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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the dangers we’ve faced,

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

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

Bridget instead. Then she frowned.

want to think about it,”

hid it behind her hand. She wasn’t

the smile startled straight off of her face. She clearly hadn’t been expecting that. As a celebrity, she was likely used

she would throw away her entire character. I loved this little girl with the entirety of my heart,

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.

my hand on Elva’s shoulder, tugged her a little closer to me

made her decision,”

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said it was up to her, Piper,” Bridget said, cutting me

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

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

wondered what her own feelings were underneath. She was a good actress, there was no denying that. But maybe she lost herself somewhere on

smile, just in time for Nicholas to

asked, likely noticing the tension.

half–hiding in the skirts of

Elva to call me Auntie,” Bridget said to

she wanted to think about it,” I said, filling in

Then, to 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 to let it

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 as she looked to me. “I’m sorry for my overstep, Piper.” And then to Elva. “I’m sorry to have pressured you, Elva. You can call

but didn’t say

room. “Oh, I see Nathan waving for me. producer’s work is never done!” She laughed again as she walked away.

to fit. Bridget had more or less taken over the entire