He ranted on, righteous and oblivious.
Completely missing the way Serena's expression had shifted behind him.
These past years, Serena's rise had been meteoric.
She'd inherited the entire Harding empire. Built on it with her own ruthlessness—that desperate, all-or-nothing edge she'd always had.
Now she stood at the peak.
Happy. Dazzling. Untouchable.
Why would she want to remember that miserable chapter of her life? The one that belonged to me?
But our history wasn't exactly a secret.
The executives noticed the change in her face and scrambled to smooth things over. They brought up Ethan Pruitt—her fiancé—assured her trash like me wasn't worth her anger.
Surrounded by flattery, Serena's expression softened. She stepped past me without another glance.
But at the last moment, she stopped. Turned.
"Alex Simmons. Why?"
The others looked confused.
But I knew exactly what she was asking.
Why did I leave without saying goodbye back then.
Why did I choose a person like that.
Why, after ending up with such an outcome, was I still unwilling to bow my head to her.
I looked at the trace of coldness in Serena's eyes that she couldn't let go of.
With a light laugh, I gave the same answer as seven years ago.