Chapter 24


    He watched me but he didn’t say anything.


    “Thank you, Your Royal Highness, I


    1 didn’t do it for you.” His gaze fell to Elva, who looked so small in her hospital bed. “No harm wille


    to any child in this pce.”


    “I


    “Even so.” I was grateful for his help, no matter the reason he gave it. “Thank you.”


    The doctor nced between us. “If you will excuse me, I will personally take Elva’s prescription to the


    pharmacist. It seems safer that way.”


    “I


    “Thank you,” I said, as Nichs said, “That would be best.“.


    When the doctor left the room, Nichs kicked off the bookcase and came closer. He peered down at


    Elva from her bedside, a soft look on his face.


    I remembered his interview. Nichs loved children. He wanted a big family. That kindness must have


    extended to Elva.


    “Truly.” I said, “I don’t know how to thank you for this.”


    His soft look hardened when he gazed up at me. “Children are separate from our situation, Piper. Elva


    is innocent in all of this.”


    It was clear then, that he didn’t want me to take this gesture personally. He wanted to maintain distance


    from me. But he was still willing to help Elva, and that was what really mattered.


    I wished I could think of a way to convince him that I wasn’t here to chase a crown or rekindle what we


    had If Julian knew I was only here as a publicity stunt, then surely Nichs must have also known.


    Yet he held onto his anger for me, and wrapped it around himself like an imprable shield.


    He’d likely never warm to me. I had to just ept that.


    Looking at Elva, I knew I had bigger things to worry about anyway.


    The doctors in my room. When they were leaving, one of them said, “Perhaps leaving the pce would


    for herr


    sald that


    want to harm Elvar Hell You


    Immediately, I thought of the sh of Lena I had seen leaving the hallway just as I’d arrived.


    She hated me. Would that be enough reason to endanger my child?


    “From now on, only my personal physician will tend to her,” Nichs said. The gold in his eyes shed


    dangerously. It might have been a trick of the light.


    Elva stirred. “Mommy?”


    “I’m here, honey.” I inched closer. “How are you feeling?”


    “Okay now,” Her curious eyes shifted from me to Nichs. “Who are you?”


    Nichs ced a hand on his chest. “I’m Prince Nichs.”


    “Nickss?”


    Panic surged through me. “Oh, no, no, Elva. We address him as ‘Your Royal


    “It’s okay,” Nichs said, stopping me. “Nickss is fine.”


    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    Elva smiled. She reached her arms out to him. “Up, please.”


    Nichs leaned down. Elva wrapped her arms around his neck. Holding her close, he lifted her from


    the


    bed.


    My whole heart melted into a puddle of warm goo. Elva had made a new friend. Nichs was so good


    with children.


    In a different life, this could have been our family.


    Immediately, I shut down that thought. Nichs resented and hated me, and I had no delusions that


    Would change. I might have regretted breaking up with him, but though the guilt remained, whatever


    eelings I’d had for him were buried in the past.


    This was a sh in the pan kind of feeling. I saw something cute and my heart reacted.


    didn’t mean lingering feelings were involved.


    cholis shifted Elva in his arms, and (caught the wince he tried to hide as he bent his right wrist


    injured