Chapter 56

I woke up extra early for my first big interview. I had promised Alex I'd give it my best, and I wasn't about to let him down. I gave myself a boost of confidence before grabbing my bag and heading out. To my surprise, I ran into Julian right outside the dorm. "Serena," he called out, his face haggard and worn. But my trust in him had long been shattered, so as soon as he stepped toward me, I instinctively backed away. "Stay where you are. We can talk from here," I said coldly. After all, if he tried another stunt like slitting his wrists, no amount of explanations would clear my name. "Serena, why are you acting like this?" Julian frowned, looking hurt. But I didn't let my guard down for even a second. "Serena, I…" He faltered, clearly uncomfortable under the watchful eyes of the students gathering around us. "I really love you. Please come back to me," he finally said, his voice filled with desperation. I scoffed. "Your love is suffocating. It's shallow and destructive."