No Escape from Love

"Come with me. We need to talk." Alex's grip on my wrist tightened.

The pain shot through my arm, and I could almost hear the friction of my bones grinding against each other. I bit my lower lip, refusing to show weakness in front of him.

Lucas let out a small cough, breaking the suffocating tension in the room. "Mr. Hastings, Serena is my employee. If there's something to discuss, it should be done in my office."

Alex snapped his head around, his glare so sharp it could tear him apart. "Your employee? Lucas, don't think I don't know what you're up to! Serena is in such a fragile state, and you're keeping her by your side? You're clearly taking advantage of the situation!"

"Taking advantage?" Lucas chuckled as if he had just heard a joke.

"Mr. Hastings, you're giving yourself way too much credit. Serena chose to work here. It was her decision, not mine." As he spoke, he reached out and gently placed his hand over my wrist, separating me from Alex's grip.noveldrama

Alex's hand stiffened for a moment before he suddenly let go, flinging my arm away as if he had just touched something scorching hot.

His chest rose and fell violently, his fury blazing in his eyes. However, all I felt was a deep, numbing coldness.

He was angry, but it was not because he cared about me. He was just unwilling to accept that he had lost control over me, that I had chosen Lucas instead of him.

"Serena," he called my name slowly, each syllable laced with suppressed rage. "You'd better think carefully about what you really want."

I took a deep breath and forced myself to meet his gaze head-on.

"I have thought carefully about it," I said, steadying my voice. "Alex, whatever we had is over. All I want now is to focus on my work and start my life over."

"Start over?" He let out a cold laugh. "Do you really think you can? You think you can just say it and make it happen?"

His words were like a thorn, sinking deep into my heart.

I couldn't escape. I would never escape.

The past was like a massive net, trapping me no matter how hard I struggled. The more I fought, the deeper I sank.

Lucas stood up and positioned himself between me and Alex. "Mr. Hastings, please leave. This is my office, and you're not welcome here."

"And who the hell do you think you are?" Alex shoved him aside and locked his furious gaze on me. "Serena, come with me!"

I was caught between the two of them. I felt suffocated by Alex's anger and Lucas' provocation.

"Serena, are you really going to stand against me for him?" Alex's voice was low, carrying an unmistakable trace of pain.

I bit my lip but remained silent. I

didn't want to fight him, but I also didn't want to be controlled by him, to betreated like someone who constantly needed protection.

Just then, the office door suddenly swung open.

A young woman appeared in the doorway, her eyes flashing with jealousy and dissatisfaction as she took in the scene before her.

"Alex, what are you doing here?" She

walked over to him, affectionately

linking her arm through his before

shooting me a provocative look. "What's going on here?"

Alex roughly pulled his arm away, his voice cold. "This has nothing to do with you."

The woman's face fell, her lips trembling in grievance. "Alex, I didn't even do anything, and you're already snapping at me?"

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm.

"Alex," I said, my voice firm. "We have nothing to do with each other anymore. Please stop interfering in my life."

The

mouthment the words left my

outh, it was as if I had lit af

$ expression darken

Alex's

his

face turning ashen with rage.