No Escape from Love novel Chapter 238

"Shut up!" Alex interrupted her in a sharp voice. "I don't want to hear any more of your twisted nonsense! You're going to come clean today no matter what!"

"Alex, don't you dare threaten us! We're your elders!" Felicia shouted, trying to sound tough. "If you so much as lay a finger on us, my son won't let you off!"

Alex sneered. "Your son? You really think he can take on the entire Hastings family?"

"You…" Felicia was momentarily speechless.

Alex lowered his voice, adopting a more measured tone. "As long as you publicly clear Madam Burke's name, I'll let this go. Otherwise…"

He deliberately paused, his gaze turning icy as it swept over them. "You'll have to deal with the consequences."

Felicia and Shirley exchanged nervous glances, panic flickering in their eyes.

"Are you threatening us, Alex?" Shirley questioned in a voice laced with false bravado.

"Think whatever you want." Alex shrugged indifferently. "I'm just stating a fact."

"You—" Shirley was about to retort when Felicia grabbed her arm.

"Fine, we agree," Felicia said through gritted teeth, finally giving in.

Alex nodded in satisfaction. "Good. I expect you to keep your word."

"But…" Felicia's tone suddenly shifted. "We have a condition."

"What condition?" He frowned.

"You have to give us some money," Felicia said shamelessly. "Not much, just a million dollars."

With a cold snort, Alex stormed out of the Ashford residence, running a frustrated hand through his hair.

She wanted 800,000 dollars! Just how greedy could that old hag be?

He was debating whether to just pay up and get it over with when he spotted Celine Hayes strolling by with her grocery basket.

Celine was famous for having ears everywhere—nothing happened in the neighborhood without her knowing.

The moment she saw Alex, her eyes lit up. She hurried over and asked in a hushed, conspiratorial tone, "Oh my, young man, who are you? How are you related to the Ashford family?"

Alex was in no mood for small talk, but then an idea struck him. Celine was a walking information hub. Maybe she could be useful.

He forced a smile and said, "Ma'am, I'm Serena's boyfriend."