Lucas hesitated for a moment, his gaze shifting between me and Alex before he finally nodded. "Alright."


    He gave me a deep look before turning and leaving.


    I only turned back to Alex after watching Lucas walk away. The glow of the streetlights cast shadows across his face, making his expression even harder to read.


    My stomach churned ufortably, and the alcohol in my system made it difficult


    to stand straight. I had to hold onto a nearby utility pole just to steady myself.


    "You... What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice slurred from the drunkenness.


    He walked over quickly with a hint of urgency in his voice. "I saw Lucas helping you out of the bar and figured you might''ve had too much to drink."


    Alex paused. "Serena, I''m sorry about today-"


    I let out a coldugh, cutting him off. "Today? What about today? Are you referring


    to the way you yed me like a fool or the way you tossed a job at me like you were throwing money to a beggar?"


    His face stiffened. "Serena, you''ve misunderstood. I—"


    "Misunderstood?" I pointed at myself, finding it almostughable.


    Alex fell silent for a long time before finally speaking again. "Serena, I admit that what I did was a bit too much, but I never had any bad intentions..."


    "No bad intentions?" Rage surged through me.


    "Do you have any idea how long I prepared for those interviews? How much effort


    I put into researching thepanies'' projects? And now you think your casual words can just erase everything?"


    The more I spoke, the more agitated I became. The nausea in my stomach worsened. I clutched my mouth and gagged a few times.


    Alex immediately stepped forward to support me. "Serena, are you alright?"


    I shoved him away. "Don''t touch me!" I snapped in disgust.


    He stumbled back a few steps, hurt shing in his eyes.


    Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm down. "Alex, don''te looking for me again."


    He froze. "Serena, you-"


    "What?" I cut him off. "I''ve had


    enough of your charity, your pity et


    and your condescension. I don''t want to have anything to do with you


    content belongs to


    His face went pale. He seemed to want to say something but couldn''t get the words out.


    I didn''t want to look at him anymore. So, I turned and left.


    "Serena!" he suddenly called after me.


    I stopped but didn''t turn around.


    "Do you really... have to be this heartless?" His voice carried a slight tremor.


    I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Heartless? Maybe.


    But it was better to end things now than to suffer endlessly. I refused to let him hurt me over and over again.


    "Yes," I said firmly before walking away without looking back.


    My stomach still churned as I clung to the wall, and I forced myself


    move toward a cab. I kept tell: 916


    AUMS


    myself that it was over-it was all over.


    But the tears wouldn''t stop blurring my vision.


    I barely made it into the cab, and


    slumped unsteadily into the seat Leaning my head against the cold window, another wave of nausea hit me quickly covered my mouth, afraid I might throw up.


    When I got home, Mom wasn''t there. I saw a note from her.


    "Serena, I''ve gone to Celine''s house. Don''t wait for me for dinner tonight."


    I copsed onto a chair, feeling utterly drained as if all the strength had been sucked out of me.