Chapter 0444

Despite the argument between Bridget and Nicholas, the show needed to go on, which meant Nicholas and Bridget were called back to the stage. Bridget was silenced after Nicholas’s final words, so the air between them was obviously tense. They didn’t talk at all as they returned to the stage.

For the finale, Julian was needed on stage too. This was the final showdown between his character and Nicholas’s, where Nicholas would beat him in a duel and officially claim Bridget’s character’s hand in marriage.

I knew Julian had to go, but I was still holding onto his arm. I wasn’t ready to let him go yet. We still hadn’t talked and his face was still like that of a strangers, unsmiling and stern.

Julian glanced pointedly at where I gripped his upper arm.

“I have to go now, Piper,” he said.

“We still haven’t talked,” I replied.

“Later.”

I still didn’t let go. “Do you promise?”

He huffed a harsh breath. “Why does it matter?”

He was so dismissive, it hurt a little. Why did it matter? Because I cared about him. Because he was acting strangely. Because I wanted to know if he really said those terrible things about me to Bridget.

“It matters because it matters,” I said. It really was as simple as that. To put it into further detail only made it more needlessly complicated. It mattered because Julian mattered.

He looked at me a bit longer. His eyes were so detached, he truly looked like a different person. I missed the always smirking instigator that had become my friend.

“Piper…” he said, and it seemed like he was about to say something else. Maybe he’d give an explanation. Maybe he’d finally tell me what was going on.

Instead, he sighed. “I have to go.”,

I didn’t have any other choice. I couldn’t make him look bad and hold up the play for everyone else, just because I selfishly wanted answers from Julian. So I released his arm.

He nodded, then hurried up onto the stage to finish his scene.

I felt so cold inside. I didn’t want to believe the things Bridget said, but with Julian acting so distantly, what was I to think?

really did say those things

I felt a bit like I was in a bit of a trance, woken only when, in

along behind her as she lightly sk ipped across the stage. The

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+15 BONUS

applause of the night.

time, Bridget did not push for more. Good. If she had tried, I might have run- onto the stage myself and yanked her away

rage was still seething. My wolf was angrily pacing within me. It couldn’t wait until we

we bowed together. The crowd cheered and cheered, a standing ovation. When Nicholas and Bridget came out last, they cheered loudest. A

handed Bridget a bouquet of roses as he arrived onstage.

Favoritism, once again.

not to let it

front stairs and mingle with the crowd. Take pictures.

requests an audience,”

Requests. More like demands.

through the

the room, I noticed Julian making his way out the doors onto

if I was dying, he’d still be required to speak with the King

I could speak to

Susie, I said a few polite hellos to guests who wished to greet me and give compliments to my performance, and then I made my way

alone. He was leaning with his elbows on the railing of the balcony. His neck was bent back, his gaze

on the railing. I looked at him for a long moment. When he didn’t turn to meet my gaze, I followed his up to

wanted to talk,”

you okay?” I asked. Of all the questions I had, that seemed

said, without any hesitation. “Was

And his answer only added to the questions

where he was last night, so I decided

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