?Chapter 0287


    I couldn''t believe that. Nothing from the time I had been with Nichs to what I had experienced knowing him now indicated to me that he only cared about himself.


    He helped out regrly at an orphanage. He turned the other way to Mark and Susie''s romance. He spent time with Elva. He was so protective of me, always looking out for me.


    None of these were indicative of a selfish man.


    Julian seemed absolutely convinced however. "I can tell from your face that you don''t believe me. But doesn''t this action prove it to you? Nichs was trying to steal the glory here. That''s why he went behind my back."


    "That''s not true," I said. "He only wanted to tell the King as soon as he could, to bring down Terry as quickly as possible."


    Julian huffed. "He has you fooled, then."


    "Julian. Don''t you think you are being too hard on Nichs?" I could sympathize with Julian. I knew being excluded had hurt him, and it was exceedingly shortsighted of Nichs, if nothing else, as Julian held some of the evidence that the King needed to help make his decision.


    Nichs was stubborn and a man of action, but he was also forthright. He plunged ahead, sometimes without the many calctions that Julian would make. But he did so with the best intentions at heart. Of that, I was absolutely certain.


    "He''s always done this is in the past as well," Nichs said. "He''ll undercut my aplishments in order to prop himself up."


    "Julian..."


    "Every exam, every sport, every concert... Every moment where I could have shone, could have made something of myself, he stole the spotlight and kept it from me."


    He smirked as he spoke, but it was a mask, one he was used to wearing. I was starting to be able to see through it, to the more vulnerable man underneath.


    I didn''t doubt that Julian had been denied glory. I also didn''t doubt that Nichs had imed it, though I''m sure it was unintentional to cast such a dark shadow over Julian,


    Was this why Julian always acted out? He was just a lost boy who never had enough attention growing up? No. That was likely unfair. This hurt felt too raw, too deep. There was something deeper going on.


    "You can''t believe that Nichs would purposefully steal


    "I would," Julian said, cutting me off. "He doesn''t want me to have anything. That''s partially why he stole my girlfriend Bridget from me all those years ago."


    The words gave me pause. This wasn''t the first time he mentioned such a thing. I hadn''t truly believed it then, and I didn''t fully now either. The Nichs I knew would have never intentionally steal anyone''s girlfriend away.


    That left only two options for the truth. Either Nichs hadn''t realized Bridget was dating Julian, or Julian wasn''t telling the full story.


    I didn''t think Nichs would be quite so oblivious, which left Julian withholding facts, something he had been known to do in the past.All content ? N/.?vel/Dr/ama.Org.


    "She was the only woman I ever truly loved, Piper," Julian said. His gaze fell away from me a moment, but I kept watchful. Even as his attention dropped, I could still see his eyes. Within them, I saw a sh of heartbreak.


    Whatever had happened between Nichs, Bridget, and him had hurt him. There could be no denying that.


    "I''m sorry you were hurt," I said.


    Julian scoffed. "Sorry I was hurt. Not sorry that Nichs betrayed a brother''s trust."


    I frowned. "I''m sorry for that too." If that was truly what happened.


    I tried to imagine it for a moment: Julian dating the woman he loved, following after her like a lovesick puppy, while Nichs slunk in the shadows, plotting their breakup.


    It felt too.. cartoon. It couldn''t be reality.