I definitely didn't expect that to be why Alex was looking for me, so I froze for a moment, remaining still until he turned his head. I raised my head to meet his gaze defiantly. His expression was calm, devoid of emotion.

Perhaps Alex's offer to let me stay at his place stemmed from a worry that something happening to me might cause him trouble. After all, time was incredibly valuable to someone as busy and important as Alex. He wouldn't have time to deal with my trivial issues.

But I still shook my head. "There's no need. I'll just be more careful commuting to work."

For a fleeting moment, a glint of suppressed disappointment flickered in Alex's eyes, but it vanished quickly. He composed himself before I could confirm what I saw.

"Why don't you go back to the Hastings residence anymore?" I tilted my head slightly as I looked at him.

"I don't want to." Alex seemed irritated after I rejected him.

It made sense. Alex was someone the entire business world needed to be wary of. Yet, an insignificant nobody like me had dared to reject him.

The Hastings residence was very close to his company, but he chose to live alone rather than return there. Clearly, there was someone he didn't want to see.

Taking a deep breath, I mustered the courage to say, "Mr. Hastings Senior wasn't the only person at fault for what happened back then. If you keep this up, you'll only make him sad. I'm about to graduate. Once I graduate and get a stable job, I'll take my mother away from the Hastings residence."

After saying that, I lacked the courage to look at his face. As far as I knew, that topic had always been taboo for Alex. He'd become incredibly furious whenever anyone brought it up.

After waiting for his anger—which never came—I glanced at him. His expression was one of shock and disbelief.

After what felt like an eternity, he scoffed. "That was so long ago, I've already forgotten about it."

I looked at him, knowing he was merely putting on a brave face.

"You shouldn't dwell on it too much either. There are some things you can't change," Alex said.

I was stunned. Alex was actually comforting me.

I sighed. "Just let the past stay in the past. All we can change is the present. I came to terms with it a long time ago. Now, all I can do is accept the things I can't change." Silence filled the car again.

Alex lit a cigarette. He took a deep drag before exhaling a cloud of white smoke. His head was tilted slightly, making his face look almost unimaginably handsome.

"Then why won't you go back to the Hastings residence?" he asked.

His look momentarily entranced me.

In a daze, I blurted out the truth, "Because I don't belong there."

Alex fell silent again. I lowered my gaze, feeling a little sad. I didn't belong in that house at all. I didn't even belong in Alex's world.

The situation felt like a return to where we both belonged.

A trace of doubt flickered in Alex's eyes. "You... when you went back to visit your mother, did you meet my father?"

I was taken aback for a moment before silently apologizing to Mr. Hastings Senior in my heart. I didn't want to betray him, but Alex was too perceptive. He'd figured it out instantly. "Did my father ask you to persuade...?" Alex asked, taking another drag from his cigarette.