No Escape from Love

A bad feeling crept up in my heart. I pressed on, "Shouldn't have what?"

Vivian hesitated, her gaze flickering uneasily. "It's... It's because of me... It's because of my actions that your mother... ended up marrying Mr. Hastings Senior..."

As she spoke, she pulled a bank card from her delicate handbag and extended it toward me with both hands. "This... This is just a small token. I hope... I hope you can accept it."

Mr. Hastings Senior? Alex's father, Robert Hastings? My head buzzed. Mom's marriage to Mr. Hastings Senior... had something to do with Vivian?

What the hell was going on?

Instinctively, I took a step back and avoided the card she was offering. I asked in disbelief, "What... What do you mean? What does my mom's marriage to Mr. Hastings Senior have to do with you?"

Vivian's face turned even paler. "I... I..." She struggled for a long time but failed to form a coherent sentence.

In the end, she could only mutter, "It's... It's just an old grudge from the previous generation. I hope you won't pursue it further, Ms. Ashford."

An old grudge? Did she really think a few light words could erase everything?

Fury ignited in my chest, and I was about to demand an explanation when Alex yelled impatiently,

"Enough!"

He grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight it felt like he was about to crush my bones. "Serena, we're leaving."

I yanked my hand away, glaring at him. "Alex, let go of me! I haven't figured out what's going on yet. What gives you the right to stop me from asking?"

His expression was terrifyingly dark, and his jaw clenched more tightly.

"Serena, drop it. The more you know, the more it'll hurt you. I didn't expect Vivian

to come and apologize to you directly. That was my miscalculation."

"Hurt me more?" I let out a cold

laugh. "So, if don't ask, then what? Does Vivian think a half-hearted apology is enough to make up for my mom's years of suffering? To erase the sins that the Grayson family and the Hastings family have committed against her?"

"You..." Alex looked taken aback for a moment, but instead of replying, he simply reached for my wrist again, trying to drag me away.

"Alex, you're a fucking bastard!" I shoved him away with all my strength, my pent-up rage finallynoveldrama

exploding. "What do you take monet

for? What do you, your father, and the Grayson family take my mom for? Some old piece of clothing you can just toss aside?

"And now, with just a simple 'it was an old grudge,' you think you can sweep everything under the rug? Dream on!"

My chest rose and fell sharply. I could barely breathe.

Alex's face turned ashen. He stared at me intensely and then reached for my hand again—but I dodged him, recoiling from his touch in disgust. "Don't touch me! Just looking at you makes me sick!"

His outstretched hand froze in mid-air before slowly clenching into a fist, his nails digging into his palm. After a long silence, he finally forced out through gritted teeth. "Serena, watch your words."

"Alex, try taking her out of here and

see what happens!" Lucas had somehow stepped in front of me, his sharp gaze locked on Alex. "If you dare to take her one step out of this office, Alex, I swear I won't let you off." sŵnovel

The tension in the room was suffocating. I was caught in the middle and felt utterly exhausted.

Mom's marriage to Mr. Hastings Senior, the Grayson family, the Hastings family... These tangled, messy connections felt like a giant web tightening around me, draining every ounce of my energy.

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm.