Chapter 17

“Julian, did you purposely come to this coffee shop to run into Serena because you can’t let go of her?”

“No way!” Julian snapped, though a tinge of guilt colored his voice. “My heart belongs to Bless, not Serena. I’m just messing around with her.” He turned away without another word.

When I returned from my delivery, I found Elena sitting with Julian. Dressed in a white dress, she sat beside him, her every movement and expression exuding grace as she whispered to him. Julian, whose expression had darkened at my arrival, seemed far more cheerful now that Elena was there.

“Julian, is that Serena?” Elena turned to look at me, her voice laced with disbelief. “What’s she doing here?” Suspicion flickered in her eyes. I didn’t bother to play along; it was clear she’d seen me arrive. With such impressive acting skills, I wasn’t interested in participating in her charade.

“Yes,” Julian said smugly, draping his arm around Elena. He glanced at me with defiance. “She works at this coffee shop.”

“Really?” Elena exclaimed, genuinely surprised. “But I heard from our classmates that Serena is the daughter of the Hastings family. Why would someone from that family need to work?” Elena, who had recently returned from abroad, attended the same university as Julian and me, so she knew this; Julian’s other friends did not.

When Elena spoke, everyone turned to look at me in disbelief. “Hastings. The daughter of the Hastings family? You mean that Hastings family?” Julian’s friends now looked at me with newfound respect.

I didn’t feel the need to explain, but Elena stood and walked over to me. “Serena, why are you working here?”

“To make money,” I replied, wanting no further engagement with Julian.

Elena turned to Julian before smiling sweetly at me. “Serena, is there some misunderstanding between you and Julian?”

“No,” I replied calmly.

“Aren’t you Julian’s girlfriend?” Elena’s eyes held a touch of provocation, but her voice remained soft and gentle. “Why aren’t you two talking?”

I set the towel down and met her gaze. Perhaps my look was too intense, because for a brief moment, Elena’s eyes shifted.

“Aren’t you Julian’s girlfriend?” she asked, her tone rising as she looked at me with suspicion. “Ever since you came back from abroad, Julian’s been all over you. I even saw the two of you shopping together. So, you’re not his girlfriend?”

With that, the mask of innocence slipped from Elena’s face.

“Serena, why are you dragging Elena into our business?” Julian strode over, positioning himself in front of Elena as if I were some kind of monster.

I frowned and scoffed. “She’s slandering me, and I can’t even defend myself?”

“What is she accusing you of?” Julian’s eyes flashed with anger.

“She thinks I’m your girlfriend,” I replied calmly.

“You…” Julian froze for a moment before his face flushed with anger. “Serena, don’t flatter yourself. I would never go for someone like you.”

He turned to Elena, gazing at her with affection. “Elena is the one I truly love.”

Elena lowered her head shyly. “Julian, Serena is still here.”

I put down my towel and picked up my bag. “I’m off work. Excuse me.”