“Why are you in such a hurry to find a job?” Lilla asked, handing me a piece of bread.

I took the bread, feeling a complex mix of emotions. “I want a job quickly. Once I’m stable, I’ll bring my mother out of the Hastings residence,” I replied. While the Hastings residence hadn’t been overtly unkind to my mother, I sensed her discomfort.

Lila said little; she’d always been this way—respectful of privacy, intervening only if I initiated conversation. I took a few bites of the bread.

Lila sighed softly. “Tut, the job market isn’t great right now, Serena. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

I actually had some money—the 150,000 dollars Julian owed me, paid by Elena. But it wasn’t enough for my mother to live with me. Lost in thought, my phone rang.

It was Alex. Probably to check on his watch; I answered.

“Serena! Do you have any plans?” Alex asked.

“Nothing,” I replied reflexively.

“Then come with me to a gala. I’ll have the driver pick you up at the university gate tomorrow morning. I’ve already prepared a gown.”

I hesitated, trying to refuse.

“If you come…twenty thousand dollars—how about it?” he added, amusement in his voice.

I agreed through gritted teeth. A hefty sum—money I desperately needed.

I found out the gala Alex was attending was in Lonesdeep. I frowned, remembering Julian asking me to attend a Lonesdeep gala the day before. Could it be the same one? I really didn’t want to run into him. My thoughts were interrupted. Alex suddenly leaned closer.

I instinctively stepped back. “Will the Blakes be attending this gala?”

I noticed Alex’s expression darken considerably. His displeasure was evident. To avoid accidentally running into Alex by chance, I quickly explained. My stupid mouth—always faster than my brain. But why did mentioning Julian make Alex so unhappy?

He replied, picking up a magazine from the plane’s seat pocket. His expression remained obscured by the magazine, but he continued, “This gala is quite grand. The Blakes might be a minor family, but they’d likely be on the guest list.” Twenty thousand dollars could just make me ignore Julian. Better yet, if the Blakes wanted to cause trouble, they should consider the consequences of offending the people they were associating with.