No Escape from Love

"Serena!" Lila looked at me and burst out laughing. Then, she hit me furiously. "You foolish woman. Can't you let yourself be a little happier?"

Lila's eyes were filled with worry. Even though I was drunk, I was still sober enough to feel awful after seeing the look on Lila's face.

Deep down, I knew Alex and I were meant to go our separate ways. Yet I could not help but feel sad. Suddenly, all my grievances, heartache, and reluctance came pouring out in the form of tears.

Lila said softly, "Stop crying. Alex is here."

Stunned, I wiped my tears and lifted my gaze to find Alex still dressed in formal wear from the banquet. Standing in front of me, he looked down at me with a look of helplessness.

"Oliver, send her home," ordered Alex, beckoning to Lila with his chin.

Oliver stepped forward, carried Lila up, and took her away. At the same time, Lila gave me a friendly wave and said, "Bye, Serena. I'll get going first. Bye, Mr. Hastings."

I was still sitting on the ground. The tears of sadness and grievance had already dried up, but I still wanted to cry out of embarrassment and awkwardness.noveldrama

"Can you stand?" asked Alex, sounding frustrated.

I hung my head low, too afraid to look at Alex. I couldn't tell if the heat on my face was from the alcohol or embarrassment.

Nodding at his words, I got to my feet with difficulty. Just as I managed to stand, a wave of dizziness washed over me, and I stumbled again.

I was expecting to sit on the ground again. To my surprise, Alex caught hold of me. When he grabbed my arm, I lost my balance and fell toward him.

Alex steadied me in his arms, but I squirmed in hopes of freeing myself. "Don't move. You're drunk," he advised in a deep voice.

"Okay." I nodded. Alex's gentleness made me feel sad. We were never meant to be. There was no future between us, so my feelings could only be a secret.

At that thought, I freed myself from his arms and hung my head low, saying, "Thank you for picking me up." I never lifted my head to meet his gaze.

The bar was not far from a hotel. As we walked there, I never took the initiative to make conversation with him. Every time Alex asked a question, I would do my best to give a simple answer.

When I arrived at my hotel room and closed the door, the emotions I had been suppressing suddenly

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surfaced. I slumped to the ground and let the tears fall.

I secretly swore in my heart that from that night onward, Alex and I would be nothing more than

future could never have net

superior and subordinate. In

any

ridiculous thoughts like those ever again.

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...

Unexpectedly, Xena reached out to me a few days after that. "Alex has agreed to

marry me," she said, sounding pleased.

Although I had seen it coming, hearing it in person still made me feel empty. "Congratulations."