Chapter 79
9:
Jessica is more conformed, but I can see the emotions brewing in her eyes.
Lucy pulls back and sniffs again. “I’m so sorry, Miss, I-”
I shake my head. “I’m going to miss you, too.”
“You’re more qualified to be a bride than any of those other girls,” Jessica says adamantly.
“Hey, I think I’m pretty qualified, too,” Eliza says softly from behind me, trying to lighten the mood.
Jessica blushes. “Of course, Miss. You, too, are an angel.”
Eliza waves her away. “I’m blushing.”
I laugh lightly, entering the room fully.
I look around the room at the three new friends I’ve made in this competition, and emotion threatens to choke me.
I know I hated it here for the first couple of days, and I wanted to leave countless times. Now that it’s a reality, I want to tie myself to a fixture and scream at anyone who tries to pull me away.
I take a deep breath. “Do you mind helping us pack?” I ask Jessica and Lucy.
A tear slides down Lucy’s face. “Of course,” Jessica answers.
I nod and turn to Eliza and June. “Think you guys can keep each other company? I need some fresh air.”
Eliza nods and wraps her arm around June. “Do what you have to do.”
I give her a grateful smile before leaving the room.
My steps are stiff as I walk through the house. The few girls I encounter shoot me sympathetic glances that I try my best to ignore. Only Jamie and Bea express any sadness at my elimination. I don’t know if they’re genuine, and I’m glad I at least no longer have to spend my days analyzing every interaction I have.
I leave the house and inhale the cool, fresh air as a slight breeze rolls over my skin.
I walk the familiar path to the garden pavilion, where June, Eliza, and I spent most of our free time.
Although the moon isn’t out, the twinkling lights strung all around make the space look ethereal. I sit in the same spot I was sitting when I met Eliza.
As that memory flits through my mind, a couple more follow it: the first day we were presented to the public, finding out that many of the common people rooted for me; the awe of living in a castle–like home for weeks; the surreal magic of designing my dress, the chaos of having it ruined, and then the wonder of fixing it; and the ball–dancing with Nathan and having Lily Ellington take an interest in me.
Will Lily even want to work with me now that the Ashfords have rejected me?
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14:54 Sat, Oct 4
Chapter 79
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A tear drops onto the back of my palm folded on the tabletop. At the sight of that one tear, the emotions bubble over, and a dam breaks
open.
I slap a hand over my mouth to muffle the gut–wrenching sobs coming out of me as tears spill down my eyes like rain.
My chest twists as I sob, alone in the pavilion where no one can see me and offer me useless words of comfort.
Because I don’t think I can ever be comforted.
It felt like all my dreams were coming true–the boy I loved since I was sixteen finally returned my feelings. He kissed me, held me in his arms, and declared he wanted to marry me.
Then he turned around and betrayed me.
I hear a branch snap and jump, snapping my head towards the sound. My chest tightens to the point of pain when I see who steps out into the light, almost as if he’s being conjured by my thoughts.
Nathan fucking Ashford.
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14:54 Sat, Oct 4
Winning the Heir Who Bullied Me
