I Proposed To Him, The Comments Told Me His Heart Belonged To Her Chapter 08

I Proposed To Him, The Comments Told Me His Heart Belonged To Her Chapter 08

I always carried a quiet guilt around Blaire.

that’s why I’d given up the room without a fight and told myself it was fair that our parents paid her more

attention.

it took me a long time to see it clearly.

Neither of us chose to be switched.

Her suffering was real. But it wasn’t my debt to pay with my own life.

The Whitmores pulled her off every project, reimbursed every cent she’d taken, and cut the unlimited credit cards.

They didn’t throw her out.

She was still their daughter.

But the guilt-driven free passes were over.

Grant cut her off too: every resource, every connection he’d given her through the Whitmores, gone.

Blaire went to see him one last time.

“If you never liked me, why did you bring me to the family dinner?”

He didn’t sugarcoat it.

“I was trying to make Sienna jealous.”

She clearly hadn’t expected him to say it that plainly.

“So I was just a prop to you?”

“Yes.”

One word. No hesitation.

But at least he didn’t give her anything to hold onto.

When he told me about it later, I had one thing to say.

“You deserved that.”

He nodded.

“Yeah.”

graduated to launch my beauty brand domestically.

Lessa was waiting at arrivals, holding an enormous sign.

[WELCOME HOME, QUEEN 8 MILLION FOLLOWERS AND COUNTING]

I lowered my sunglasses and stared at her.

“It’s nine million now.

I gave her a deadpan look.

“Update your numbers.”

She rolled her eyes and chucked the sign at me.

The Whitmores came to my launch celebration.

Mom teared up the second she saw me. But she didn’t rush over like she used to. She came close, and her hand drifted up toward my hair out of pure instinct.

Then she caught herself.

I looked at her and tilted my head down.

“Is a hair out of place?”

She blinked. Then she smiled.

“Just a little.”

Something about that moment felt right.

I’d still call them Mom and Dad. I’d still come home for dinner.

They’d finally understood that my life was bigger than this family.

And I’d stopped needing their approval to know I belonged.

Blaire came too.

She was working a regular job at Whitmore Group now. The beauty account was dead.

She walked up with a drink. Neither of us quite knew where to look.

She spoke first.

“I’m sorry. About everything.”

She looked down.

I watched her for a moment. Then I said what needed saying.

“Whatever you owed me, we’re square.”

“But whatever you think the world owes you, I’m not paying for it.”

She was quiet for a long time. Then she nodded.

We didn’t hug. We didn’t suddenly become best friends.

I didn’t need that.

Some relationships work best at arm’s length. And that was enough.

Near the end of the party, an exec from a brand I’d been collaborating with came over and invited me dinner.

Good-looking. Successful. Not exactly subtle about his interest.

When I turned around, Grant was right there.

Looking exactly as thrilled as I expected.

I walked over to him on purpose.

“Nothing to say?”

“What do you want me to say?”

“The old Grant would’ve thrown a fit for a week if another guy even glanced at me.”

“I’m throwing one right now.”

“So do something about it,”

His eyes cut to the guy I’d just been talking to. Every muscle in his jaw was working overtime.

“You can talk to whoever you want.”

That stopped me.