FreeNovel
Chapter 0280
Waking up in bed alone, with Nicholas nowhere in sight, I felt rejected.
I adamantly fought against the feeling, telling myself everything was fine, Nicholas was a very important and busy
man. But the hurt was persistent, rooted deep within me.
Worse, I was now also humiliated. It was early, but still late enough for the serv ants and other candidates to begin
to rouse and wander the halls. I had none of my own clothes, only Nichola s’s pajamas or Julian’s jacket.
I kept on the pajamas, but pulled the jacket into my arms to return to Julian later.
Then, with my cheeks burning red, I began the long trek back to my room. I didn’t want anyone to see me like this,
so I checked around corners and hid in alcoves to avoid all people.
I was nearly caught once, by a pair of serv ants dusting the picture frames along the hallway, but I ducked into a
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtdark closet until they moved past.
Then, mortified, I rushed the rest of the way. The guards lifted a brow as they asked the identifying question, but
they didn’t say a word when I answered correctly. They merely stepped aside.
I exhaled a loud, heavy breath. Finally I was safe.
Was what I thought…
Until I saw Piper standing in the middle of my bedroom. 4
“Where’s Elva?” I asked.
“The Nanny and a guard took her down to breakfast.” Julian glanced at my attire. A mischievous smirk tugged at his
lips. “Long night, Piper?”
I looked down at myself. My blush spread down my neck and over my chest, disappearing under the top of the
pajamas.
“I slept well,” I said.
“I bet you did,” Julian said. “Those princely pajamas look rather comfortable.”
I tugged at the cuff of one sleeve. “They are.’
“That’s good.” He sauntered closer. “Is that my jacket?”
“Oh, yes.” I held it out for him. Was this why he had come by room? To reclaim his jacket?
He didn’t reach for the jacket right away. Instead, he just stared at me, but I couldn’t quite discern the look in his
eyes. There was an edge to his playfulness.
+15 BONUS
“Maybe you’d be happier if it was Nichola s’s jacket,” he said.
I blinked.
He looked away. “Never mind. Sorry.” He grabbed the jacket.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Julian…?”
“I’m glad you are okay, Piper.”
Oh. So that was why he was here. Under the jealous and the teasing, he had just been worried about me.
“If you’ll excuse me,” he said, and sidestepped me.
“Julian, wait.”
He stilled.
I walked up to him, put my arms over his shoulders, and pulled him into a hug.
I hadn’t forgotten his part in saving me last night.
His gift was the only reason I had been found in time. His skill at picking locks had freed me from those terrible
handcuffs. His jacket had protected me from watchful eyes. And his levelheadedness had helped snap Nicholas
back to the present enough to take me home.
“Thank you, Julian. I mean it.”
Slowly, his arms came around my waist and he gently returned the hug.
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