Chapter 8 

After the party ended, I was surprised to find them still waiting by the door. 

I just tried to walk past without a word, but Wade and Trevor stepped forward to block my path. 

Aurora, it’s our fault. Please, come back,” Wade pleaded. 

I glanced at Freya and let out a bitter laugh. “Come back? So I can continue to compete with Freya for your attention? No, thanks.” 

my words, both Wade and Trevor flushed red with shame, while Freya stood to the side, tears streaming down her face. Now, she could only pretend to cling to her act of fragile innocence. 

“Aurora,” Wade began, his tone desperate. “We only pitied Freya. You’re irreplaceable to us. She’s nothing like you. You grew up with us, but Freya had no one. She’s just an orphan–we felt sorry for her because we knew what that was like. That’s all it was, I swear.” 

Trevor chimed in, “Exactly! We just wanted to help her. She meant nothing to us beyond that. And wasn’t it you who recruited her? We only tolerated her because of you.” 

I met their frantic explanations with a calm, steady gaze. “There’s no need to explain. We’re nothing 

to each other now.” 

Wade’s voice cracked. “Nothing? That’s not true. You care about us more than anyone else. You 

always.” 

Maybe once, but not anymore. I shook my head. “I stopped caring the moment you hurt me for her. Whatever we had ended then.” 

Wade’s eyes reddened as he tried to argue. “No, that’s not true! Freya is just like a little sister to us. But you… you’re different. You know that. We love you.” 

Love. There was a time I would have believed that, back when I agonized over which of them to choose. But they had made the decision for me. Their actions had chipped away at whatever feelings I once had until there was nothing left. 

“I can’t afford your love,” I said coldly. “From now on, let’s just be strangers.” 

Wade and Trevor couldn’t hold back any longer when I said the word stranger. 

Do you remember how we relied on each other in the orphanage?” Trevor asked. “How you gave up 

Dillionaire Heiress 

5.4% 

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tring university to pay for our education?” 

They remembered everything–all my sacrifices–and yet, they had still let Freya torment me. 

This was the moment when I finally lost any attachment at all. 

Wade and Trevor continued, their voices rising with emotion as they tried to remind me of what we once shared. But no matter how many words they threw at me, none of it mattered anymore. 

They could scream themselves hoarse, and it still wouldn’t change a thing.