Chapter l249

Chapter 0249

I turned around in haste.

Jane had sneaked away from behind me and was pointing Mrs. Marble roughly in the collarbone.

“Old hags like you are the reason this kingdom is in the shitter,” Jane sniped.

I rushed to intervene. This time, I snatched Jane’s wrist in a vice lock.

I forced a laugh. “What a joker. Mrs. Marble, you must know Miss Piper is only kidding you.”

“Must I?” Mrs. Marble lifted one lone brow high on her forehead. “I expect better of you, Prince Nicholas, than to choose someone of this… personality… to be Queen.”

Mrs. Marble never lost her patience. She simply said her peace, sneered once at Jane, then turned and walked away.

Jane laughed as she went.

I hissed, “You made a terrible mistake coming here, Jane.”

“It’s been delightfully fun so far. My perfect sister never lets herself have any fun. If anything, I’m doing

her a favor, putting these stuffed shirts in their places.”

“You are trying to ruin her life.”

Jane gave me a vicious kind of grin. “Do you think it’s working?”

It was so strange looking at Jane. She looked just like Piper in appearance and height, but she couldn’t

be more different in expression and mannerisms.

“You don’t deserve to have such a caring woman as your sister,” I said.

Jane snorted: “Perfect Piper. Spare me. You have no idea what it was like growing up in her shadow.

Never been good enough. Never being seen. Piper this, Piper that. What about Jane?”

“You’ve had many chances to improve your own life. You are the only one still clinging to Piper’s

shadow.”

“Worried about her, huh?” Jane leaned closer. “You should be. You can’t watch her every second, Prince. Sooner or later, your kingly duties will pull you away and she’ll be left behind in the dirt. Then, Terry and I.

will get our fun.” 1

I squeezed her wrist. My heart thundered in my chest. My wolf prowled in the back of my mind, ready to

“I will never let you hurt Piper.”

Jane watched me for a moment, her eyes widening at the ferocity in my tone. Yet, in the next moment,

her cocksure smirk sl*ps back into place.

“Oh, I see. You are still in love with her.” Jane laughed, loud and mocking. “You just can’t say no to

heartache, can you? You think your little breakup last time was painful? Wait until you see what becomes

of Piper next.”

A low, dangerous growl escaped my throat, and for a few seconds, fear returned to Jane’s gaze.

“Keep your wolf in check, nephew. You are making a scene.”

Jane’s fear diminished the second Terry arrived beside us.

I could have torn both their heads off. But I restrained myself. Barely.

“Unless you want people to believe you are angry with Piper,” Terry continued.

“This isn’t Piper.” Not even close.

“And who knows that but us, hm?” Terry asked. “Unless you want to reveal Piper’s secret to the whole

world. That it hasn’t happened yet makes me believe Piper wouldn’t want that. After all, what would Elva

think? Finding out her Mommy isn’t her Mommy after all.”

I hated that Terry was right. But Piper did want to keep her secrets. Elva finding out the truth would hurt

them both.

“What do you want?” I growled.

“Release my lover back into my care,” Terry said.

I wanted to arrest her, but how would I explain it? “She needs to leave. Now. And not return again.”

Terry looked at Jane, and she shrugged.

“I’ve probably done enough,” she said.

To me, Terry said, “Then we accept your terms.”

Cameras were coming closer. I couldn’t keep holding onto Jane without causing a scene.

I hated this. Hated everything at the moment. 2

But what choice did I have? (1)

I loosened my grip and Jane yanked her arm free. Terry touched her back, leading her away. Together, they walked out of the ballroom.

The producer shoved a microphone into my face.

“Prince Nicholas, did you have an argument with Piper?”