The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0615

As the car entered the neighborhoods that I recognized, I grew more and more tense. Nicholas squeezed me tighter, likely trying to offer what comfort that he could. But there was little comfort to be had.

I didn't mind the smaller place. I didn't even mind the harsher lifestyle.

But I didn't want to do any of it anymore, without Nicholas

I would, of course, if forced to. I would give my all to raise Elva to the best of my ability, no matter the environment. And now that the Oracle had cured her of her curse, we didn't necessarily need to be at the palace, since Elva didn't need such intense medical care.

I wanted Nicholas, Elva, and I to be a family. Full stop. It didn't matter where.

Finally, the car came to a stop in front of our old apartment building. A camera crew was already set up outside, waiting. There, standing among them, chatting them all up, stood Anna. She looked much the same as when I had last seen her.

God, I missed her so much. I didn't even realize how much until this moment.

Nicholas cupped my face and lightly kissed me on the lips. The windows were tinted, the cameras wouldn't be able to see.

"I will see you soon," he said. His eyes were creased with worry, his mouth heavy with sadness.

I kissed him again, offering comfort as he tried to do for me. "Soon," I promised.

Nicholas nodded and turned to Elva. He kissed the top of her head.

I sucked in a sturdy breath, then exited the car. The cameras were immediately on me. The crew pushed Anna back behind them, even though she was the one Elva and I were here to

see.

orders, they wanted to catch me at my worst so the

walked around the car and opened the door enough for Elva to hop out, while keeping Nicholas hidden. No one needed to know of Nicholas's favoritism but Elva and

each other and joined in a three-person hug. It

I said to Anna, who said

kissed my cheek and then the top of Elva's head. "It hasn't been the

unceremoniously on the curb. If we lived

with servants, those servants would see to our bags. As it was, we were now left to our own devices. This, especially, I did not mind. I was no closer to being accustomed

to the driver as he returned to his driver's side. He nodded in acknowledgement, started the

initial excited greeting had worn off, she was having trouble looking me in

asked. "What

her bottom lip with

something happen?"

while, for me to keep your

scratched at my chest. Why would they stop paying Anna? I

"But I had to get another roommate to make ends meet. They took over your

don't have our room?" Elva looked up at me

okay," I told her. To Anna, I said, "It's okay, Anna. We weren't here. You did what you needed to, to survive. Of course,

squeezed her shoulder to show her it would

roommate is in our room, where did you put our

everything with us, only a

she

stacked against the wall in the living

wanted me to get angry, I kept my

because Anna had to move forward with her life, but because my entire life up until this point fit so perfectly into three cardboard boxes.

of me that wanted to break a little, and looked at Anna. "Which

perked up right