Chapter 4

I don't know how I left the company.

Only then did I understand what everyone was whispering about.

They were probably saying how all my hard work over the years had ended with me being discarded.

I went home and slept with my head buried under the covers until the next day.

That day, Alex didn't come home.

"Izzy, come to the studio."

I received a text from my mentor after I woke up and immediately rushed to the studio.

I studied design. My mentor once said I was extremely talented and hoped I would study abroad.

But at the time, I met Alex, and madly, irrevocably fell into that relationship, giving up the opportunity to go abroad.

My mentor had sighed over it for ages. Now that I decided to study abroad, she was naturally very happy.

When I arrived at the studio, my mentor was drawing, and a young man stood beside her.

"Izzy, you're here? This is Liam Thorne. You two will be going abroad together this time. Come and meet him."

I hadn't known there would be someone else and felt a little nervous.

But the man extended his hand first.

"Nice to meet you, Izzy."

His hand was large, with well-defined knuckles.

Liam looked at me, smiling, a charming and poised demeanor.

"Hello."

My mentor finished her drawing and patted my shoulder.

"It's good to go together, you can look out for each other. Exchange contact info and communicate more. Izzy, you must seize this opportunity this time."

Knowing my mentor only wanted what was best for me, I felt a rare warmth and nodded emphatically.

My mentor had other things to attend to, so Liam suggested they have dinner together.

His sincere invitation was hard to refuse.

So we went to a French restaurant.

"Izzy, this place is really good, I come here often."

I smiled.

"Then I'll eat a lot. Speaking of which, why do you want to go to Germany too?"

Liam poured me a glass of water.

"Someone I like is going, so I'm going too."

I looked at the young man before me, lamenting how wonderful youth was, before love soured.

We chatted happily, our design philosophies aligned.

The cheerful atmosphere, however, was broken by a voice.

"What are you two doing here?"

It was Alex.

Serena stood beside him. For a moment, I didn't know what to do.

Liam stood up.

"Uncle Alex, Izzy and I are just having dinner."

He spoke candidly, and my eyes widened in shock.

"He's your uncle?"

Liam nodded. Alex glanced at him, then looked at me.

"What do you two have to talk about over dinner?"

I was about to answer, but I saw the obvious defensiveness in Alex's eyes.

Alex's parents had never met me. He was afraid I might use Liam to tell others about our relationship.

That would only humiliate Serena.

Before I could speak, Liam interjected.

"Izzy and I share the same professor; we're just discussing some design issues."

I remained silent.

Alex's guard dropped. He then gave me a deep look.

"Just discussing design, Izzy. You two have a good chat."

He specifically emphasized "good chat."

I gave a bitter smile. I hadn't planned on saying anything anyway.

Alex finished speaking and left with Serena.

"Alex, wasn't that girl the restaurant delivery person?"

Serena asked curiously.

So, he had never told Serena about our relationship.