Chapter 309

Alexander used to love a good thrill, but that didn't mean his personal life was a mess.

Scarlett and James had drilled into him the habit of pushing his limits, but also knowing when to pull back.

What he had just seen—the games those men and women were playing with Mia—was downright sleazy.

The girls were pulling their tops down, sitting on the guys' laps, feeding them drinks mouth-to-mouth, and their hands were all over the place.

The debauchery made Alexander frown in disgust.

Even in his old crowd, wild behavior wasn't rare, but he never got involved.

So seeing Mia in that scene was a shock.

Mia, her anxiety growing, clenched her fists tightly. "It's not like that. After you kicked me out, I tried staying with a friend, but your mom found out and paid my friend to throw me out. Now I have nowhere to go."

Her voice cracked as she spoke.

Mia had tried some shady ways to change her life and climb the social ladder.

But after breaking up with Alexander, she had given up on those dreams.

She thought their story was over, but Scarlett wasn't ready to let Mia off the hook, blaming her for Alexander's downfall.

Scarlett couldn't go after Amelia, but she could definitely mess with a poor girl like Mia.

Alexander never thought this relationship would ruin Mia like this, nor did he expect Scarlett to be so ruthless.

He was at a loss for words.

Mia gave a bitter smile. "My dad's creditors found me and used every trick to make me pay. During the worst of it, I even thought about suicide. Now a friend got me this job. It's not respectable, but it pays. I need to pay off my debts."

As she told her story, the forced smile disappeared from Mia's face.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "I thought your mom did this on your orders. I'm glad... I knew you weren't like that."

Alexander had been so busy and overwhelmed that he hadn't had time to check on Mia.

He always saw Scarlett as a loving, if sometimes stubborn, mother.

He never imagined she would do something like this behind his back.

"Why didn't you tell me? Maybe I could have helped." Alexander's mind was a mess.

He didn't love Mia anymore, but seeing her in such a bad state because of him, he couldn't help but feel guilty.

Mia sighed deeply. "I sent you messages, but you never replied. I didn't dare call, afraid you'd treat me even worse."

Alexander had been in a daze, unable to tell reality from dreams.

He only checked his phone for news about Amelia.

He had neglected everyone else.

Now, he finally opened his phone and scrolled through the messages.

Mia had sent him many messages, but he hadn't read a single one.

Alexander silently put his phone away and looked at Mia with a complicated expression. "I had no idea things got this bad for you. That wasn't what I wanted."

What comfort could these words offer now?

Mia lowered her eyes to hide her emotions. "It's okay. As long as you're doing well."Alexander couldn't tell how sincere she was, but he didn't care anymore. "I'll talk to my mom, but don't expect too much. She's like a madwoman right now. I suggest you leave this city. Otherwise, she won't let you go."

As she watched him walk away, Mia wore a bitter smile.

She should never have dreamed of marrying into a wealthy family, especially knowing about Amelia. She shouldn't have used such disgraceful tactics to come between Amelia and Alexander.

Mia should have known from the start that the gap between them was too wide to bridge.

This relationship was just a fleeting dream.

Staying in this city would only make her heartache worse.

Despite telling herself this, Mia couldn't help but call out to Alexander. "Wait!"

She was truly desperate now, or she wouldn't be using the last bit of their relationship.

"Can't you help me? All my friends are here. Where would I go? Besides, I owe a lot of money. The creditors won't let me go." Mia's voice was choked with desperate emotion.

Alexander stood still, hands in his pockets, not answering.

The dim bar lights cast shadows on his face, highlighting his gloomy mood.

Mia's façade crumbled as she wept, her tears streaking through the cheap makeup she now wore, nothing like the brands she used when she was with Alexander.

The tears mingled with her black eyeliner, casting her face in a spectral, haunting hue.

Despite everything, Mia hadn't completely given up hope for their relationship. She believed that Alexander's anger was temporary and that, with time, he would soften. Her plan was to make amends once his fury had subsided.

After all, Amelia's engagement was a known fact. Alexander would need someone by his side during his most vulnerable moments.

But Scarlett saw through Mia's plans.

For the first time, Mia felt the overwhelming grip of real power. Scarlett wielded the ability to crush her as easily as one would flatten an insect.

"In this relationship, I did wrong you, but those happy times were real, weren't they? Can't you help me for the sake of the time I spent with you? Do you really want to drive me to death?" The tears on Mia's face, along with her agitated words, shattered her makeup.

Alexander couldn't bear it anymore. He turned back and stared at her tear-streaked face. "So what do you want? What do you expect to get from me?"

There was no need to cloak this sordid transaction in the pretense of genuine affection any longer.

Alexander just wanted to sever all ties with her.

Mia bit her lip. "My dad's creditors want two hundred thousand dollars. If I pay them off, I'll be free. At least I won't have to work in such a dirty place. I'll find a way to pay you back, okay?"

Two hundred thousand dollars was nothing to the Anderson family.

Alexander's watches cost more than that.

If Alexander showed a bit of mercy, Mia's problems would be nothing.

Alexander stared into her eyes for a long time, before suddenly erupting into laughter, a bright, almost crazy laugh.