Chapter l427

Chapte

Chapter 0427

I wanted to say no with every fiber of my being. But when I look at Elva, I noticed she was watching me with doe eyes, taking in my every expression Did she actually want to call Bridget Auntie? Was she simply reading my negative energy, and that was what had been making her uncomfortable?

I tried to remember Elva’s face as she had interacted with Bridget and Nicholas. She had been having fun. Was it genuine? It could have been.

Maybe I was the stick in the mud here. My distrust of Bridget was

hindering my daughter and dictating the people she could grow closer to.

Bridget had given me no real reasons to distrust her. A handful of

confusing things mixed with more feelings than facts. Maybe I was simply being jealous.

If Elva likes Bridget, and Bridget has shown only kindness to Elva, maybe I was the asshole here.

Nicholas began to walk closer. He was in earshot now.

He trusted Bridget with his life with Elva’s life. Since I trusted him, that should make her trustworthy by proxy.

At the end of the day, this was just a title. A nickname. It wasn’t christening Bridget as Elva’s actual aunt. It wasn’t even saying they had to spend all that much more time together.

Again, I looked down to Elva. “Elva, you should do whatever you are comfortable with, okay? If you want to call Bridget Auntie, it’s up to you.”

I loved my daughter with an undying ferocity, but even I did not know the innermost workings of her heart. If she liked Bridget enough to want her to be Auntie, I wouldn’t stand in the way of that. Though I would be watching

hawk–like from a near distance.

1/5

As a mother, I couldn’t help but be protective. Especially with all the dangers we’ve faced, and with all the dangers still out there, haunting us

Elva listened to my words closely. She continued to watch me long after I’d finished speaking. I worked hard to keep my face a blank slate, so as not to Influence her decision.

“What would you like, sweetie?” Bridget asked, voice like cotton candy.” Wouldn’t you like to call me Auntie?”

Elva shifted her gaze to Bridget instead. Then she frowned.

“I want to think about it,” Elva said.

Her words surprised all of us. I nearly laughed. Susie did, though she hid it behind her hand. She wasn’t really a part of the conversation, so she easily passed it off as something else.

Bridget, meanwhile, had the smile startled straight off of her face. She clearly hadn’t been expecting that. As a celebrity, she was likely used to being admired and adored. Who knew the last time someone had actually turned down one of her requests?

Yet, here Elva was, entranced by Bridget but not so much that she would throw away her entire character. I loved this little girl with the entirety of my heart, but every day I was surprised when there seemed to somehow, impossibly, be even more love inside of me for her.

“Oh, Elva. You don’t want to make Auntie Bridget sad, do you?” Bridget said. She wore an over–exaggerated frown that rankled all of my nerves at once. Was she trying to manipulate my daughter? “It would make me so happy if you would call me Auntie. Do you know how many kids wish they had that chance?”

I reached out and, placing my hand on Elva’s shoulder, tugged her a little closer to me to support her.

“Elva’s made her decision,” I said..

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“You said it was up to her, Piper,” Bridget said, cutting me as

“It is,” I said. “And she said she needs time to think about it. She should have that, without outside influence.”

Bridget’s face went through a serious of different expressions, like she couldn’t quite decide which to land on.

I wondered what her own feelings were underneath. She was a good actress, there was no denying that. But maybe she lost herself somewhere on the way. Did she even recognize her own true feelings anymore?

Bridget eventually landed on her usual bright smile, just in time for Nicholas to join us.

“What’s going on?” he asked, likely noticing the tension.

Elva turned into me, half–hiding in the skirts of my costume.

“I’m trying to convince Elva to call me Auntie,” Bridget said to him. “I almost have her!”

“Elva said she wanted to think about it,” I said, filling in that key detail that Bridget was leaving out.

Nicholas looked between us. Then, to Bridget, he said, “Elva isn’t obligated to you, or to anyone, Bridget, except her mother. If she’s not comfortable with it, you need to let it go.”

The wattage of Bridget’s smile dimmed for a moment, but she quickly cranked it right back up to how high it was before. Higher even, somehow. “Of course, you are right, Nicholas,” she said. “I suppose I did get carried away there.” She laughed as she looked to me. “I’m sorry for my overstep, Piper.” And then to Elva. “I’m sorry to have pressured you, Elva. You can call me Bridget. It’s okay.”

Elva nodded but didn’t say anything.

Bridget glanced back at the room. “Oh, I see Nathan waving for me. producer’s work is never done!” She laughed again as she walked away.

Producer? Was that official? Although whether official or not, the term seemed to fit. Bridget had more or less taken over the entire production. It was kind of her to let Nathan keep his title as director.

Bridget’s departure left Nicholas alone with Elva and me, with Susie not so subtly eavesdropping nearby.

I wasn’t ready to talk to Nicholas yet. I could understand the practicality of him not wanting to have penetrative sex with me, but it still hurt. Whether it was warranted or not, my wolf and I felt the keen sting of rejection.

Someday I’d get over it. I’d accept the inevitability of our situation enough that I’d be able to accept what we had as enough.

But right now, it hurt too much to even think about it.

“Piper,” he said, stepping closer to me.

“Prince Nicholas,” I said. “How are you today?”

It was a question borne in politeness, not at all reflective of the intimacy we’ve cultivated since our reunion.

He seemed startled by it, but his own curtesy forced his reply. “I’m well. And you?”

“Fine,” I said, and didn’t say anything else.

His face twisted in a flash of confusion, but he recovered quickly. “Well, I should return to the tailor.”

“Yes,” I said. “Busy day, today.”

“Yes,” he replied. “If you’ll excuse me.”

I bowed my head a little, gesturing my consent. He gave me one last worried look, before turning and returning to his original spot.

HIS SONUS

At my skirts, Elva had taken to playing with her ribbons again. One was starting to come loose, falling down in her hair.

Susie inched closer to us. She worried her hands together. With her gaze darting between Nicholas and me, she clearly had questions. I tried to brace myself.

“What happened between you and Prince Nicholas?” she asked.

God, I didn’t even know where to begin.