The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0427

I wanted to say no with every fiber of my being. But when I look at Elva, I noticed she was watching me with doe eyes, taking in my every expression Did she actually want to call Bridget Auntie? Was she simply reading my negative energy, and that was what had been making her uncomfortable?

I tried to remember Elva’s face as she had interacted with Bridget and Nicholas. She had been having fun. Was it genuine? It could have been.

Maybe I was the stick in the mud here. My distrust of Bridget was

hindering my daughter and dictating the people she could grow closer to.

Bridget had given me no real reasons to distrust her. A handful of

confusing things mixed with more feelings than facts. Maybe I was simply being jealous.

If Elva likes Bridget, and Bridget has shown only kindness to Elva, maybe I was the asshole here.

Nicholas began to walk closer. He was in earshot now.

He trusted Bridget with his life with Elva’s life. Since I trusted him, that should make her trustworthy by proxy.

At the end of the day, this was just a title. A nickname. It wasn’t christening Bridget as Elva’s actual aunt. It wasn’t even saying they had to spend all that much more time together.

Again, I looked down to Elva. “Elva, you should do whatever you are comfortable with, okay? If you want to call Bridget Auntie, it’s up to you.”

I loved my daughter with an undying ferocity, but even I did not know the innermost workings of her heart. If she liked Bridget enough to want her to be Auntie, I wouldn’t stand in the way of that. Though I would be watching

hawk–like from a near distance.

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Especially with all the dangers we’ve faced, and with all the dangers still out there, haunting

my words closely. She continued to watch me long after I’d finished speaking. I worked hard to keep my face a blank slate,

like cotton candy.” Wouldn’t you like to call me Auntie?”

shifted her gaze to Bridget instead. Then

to think about it,”

all of us. I nearly laughed. Susie did, though she hid it behind her hand. She wasn’t really a part of

the smile startled straight off of her face. She clearly hadn’t been expecting that. As a celebrity, she was likely used to being admired and adored. Who knew

Elva was, entranced by Bridget but not so much that she would throw away her entire character. I loved this little girl with the entirety of my heart, but every day I was surprised when there seemed to somehow, impossibly, be even more love inside of me

to make Auntie Bridget sad, do you?” Bridget said. She wore an over–exaggerated frown that rankled all of my nerves at once. Was she trying to manipulate my daughter? “It would make me so happy if you would call me Auntie. Do you know how

hand on Elva’s shoulder, tugged her

decision,” I

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was up to her,

said. “And she said she needs time to think about

different expressions, like she couldn’t quite decide which to

there was no denying that. But maybe she lost herself somewhere on the way. Did she even recognize her own true

usual bright smile, just in time for Nicholas to join

going on?” he asked, likely noticing the

into me, half–hiding in the

Elva to call me Auntie,” Bridget

about it,” I said, filling in that key detail that Bridget

he said, “Elva isn’t obligated to you, or to anyone, Bridget, except her mother. If she’s not comfortable with it, you need

it right back up to how high it was before. Higher even, somehow. “Of course, you are right, Nicholas,” she said. “I suppose I did get carried away there.” She laughed

didn’t say anything.

me. producer’s work

term seemed to fit. Bridget had more or less taken over the entire production. It was kind of her to let Nathan keep his title