Chapter 0441


    As Bridget finished her solo scene, it was time for Nichs and me to head to the stage for our


    breakup scene.


    “Break a leg,” Bridget said to us as we passed each other. I knew this was the traditional way of


    wishing someone good luck in a theater production, but my wolf still snarled inside of me like it was a


    threat. Fortunately, I held it back before the sound could audibly escape me.


    Nichs held out his arm for me as we reached the stairs to the stage. On the surface, it was a gesture


    of kindness. As a gentleman, Nichs wanted to be sure I wouldn’t trip on my skirts on my way up the


    stairs.


    Yet underneath, there was more to steady presence of his arm under mine. This was an apology for


    what was toe.


    The apology wasn’t necessary. By now, we’d practiced this scene enough that I barely felt anything at


    all. Still, it warmed me from the inside out, knowing Nichs cared so much.


    With the stage covered in darkness, Nichs and I released our gentle hold on each other and moved


    into our positions.


    The lights clicked on, and the scene began.


    Nichs looked at me and said, “We have to end things between us…”


    “Why?”


    “There’s someone else.”


    “Who?”


    “It doesn’t matter who.”


    “I think it does,” I said, then paused. I pushed all of my emotion into my voice. “I love you.”


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    In all of our practices, Nichs hesitated here, no matter how many times Nathan and Bridget tried to


    correct him. So it wasn’t shocking that he still hesitated now.


    “Well, I don’t love you,” he eventually said.


    1


    The crowd loudly gasped. One person even booed. Another cried out, “That’s just wrong!”


    Nichs and I nced at the crowd in surprise, and then at each other. That reaction certainly had not


    been expected.


    C


    +15 BONUS


    I tried to regain myposure, but I needed a few seconds before I could remember my next line.


    “Why would you hurt me like this?”


    Nichs’s reply took even longer. This scene was quickly unraveling. “I love her.”


    “Don’t do this!” someone in the audience shouted.


    “Piper is the one!” another called.


    Both were loudly shushed.


    Thankfully, my final line wasing up and this horrible scene would soon be over.


    “I never want to see either of you again!” I shouted. Then, I turned and fled from the stage.


    Here, Nathan and Bridget both thought the crowd would cheer, happy to be rid of me, thest romantic


    obstacle standing between Nichs’s character and Bridget’s. Instead, the crowd was deathly silent,


    like the grave.


    Nichs paused, as he had been instructed to, to let the apuse y out. It never came. Eventually,


    he cleared his throat and continued with his monologue.


    As the scene ended, the audience did finally react. They politely pped.


    Nichs found me waiting in the backstage area, at the foot of the stairs. He walked to me then


    clutched both of my hands in his. Gently, he brought them up to his mouth to ce soft kiss after soft


    kiss over my knuckles.


    I didn’t need the reassurance that there was no hard feelings between us. But it was nice to have it all


    the same. I’d never turn down a bit of extra attention from Nichs.


    In a low voice, he said, “The audience was right. My character is a cad for turning away your


    character’s love for a woman he just met.


    I smiled. “What about true love?”


    Nichs ced another kiss to the back of my palm. “Even they could tell where truly lies.”


    my heart


    “Nichs…” My heart burst with affection for him. I wished I could fall into his arms and kiss him. What


    I would have given to be kissed senselessly in that moment. But, people were bustling around us. Even


    our present touch was dangerous, threatening to give us away.