Aurora’s POV

I swallowed hard, forcing a breath through my nose as I raised my head to meet the principal’s expectant gaze. It was smiling, as if be indy helmet be was changing my life for the better, as if this was some great act of kindness that I should be grateful for And maybe, in another reality i would hane hpen

But not this one. Not when I knew that epting this meant bing a charity case, a burden, a responsibility that someone else had decided intake on

without my consent. My jaw tightened as I forced a small, polite smile, one that didn’t reach my eyes.

“I appreciate the offer, sir,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “But I can’t ept it.”

The principal’s brows furrowed slightly, confusion flickering across his face. “Aurora, I don’t think you understand this schrship covers everything. Tuition, books, even living expenses if needed. You wouldn’t have to worry about anything.”

I nodded, my fingers tightening their grip on my skirt. “I understand,” I said. “And I still can’t ept it.”

His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to protest, to tell me that I was being irrational, that I should be grateful for the opportunity, bat i didn’t wait for him to speak. I pushed my chair back and stood up, bowing my head slightly in what I hoped looked respectful before turning on my heel and walking towards the door. My heart pounded so loudly in my chest that I could barely hear anything else, but I didn’t stop. I didn’t hesitate.

The second I stepped out of the office, I sucked in a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. But before I could even begin to process what bhad /bjust happened, I heard footsteps behind me. Quick, determined footsteps. I knew who it was before I even turned around.

“Aurora.” Caleb’s voice wasced with frustration as he reached me, his hand grabbing my wrist before I could take another step.

I stiffened, but I didn’t pull away. I just stood there, staring at the floor, my breathing shallow.

“Let go,” I muttered.

“Not until you exin what the hell that was,” he shot back, his grip tightening ever so slightly. “You just walked away from a full schrship. Do you even understand what you just did?”

I yanked my arm free, finally looking up at him. His dark eyes burned with anger, but beneath that, I saw something else–something softer. Worry? No…. someone like Caleb would never worry about me. It could only be pity.

I hated that look. I hated the idea that I had be someone he pitied.

“I know exactly what I did,” I said, my voice steady despite the way/my chest ached. “And I’m not going to be your charity case, Caleb.”

His jaw tensed. “That’s not what this is.”

I let out a short, humorlessugh. “Isn’t it? Don’t stand there and act like you had nothing to do with this.” I shook my head, my nails digging into my palms. “You think I don’t know that you pulled some strings to make this happen? That you went behind my back and decided to fix my life like I’m some kind of problem that needs solving?”

His hands curled into fists at his sides, frustration radiating off him in waves. “I was trying to help you, Aurora.”

I inhaled sharply, shaking my head again. “Help me? Do you want to help me? Then let me do this on my own. Let me figure things out for myself instead of making decisions for me.” My throat tightened as I forced out the words that I knew would hurt him. “I’m not some lost cause, Caleb. I don’t need saving.”

He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair, his expression hardening. “So what now?” he asked, his voice quieter, but no less intense. “You just throw away your shot at a proper future? Throw everything away because you’re too damn stubborn to ept help?”

I lifted my chin, holding his gaze even as my stomach twisted painfully. “Yes,” I said simply

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His eyes widened, disbelief shing across his face. “Aurora—”

“I quit,” I repeated, the finality of my words settling between us like a weight too heavy to lift. “I’d rather walk away than be s

‘s burden.”

For a moment, he just stood there, staring at me like he was trying to understand how I could possibly mean what I was saying. And maybe a part of me wanted him to argue, to convince me that I was wrong. But he didn’t. He just let out a sharp breath, his hands clenching and unclenching like he was itrying /ito hold himself back from saying something he’d regret.

I didn’t wait for him to figure it out. I turned around and walked away, ignoring the way my heart screamed at me to look back. Just once….

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