He Thought I Loved Him—Dating My Childhood Sweetheart Was Work Chapter 12

He Thought I Loved Him—Dating My Childhood Sweetheart Was Work Chapter 12

I stared at Asher, confused. 

He talked too much now. And way too confident. 

I pulled my wrist away hard, speaking slowly, clearly. 

“Asher, are you really this clueless? You think I stayed by you because I liked you?” 

“You heard me talking to Hudson that day, didn’t you?” 

“He put me with you from the start for one reason: the Anderson–Voss alliance.” 

“If you hadn’t run tattling to him in high school, threatening cut my allowance, I never would’ve looked twice at you.” 

Asher’s smile faded. His face went rigid. 

“All those years, I stayed because Hudson paid me. It was 

just a job.” 

“The last two years, I kept other girls away only because 

Hudson ordered it–to make sure the alliance happened.” 

“And you loved every second of it. Putting me down, showing 

off to your unattainable crush that even if she didn’t want 

you, someone would.” 

“You used me to turn people down who asked for your 

number.” 

“It was a deal for both of us.” 

My voice was soft, mocking. 

Asher’s expression shattered. His hands clenched into tight 

fists. 

He spoke through gritted teeth. 

“Elowen, I don’t believe a word you’re saying.” 

“When you were eight, you saved three months of allowance 

just to buy me that game console I mentioned once.” 

“When you were ten, you cried harder than I did when I 

scraped my knee.” 

“When you were thirteen, you brought me lunch every day 

because you knew I was picky and didn’t eat well.” 

“When you were fifteen…” 

I cut him off with a scoff. 

For as long as I could remember, Asher was my only friend. 

Hudson drilled it into me: be nice to Asher. Be his best 

friend. 

I had no other social life. 

If I played with other kids and looked forward to seeing them again, Hudson got angry. 

My favorite dolls, nice clothes, sweet snacks–gone, just like 

that. 

Eventually, Asher became my only friend. 

Even when he preferred hanging out with others in 

elementary school, I still followed. 

By middle school, I realized something was off. 

I finally understood. 

Once, a classmate asked what we were. I thought for a long time. 

I looked at Asher, serious. 

“Before I turned thirteen, I really thought you were my only 

friend.” 

“But the day you were upset about that girl moving away, and you knocked my lunchbox away in front of everyone…” 

“That’s when you stopped being my friend, Asher.” 

Asher froze. His eyes darted over my face, unfocused. 

He seemed lost in memory. 

That day, I knew I had no friends. 

And I didn’t need him as one anymore. 

Asher’s lips trembled. He took a deep breath. 

“Elowen, I’m sorry. I was young and stupid. I never knew it 

hurt you this much.” 

The proud Voss heir never apologized to anyone. 

It was almost funny, seeing him like this. 

“It doesn’t matter. Every time I bit my tongue, Hudson paid 

me for it.” 

“And for the record? I never liked you. Not even a little.” 

Asher gasped for air, chest heaving. 

I didn’t want to waste more time on this. 

“Leave. Don’t bother us anymore.” 

I turned to walk away. Asher’s eyes panicked. He reached out 

to stop me–only for a firm hand to press against his 

shoulder. 

It was Kian. 

He stood between us, calm, voice cold. 

“She made herself clear. Get out.” 

Asher glared at Kian, furious. 

“Who the hell are you? This is between Elowen and me. Stay 

out of it!” 

He raised a fist. 

I slapped him. 

The sound echoed through the quiet rural night.