The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0269

No sooner had we all sat down, then Terry stretched his arm across the back of my chair. He leaned into me enough to whisper, “Should we make those two brothers jealous, Piper?” He reached up, snatched a loose strand of my hair, and tucked it behind my ear. His fingers lingered on my cheek.

I wanted to turn my entire body inside out to get away from that touch. “I think we should just focus on dinner.”

“Is that any way to treat the man who controls your entire future?” Terry asked.

I gave him a confused look.

His smile added teeth. “You had a poor showing at your last event, didn’t you? I know how important this one is to you and your standing. To dear little Elva, who is always so sickly. You want to stay in the contest, yes? To keep her healthy and happy?”

My stomach churned in disgust. I hated that he was right. I wanted to pull away, but I couldn’t. Not yet.

“Uncle,” Julian said sharply. “The cameras are waiting for your introductory speech. Unless you want me to cover for you…”

hit him where it hurt. Terry would never miss an opportunity to steal the limelight. His arm retracted from my cheek. His other moved away from my chair as he rose to

in on him. “Thank you to all my honored guests, for joining me this evening. I have followed the competition

picked up his flute of champagne. “Though tonight is an event to be judged, I hope you will each find

at me. I did my best

his glass.

me lifted our glasses as well, then took a sip. The taste of champagne wasn’t as good as I remembered, reminding me too much of

not going to drink any alcohol tonight.

issue. Terry engaged several of his nearby guests without paying me much attention. It was only as the

a piece of the meat and held his fork

intimate. It had even garnered the attention of several nearby candidates and the cameras. The candidates gave me pitying looks. The cameramen moved in

in the face. I

my stomach, ignoring the way disgust swirled within it, violent

and accepted the bite of meat from Terry’s