Chapter l437

Chapter 0437

I frowned deeper. Julian was always playing the angles. Would he have put me down to impress Bridget? That didn’t really sound like him.

“He called you… oh, forgive me. A manipulative tramp. A two–faced woman. Someone who only cared about him for his money and power.” 1

Julian would not say that about me. He knew, after all this time, that those things weren’t true. After everything we’d been through together, I struggled to believe he would say those words even in an attempt to win Bridget.

I tried to see through her tears now, but God, she was such a good actress. She truly seemed genuine.

But then, did Julian actually say those things…?

“The worst,” Bridget sniffled. “Oh, Piper, if I could unhear these things I would.”

“It’s alright,” I said.

She nodded. “He said he is only kind to you because he feels so bad for you. A single mother from a lower class. What hope do you have in the competition without his help?”

That one stung, striking straight through my chest like a spear covered in barbed wire.

I didn’t want to believe Julian could say something like that. I wanted to think that our friendship was mutually beneficial to us both. But… I was so far beneath the princes socially, and all I’d seemed to do since my arrival was bring them trouble. 1

Maybe Julian had said that. Maybe he’d meant it.

I didn’t know what to believe.

“I’m truly so, so sorry,” she said. “After this happened, I couldn’t think of what to do but to tell you.”

“I understand,” I said, while a hurricane raged inside my chest. Still, through my own pain and misery, I had one lingering question. “What did you tell him?”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“When he told you his feelings? Did you reciprocate?”

She vehemently shook her head. “Of course not! It was bad enough to hear those words.

1/3

+15 BONUS

How could I do that to you?” At once, she stepped forward and tugged me into a hug. “We girls have to stick together.” 1

By the nature of this very competition, that was untrue, though I supposed I appreciated her sense of girl power and togetherness. 4

After our hug, I said my goodbyes, and hurried back to my room to get dressed. By now, Elva had roused and was eating the quick breakfast

Charlotte had prepared her. Charlotte cast me a suspicious sideways glance as I came into the room. I gave a subtle headshake. Whatever had just happened, I wasn’t ready to talk about it yet.

I kissed Elva on the top of her head, wished her good morning, then went into the closet to change.

One thing, I knew for certain: I had to talk to Julian.

Yet when I went to his room and knocked on his door, neither Brian nor he answered.

Pressing my ear to the door, I could hear only silence within.

I couldn’t help but question Bridget’s story. Any or all of it could be a fabrication.

But.

So many parts of it would not surprise me if they were true, that I reasoned, by that logic, all of it could be true..

I hurried down to the dining room. A few early–rising candidates were there, but no Julian.

Then I checked the ballroom, and there he was.

“Julian!” I called, and rushed down the stairs.

Whatever he had been doing, he immediately stopped. He rushed toward me.

I opened my mouth to speak.

But then he kept walking straight past me.

“Julian?”

He didn’t say a word as he left the ballroom, leaving me there alone. 1

Then I realized, I recognized his outfit. He’d worn that same suit the day before.

Like Bridget, he hadn’t changed.

2/3

Maybe they had been together. Maybe her story was true after all.

+15 BONUS

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