Chapter 243


    Chapter 0243


    Suddenly, Nichs 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,” Nichs snapped.


    “Nickss?” With her free hand, Elva reached for Nichs. He caught her hand in his and held it.


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


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


    serve you better than a crown.”


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


    re 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 entirepetition.”


    “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 dors 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 turtleneck, to


    totally hide my cleavage.


    “Mommy?” Elva asked.


    I looked at Nichs.


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


    My heart warmed for him, and I desperately clung to that little glowing me. 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 re 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.”


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


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


    the middle of a crowded room?”


    Nichs 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


    Nichs.”


    “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 thest. She even held on with her pinky.


    I gave her hand to Nichs, 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 ced my hand in Terry’s.


    His fingers snatched closed around mine like a trap.


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    “You’ve made the correct choice.”