StarNovelChapter 0246
For too long, I watched Nicholas across the room, as he greeted a benefactor and then introduced
Olivia. As it wasn’t Lilliana’s turn with the benefactor, she had been asked to stand back. She glared at
Olivia behind Nicholas’s back.
Nicholas turned on the charisma for the elderly benefactor. Olivia, beside him, did the same. They
looked like a matching pair, working together to charm the benefactor. With the way the benefactor
blushed and smiled, it was clearly working.
I didn’t want to hate Olivia. Compared to Linda and some of the others, she had never physically done
me or Elva harm. But watching the way she kept touching Nicholas’s arm… Or how she smiled at
him… Or
once, she winked….
My heart had emotions all its own that had little to do with logic or reason. My heart hated Olivia out of
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtsheer jealousy. She had closeness to Nicholas now. She could smile and laugh and flirt, and might
even
be successful.
I imagined Nicholas choosing Olivia as his Luna and my gut squeezed tight. She was a good choice.
She’d make a respectable Luna.
But I didn’t want her to marry Nicholas. I didn’t want anyone to marry Nicholas.
Except me.
I sighed. What a foolish notion. One I had to let go of, the sooner the better.
Nicholas might be the one for me, but I would never be the one for Nicholas. I had to accept that and
move on, for both our sakes.
“Mommy. I’m so sleepy,” Elva said, mumbling the words against my shoulder. “Can I go to bed now?”
I had other benefactors to talk to yet. I really shouldn’t leave. But my heart was sore and lonely, and I
worried Elva might be getting sick again. Her exhaustion didn’t entirely seem natural.
“Okay, honey. Let’s go back to our room.” At the very least, I could have the doctor check her out. Then
I
could leave her in Mark’s care and hurry back to the party.
No one stopped me as I carried Elva out of the ballroom. The guards at the door didn’t even look at me
twice.
The hallways were empty, with the candidates at the gala, and the servants likely enjoying their free
time
until the gala was done.
With all my sneaking down to the cellars, I was used to seeing the hallways so barren. Though
typically, I would have Julian or Nicholas at my side. On my own, my nerves prickled on high alert.
When I turned the corner, I nearly jumped out of my skin seeing another woman standing in a purple,
shimmering gown at the end of the hallway.
Odd, that dress was made of the fabric that Jane had stolen from my room.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe woman turned toward me, exposing her face. My breath caught in my throat.
The woman was Jane.
I stopped walking, feet planted firmly.
I was frozen at one end of the hallway and Jane at the other. We stared at each other across the
distance.
If I didn’t have Elva in my arms, I would have moved closer. I would have confronted her and maybe
even fought her.
But I did have Elva in my arms. She was vulnerable, sleeping and likely sick. I couldn’t risk her, not for
Jane. Not for anyone.
Jane smirked at me. Then she turned again and disappeared around a corner.
My every instinct wanted me to give chase. Instead, I clutched Elva to me more fully and went my own
way.
Once I had reached the safety of my room, I roused Elva enough to change her into a pair of
comfortable pajamas. Then I tucked her into bed. When she was resting, I walked to the door.
One of the guards looked back at me. “Please send for the doctor. I believe Elva might be sick.”
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