Elizabeth got home, took a quick shower, and crashed into bed. She immediately started texting Lila, venting about her day.

Elizabeth: [This is insane. It felt like two guys fighting over a toy. I’m a person, not some object! And Alexander, with his sudden affection, it’s so cheap. Doesn’t he get it?]

Lila, taking off her makeup, replied with a mix of laughter and sympathy: [Your love life is a mess.]

Elizabeth: If this is love, I don’t want it!

Lila: [Elizabeth, all that stuff is behind you. What’s coming next, beautiful love?]

Elizabeth read Lila’s message, her expression a bit complicated. Lila sent another text: [Now that you’re at the research institute, you can’t go abroad, right?]

Elizabeth sighed. Celine was still in the hospital; leaving now would be heartless. But if her research had a big impact and the institute no longer needed her, she’d still consider going abroad to grow her credentials.

Elizabeth: [We’ll see.]

Lila: Alright. You’re still unsure. But as your best friend, I gotta remind you: Make Alexander suffer!

Elizabeth smirked. That was so Lila. Lila and Alexander never got along. Elizabeth sent a goodnight message and turned off her phone. She lay in bed, thinking about what Alexander had said at the end of the corridor today. He said, “Elizabeth, are you afraid I’ll hurt you?” Hadn’t he hurt her enough already?

The Alexander she loved the most had hurt her the deepest. Did Alexander even realize that the hurt he caused her couldn’t be easily fixed with a few words or actions? Elizabeth looked down. She thought again about Alexander saying he would give her all his time. But she didn’t feel touched at all; she found it laughable.

All he did was remind her how low she felt. She had her dignity. But he stamped on her dignity, tossing it aside like trash, over and over. She wouldn’t make the same mistake again. She wanted Alexander to go to hell!

Elizabeth couldn’t remember what time she fell asleep last night. She just knew that when she woke up the next day, she felt a bit rough. She must have eaten and drunk too much yesterday.

She made herself a cup of black coffee, played some light music on her phone, and enjoyed the sunlight streaming through the window. The weather was amazing today. She wore a black cropped leather jacket and a short skirt. Then she pulled her hair back, put on a black leather beret, and wore combat boots. Elizabeth grabbed her bag and headed downstairs. It was already past nine in the morning, and Rose and Declan had gone to work. Elizabeth quickly went out. As she drove to the gate, she saw Alexander’s car, but she ignored it and drove away. Alexander’s car followed. Elizabeth tried to shake off Alexander, but she couldn’t. The two cars seemed to be racing on the road, catching the attention of many passersby.