The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0398

That night, the King and Queen finally made an appearance at the night’s formal dinner. They greeted Bridget like a doting set of parents would, hugging her and k*ssing her cheek. Nicholas and Julian were right there with them.

The rest of us candidates were already inside the dining room waiting and forced to watch.

“God, I’m going to be sick,” Tiffany said. She put her elbows on the table and dropped her head into her hands.

Veronica awkwardly patted her shoulder.

Bridget and the royal family entered the dining room like some kind of royal parade. The King and Queen took their usual seats. Nicholas and Julian stayed standing as they counted the chairs. None of us candidates had made room for Bridget to sit down.

It seemed that was to be decided now.

“Where should I sit?” Bridget asked with innocent wide eyes. There were plenty of empty seats at the table. She could just as easily take one as her own.

She batted her eyelashes at Nicholas and Julian.

Both men moved at once. They personally asked each girl to move down one seat. When Julian came to me, he didn’t even have the nerve to look apologetic.

“Please move, Piper,” Julian said.

“But Julian…”

“No time for arguments,” he said. “Everyone’s hungry.”

It felt strange getting the brush off from him. I wanted to snap back and maybe wake him from whatever witchcraft might have ensnared him, but with so many people and cameras watching, I didn’t dare call him out here and now.

Later, I vowed in my head, as I begrudgingly rose from my chair. With all the girls shifted; the only open seat now was on the other side of the table, which meant I would have to watch this terrible show of Nicholas and Julian falling all over themselves to keep Bridget’s attention.

My jealousy buzzed under the surface of my skin. Nicholas hadn’t looked at me since Bridget stepped out of that car.

I lowered myself into my new seat and tried to withhold my growing anger. I felt

+15 BONUS

like I was holding a wolf back with only a paper chain.

Bridget found her seat directly between Nicholas and Julian. She smiled at them both, they both couldn’t seem to stop looking at her.

Susie, dear friend that she was, moved from her previous seat to sit beside me.

close to whisper, “You

is happening,” I whispered back, careful not to catch the attention of the cameras. This truly was my worst nightmare. Bridget was here, like she had walked out of my worst, darkest dream.

only Nicholas would look at me once, maybe I could endure. As it was, I felt alone. Abandoned.

of how things were always going to be. The competition wasn’t going to last forever. Eventually I would have to leave Nicholas behind and

still hasn’t been

sister that was still

of hardship and

wasn’t as bad, considering. At least while I was here, I had three steady meals for me and Elva, as well as help with Elva’s medical bills.

Nicholas left me early, abandoning me

could endure anything.

and I felt

now. I could let loose and be free, without

to

we wouldn’t disappear again, I replied in my mind.

then, not wanting

“It’s a wonder,” he said, holding his drink aloft, “what life hands us when we least suspect it.”

family replied right away. “To

+15 BONUS

candidates were slightly slower.

say anything, she just drank.

as

her eyes on

“To old friends,” but I wasn’t saying it to mean

his seat. Bridget gripped his

toast, Nicholas,”

drink down to the

they lowered mine

table, Bridget let her hand linger on Nicholas’s arms. Slowly, she traced

bit of surprise in his eyes.

said in

down at my hand. I had bent