Chapter l243

Chapter 0243

Suddenly, Nicholas was beside me, a look of unabashed anger on his face. Terry met it with an easy, self-

satisfied smirk.

“Why, nephew. How good of you to join us.”

“The feeling is not mutual,” Nicholas snapped.

“Nick–lass?” With her free hand, Elva reached for Nicholas. He caught her hand in his and held it.

“I think it’s time you moved on, Terry,” Nicholas said, softer, with Elva was listening.

“A knight to the rescue. How charming.” Terry huffed a laugh. “Sometimes I think a suit of armor would

serve you better than a crown.”

Nicholas handled Terry’s prodding better than I had done. He didn’t even bat an eye, just continued to

glare unwaveringly.

Terry picked at his nails. “Unfortunately for you, Piper is also under obligations to speak with me. I am to hear her pitch, after all. If I do not hear it, why, that would be in disregard of the rules. We wouldn’t want that, would we? I’m sure Piper wouldn’t want to be disqualified from the entire competition.”

“You wouldn’t,” I gasped, though I had tried hard not to.

His piercing gaze found mine, and I felt as if he’d stabbed me. “I only ask for one dance, Piper. One chance to talk to you. Do this, and there’s no reason to cause a fuss. No rules are broken, and who knows? Perhaps I will even donate to your charity. It’s only money.”

Only money. Like my life wouldn’t fundamentally change with just a few thousand dollars in the bank.

I frowned down at myself. The dress I had earlier loved now seemed too tight. His hands would be practically right on my hips, with such thin fabric. I should have asked Charlotte to make it a turtlen*eck, to

totally hide my cleavage.

“Mommy?” Elva asked.

I looked at Nicholas.

“You don’t have to,” Nicholas said. “I don’t care what the rules say.”

My heart warmed for him, and I desperately clung to that little glowing flame. It would see me through

whatever happened next.

“Please watch Elva.”

1/2

“You don’t have to ask,” he said. At once, he returned his glare to Terry. “If you threaten or try to hurt her in any way –”

“Such unusual zest from my typically level–headed nephew. I’m pleased to see a woman has finally brought it cut in you, though saddened that the woman is one you will never possess.”

Nicholas’s mouth snapped closed. A muscle ticked in his jaw.

“Besides,” Terry smiled wider. He knew he had gotten under Nicholas’s skin. “What could I possibly do In

the middle of a crowded room?”

Nicholas turned to me. “Piper…”

“I’ll be okay,” I whispered to him. I swiveled to face Elva. “I’ll be right back, honey. You stay with Prince

Nicholas.”

“But, Mommy…” She clung to my skirt. “Don’t go with the bad man. He’s scary.”

My bleeding heart ached like an open wound. Slowly, I pried her tiny fingers away from the fabric of my dress, one by one. Each broke my heart more than the last. She even held on with her pinky.

I gave her hand to Nicholas, who then lifted Elva up into his arms to hold her closer. She seemed to try

to burrow into him.

“Clock’s ticking, Piper,” Terry said. He held out his hand for me to take.

Not all that long ago, I had seen that hand wrapped around my sister. I didn’t understand how she could

want to be with someone so vile.

I shook the thoughts away. They were pointless. My sister was a stranger.

I inhaled one more deep breath of freedom. Then I placed my hand in Terry’s.

His fingers snatched closed around mine like a trap.

“You’ve made the correct choice.”