Chapter 1
In the final minute before the college application deadline, Hazel changed her choice from Stanford to Harvard.
After closing her laptop, she felt as though she’d finally completed a monumental task. As she leaned back in her chair, her gaze accidentally fell on the framed photo sitting on her desk.
The picture showed three people standing at the Stanford entrance gate. Hazel was sticking her tongue out playfully, flanked by Julian on one side and Maverick on the other.
Julian’s cool, elegant features were fixed on her, his eyes filled with tender affection.
Maverick had his arm casually draped around her shoulders, his chin resting on top of her head as he gazed at her with unmistakable possessiveness.
With a self–deprecating laugh, Hazel peeled off the slightly yellowed sticky note attached to the photo: “Hazel, Julian, and Maverick will all go to Stanford together!”
The determined handwriting remained clear despite the passage of time.
Without hesitation, she tore the note into pieces and tossed them into the trash can.
“Julian, Maverick… this time, I won’t be joining you,” she murmured. “From now on, you can go your way, and I’ll go mine.”
Ding~
Her phone suddenly chimed on the desk.
Hazel picked it up and saw a new message in their group chat titled “Hazel and the Two Best Friends Who Want to Spoil Her Forever.”
Ironically, despite being a three–person chat, there were now four people in it.
Three weeks ago, Rose had sent a message in the group.
“Yay! I checked my scores and I’m definitely getting into Stanford! So excited to be classmates with Julian, Maverick, and Hazel–looking forward to getting to know you all better~”
Though she addressed everyone, she had only tagged Julian and Maverick.
Julian had replied instantly: “Whenever you need me, I’ll always be there for you.”
Maverick followed up with: “Same here. On the first day of school, the entire campus will know you’re under my protection!”
Hazel smirked sardonically and continued scrolling.
Two weeks ago, Julian and Maverick had been active in the chat.
One day it was Julian buying Rose a high–end laptop: “Here’s your college welcome gift. Did you receive it? If you don’t know how to use it, I can teach
you.”
The next day it was Maverick buying her the latest iPhone: “Rose, your current phone is too outdated. Use this new one I got you.”
Rose was deeply touched, flooding the group chat with several crying emojis: “These gifts are way too expensive–I don’t deserve them.”
Both boys had replied simultaneously: “You’re amazing and deserve everything.”
After that, they’d enthusiastically discussed throwing Rose a celebration party.
Throughout all this, Hazel hadn’t said a single word and no one had acknowledged her presence.
Despite being a core member of the group, she felt like an outsider looking in.
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Ditched My Toxic Duo for a Billionaire Upgrade!
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And today Rose had Hooded the chat with photos from her celebration party
Julian and Maverick were surrounding her like she was the center of the universe, showering her with attention at an extravagant venue, Gift boxes were piled high around her, and Rose was beaming with joy, every hit the adored princess.
After posting the photos, Rose specifically tagged Hazel:
(Hazel, are you sure you can’t come? Julian and Maverick prepared such an amazing party for me. I feel so blessed!}
Hazel hadn’t planned to respond until she noticed the dress and jewelry Rose was wearing.
She typed back with controlled anger: “Rose, where did you get that dress and those accessories?”
Within seconds. Rose sent a voice message:
珍
“Oh! I forgot to tell you! I didn’t have anything nice to wear, and I knew you must have lots of options, so while you were out, I borrowed a dress and some jewelry from your closet.”
Her sweet voice carried a hint of smugness, with the sounds of celebration audible in the background.
Hazel felt her anger flare instantly. She began typing: “How did you know my house code? Taking without asking is stealing–don’t you understand that?
Before she could even send it, Julian and Maverick flooded the chat with messages defending Rose.
“Hazel, you’ve never been petty like this. It’s just a dress and some accessories–I’ll reimburse you if it’s such a big deal.”
“Seriously, why are you being so harsh? Rose isn’t stealing–she only went to your place because you two are close.”
“We’re all going to Stanford together, so why create drama? Just let her have them.”
Message after message criticized her while both boys transferred money to “compensate for her loss.”
Hazel’s chest heaved with anger as the group name seemed to mock her from the top of her screen.
She’d grown up with Julian and Maverick since childhood.
When they were three years old and first met, both boys had hugged tiny Hazel, refusing to let go, each wanting to take her home.
At six, when Hazel developed a taste for a particular brand of yogurt, Julian bought every bottle from stores across town to give her, while Maverick had his family buy the entire factory to ensure she’d always have a personal supply.
At thirteen, when Hazel’s house caught fire while her parents were away on business, all the bystanders were too afraid to enter–except young Julian and Maverick, who rushed in without hesitation. To this day, both carried burn scars on their chests from that night.
At fifteen, when Hazel got her first period, Julian abandoned an Olympic competition to rush back to her side, while Maverick frantically prepared brown sugar tea and held a heating pad to her belly, sick with worry.
Over the years, they had always flanked her like two valiant knights, preventing any other boy from approaching her.
On her seventeenth birthday, both confessed their feelings for her.
Hazel couldn’t choose between them and didn’t want to date so young. Just as she was about to reject them both, they grabbed her hands, preventing her from saying no, humbly asking for time until the first day of college to give her answer.
Unable to hurt either one, Hazel had reluctantly agreed.
She thought she’d figure out her feelings during that time. But unexpectedly, during this period, Rose appeared.
Rose was one of the underprivileged students sponsored by Hazel’s family. Because of her excellent grades, she’d transferred to Hazel’s high school.
Tavin Dun for a Rillionaire Upgrade!
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Chapter 1
Using gratitude as her excuse, Rose had gradually worked her way into Ilazel’s life.
At first, Hazel had pitied her and often looked after her:
When Rose said she couldn’t afford meals, Hazel regularly paid for her food.
When Rose struggled with schoolwork, Hazel sacrificed her own time to tutor her.
When Rose complained about having no friends, Hazel introduced her to Julian and Maverick.
But what Hazel never anticipated was that within just three months, Rose would methodically replace her.
What happened today had occurred countless times over the past year.
As the group chat continued to explode with messages defending Rose and criticizing her, Hazel let out a bitter laugh.
Seeing the line about “all four going to Stanford together,” her fingers hovered over the keyboard: “Only the three of you.”
After a moment’s hesitation, she deleted it.
Instead, she accepted their money transfers and tagged Rose: “Fine. It’s yours.”
Not just the dress and jewelry, she thought, you can have both these boys too.
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