    I quickened my pace, unwilling to hear another word. His actions frustrated me to no end, leaving my mind in chaos.


    ...


    I went to several smallerpanies for interviews, but none of them went well. Either the positions weren''t suitable, or the sry and benefits were too low.


    Feeling dejected, I wandered the streets, watching the endless flow of people.


    Looking up, I saw the streetlights had already turned on. Only then did I realize night had fallen.


    Dragging my exhausted body back to my apartmentplex, I ran into Alex again at the entrance. He was leaning against a ck sedan with a cigarette between his fingers, the red embers flickering in the night.


    When he saw me, he put out the cigarette and walked over.


    "How did the interviews go?" His voice was calm as if the confrontation at the café had never happened.


    I let out a cold snort. "None of your business."


    "I take it that they didn''t go well."


    Maybe it was because all my interviews today had been failures, but hearing him say that only made me feel like he was mocking me.


    "What does it have to do with you?" I brushed past him, heading straight for my building.


    He caught up in a few quick steps and blocked my path. "Serena, reconsider thepany I arranged for you. The offer is really good."


    I stopped in my tracks and looked him straight in the eye. "Alex, did you mess with


    my interviews on purpose? Are you the reason I keep failing?"


    He stiffened slightly, then his expression darkened. "Serena, don''t tter yourself.


    I wouldn''t stoop to such means."


    "Heh, who knows?" I sneered. "Do you think I don''t know what kind of person you are?"


    His gaze turned sharp, his voice


    cold. "Think whatever you want," et


    With that, he turned around and left. The ck sedan quickly disappeared into the night.


    Back home, I threw myself onto the bed, feeling both angry and wronged.


    I pulled out my phone and scrolled


    through my contacts, my finger


    pausing over one name-Lucas


    After a brief hesitation, I pressed the


    dial button.


    The phone rang a few times before he picked up. "Hello, Serena?" His voice


    came through the receiver.


    "Lucas, where are you?" My voice was a little hoarse.