Chapter 3

Alex chuckled and mocked lightly, "You're really stupid. How could you fall for someone so useless? You left the house for so many years just to be played by a trashy guy?" His words left my mind buzzing. Alex had known about my relationship with Julian all this while. Then again, it made sense since Alex and Julian were in the same circle. However, that meant he had been watching me go through all that for the past few years. When I met his gaze again, his eyes felt strangely colder. Alex was probably happy to see me live such a pathetic life. Perhaps to Alex, I was like my mother—a gold digger. He might even have assumed I dated Julian because I knew his identity. I trembled with anger, but I had no right to blame Alex. I was nobody to him, so he wasn't obliged to warn me. My eyes reddened, but I said flatly, "That's my problem for being stupid. It has nothing to do with you. If you're here to make fun of me—" Before I could finish, Alex suddenly got to his feet and approached me. My instinct was to avoid him, but he caught my wrist. "I don't have the time to make fun of you. As a brother, I find it embarrassing to see you living so pathetically. Why don't you come home instead? At least you won't be treated like a clown." I yanked his hand off, my voice trembling. "What does anything I do have to do with you?" Alex stared coldly at his grip, which was now empty. "Are you going to be so stubborn?" I took a deep breath to calm my breath, but my fingernails were already digging into my palm. "I'm not being stubborn. Although my mother married into the Hastings family, I'm not related to you or your family. You don't have the right to ask me about my matters as well. "I'm tired. Please go home, Mr. Hastings. I'll transfer the medical fees to you later." Alex gazed at me and said, "Alright." Before I realized what was happening, he took my phone and unlocked it using facial recognition. Then, he added his number to my phone. I snatched the phone with a frown. "What are you doing?" Unfazed, Alex asked, "You want to pay me back, don't you? How can you do that if you don't have my contact? Besides, the bill isn't even out yet." Bereft of words, I put away the phone and said stiffly, "I'll pay you back once the bill is out." With that, Alex left the ward without a word. I sat up with some difficulty and spotted a Patek Philippe watch at the bedside table. Immediately, I knew it was Alex's. Astonished by his carelessness, I sent him a text telling him to retrieve it. However, he did not reply. Given no choice, I decided to keep it with me. After all, it was extremely costly. I would not be able to pay for it if it was lost. Although my body's condition was not too good, there weren't any major issues. Hence, I was discharged by noon. After paying Alex back according to the figure stated on the bill, I went home. Meanwhile, Julian was playing games in the living room. When he saw I had returned, he scowled. "Where did you go last night? Who on Earth works for the whole night?" I found the displeasure in his eyes funny. He had already claimed his first love to be his girlfriend, and yet he wanted to know my whereabouts. I didn't want to put up with his nonsense for a single second more. Thus, I said straightforwardly, "It's none of your business. Let's break up." Julian was taken aback. At first, I thought he would agree instantly, but to my surprise, he grabbed my hand and asked, "Why? Do you not want to be with me anymore just because I'm poor?" Resting his cheek on his hand, he uttered word by word, "Serena Ashford, I can't believe you're that kind of person. I thought you'd—" I freed my hand and gave him a tight slap. "Did you think you could fool me forever? Mr. Blake?" While Julian stared at me in disbelief, I took out the wad of cash he gave me and threw it at his face. The notes scattered on the ground as I stared fixedly at him. "Why are you refusing to break up now? "Didn't you say you were just playing with me and you were too good for me?" Julian paled at the sight of the drenched and blood-stained notes. "The cleaner from last night was… you?" I smiled. "That's right. Thank you for your generosity, Mr. Blake. The tip for getting a cup of milkshake is my entire month's salary." Julian curled his hands into fists, unable to say a word. I, too, did not want to talk to him anymore. Putting down my bag, I entered the bedroom and packed my things. I was the one who rented the house, but the thought of staying here for just another second disgusted me. I had so few things that I was done packing with just two pieces of luggage. When I came out of the room, Julian was holding the Patek Phillipe watch Alex had left behind. Sensing I was exiting the room, he stormed toward me with the watch. "Whose watch is this? Why do you have such an expensive item? Who gave it to you?" Julian looked like he had lost his mind. "What gives you the right to question me?" I yelled. His eyes were red with fury as he shouted, "I'm your boyfriend. I haven't agreed to the breakup!" I glanced at the cash on the floor, curling my lips into a smirk. "If you're my boyfriend, who's that lady from last night? You treated the shoes she gave you like some precious treasure while you threw mine into the trash. I thought you truly loved me and wanted to give me a home. "In the end, our relationship was only a game to you. What makes you think you can call yourself my boyfriend?" Julian huffed but did not say a single word. I had no intention of arguing with him anymore. Taking the watch, I informed him, "I'll bill you for everything I've spent on you. Please pay me back as soon as possible, Mr. Blake. Otherwise, I'll sue you." I knew I should not stay involved with someone like Julian. However, I felt bad for all my hard work. Sighing deeply, I grabbed my luggage and left. Thankfully, I had rented a house with access to transportation to make it easier for Julian to travel. This also made things convenient for me. As soon as I got out of the house, I managed to hail a cab. The driver pulled up in front of me and asked, "Hello, miss. Where to?" I froze for a moment. The driver's question made me wonder where I could go. All these years, my life's goal had been to support Julian. Now that I was leaving this place, I did not have a destination in mind. The thought of it made me feel sad. "Send me to the farthest hotel," I said, placing the luggage into the car. I wanted to leave this place and that jerk as far as possible. To my surprise, just as I was about to get into the car, Julian ran out of the house with bloodshot eyes. He opened the trunk and removed my luggage. When he was doing that, I saw his hands tremble a little, which made me scoff. At first, he played with me. Now that I had exposed him, he was panicking. Julian sure was unpredictable.