Chapter 14
Julian and Maverick quickly pulled out their phones.
“Hello, Ms. Powell? This is Julian. I wanted to ask which university Hazel is attending.”
The teacher on the other end sounded surprised.
“What? You three were practically inseparable. How could you not know where Hazel is going to college?”
Julian fell into slightly embarrassed silence.
Ms. Powell didn’t think much of it and proudly answered: “Hazel had the best grades–she’s at Harvard. When our school received the notification, we found it a bit strange that she wasn’t staying local at Stanford with you two.”
“But it was already settled. You never asked us, and we teachers assumed you knew about it.”
“Look, the acceptance list was posted in the class group chat. You can check it yourself.”
Hearing this, Maverick quickly opened the class group chat and searched intently.
Julian thanked her and ended the call.
Sure enough, on the acceptance list, next to Hazel’s name was “Harvard University” in bold letters.
Instantly, both boys froze in shock.
Harvard was on the opposite side of the country, thousands of miles away. Why would she choose to go there?
She had originally followed their agreement and applied to Stanford–why the sudden change?
Julian and Maverick saw the same confusion reflected in each other’s eyes.
Had she been planning to escape them forever, even back then?
But… why?
Didn’t she have any feelings for them at all?
But now, only Hazel herself could answer that question.
If asked, she would tell them that yes, there had definitely been feelings once–perhaps even love.
But that love had been systematically destroyed by their own actions.
No girl could accept such betrayal, even from friends.
Hazel had been remarkably patient, giving them countless chances.
13:13
Ditched My Toxic Duo for a Billionaire Upgrade!
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But she never expected that the two boys who had always steadfastly stood by her side would so decisively choose someone else.
After so many instances, she had finally given up.
As she stepped off the plane, she spotted a man holding a sign with her name.
He had striking, chiseled features with uniquely blue eyes, clearly mixed heritage, tall with long legs and an impressive athletic build that drew mumerous glances.
“Hazel Montgomery.”
As she approached, she heard him pronounce her name with deliberate care,
His deep, magnetic voice carried a hint of amusement, momentarily leaving Hazel stunned.
“I’m Aiden Westbrook, your arranged match.”
Aiden extended his hand to take Hazel’s smaller suitcase as he introduced himself.
Then he called over the Westbrook family driver to help load her remaining luggage into the car.
She found herself following Aiden in a slight daze.
Only when she felt–the cool climate of Cambridge did she instinctively shiver, snapping back to reality.
“I haven’t made a mistake, have I? You’re really the arranged match my mother mentioned?”
The moment her question left her lips, a coat was draped over her shoulders with surprising gentleness.
“I believe I’m not mistaken,” Aiden replied.
Like a magician, he produced a photograph and held it before Hazel’s eyes.
She took it and saw herself in the picture, which carried a hint of his woody cologne and warmth.
For a moment, Hazel felt slightly embarrassed and smiled apologetically.
“Sorry for doubting you.”
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