Chapter 78
For a brief second, I forget that my name is April Farrah. I glance around, looking for the girl Nathan just eliminated.
Then, my gaze lands on Eliza, and I catch the tears glistening in her eyes as she bites her wobbling lip. Something thuds in my stomach.
I’m eliminating April Farrah.
My head snaps back to the stage, my eyes wide. Nathan is already stepping back, his head bowed.
What the fuck?
Something lodges in my throat, and it feels like the only way to dislodge it is to scream. And scream. And scream.
But I can’t do anything. I can’t move–or squeeze June’s hand back when my little sister tries to offer me a semblance of comfort.
My brain is lagging, and information is not quite processing right.
I’m eliminating April Farrah.
Are those words even English?
Easton returns to the center stage and says curtly, “Rachel Timmons, Gracie Storm, and April Farrah“-why the hell is my name there? —“you have this evening to say your goodbyes and pack your things. Vehicles will arrive tomorrow morning to take you back to your residences. That is all; enjoy your dinner.”
The girls around explode into a flurry of movement, consoling Gracie and Rachel. This time, at least, Valerie pretends to care about her eliminated minion, even though I can bet my right hand that she’s the one who told Gracie to push Eliza.
“Oh, April,” Eliza says softly, a tear sliding down her cheek as she hugs me. For the first time since we’d been calling each other sister- wives, the idea actually felt tangible, but now that’s history.
I don’t hug her back. I’m still frozen, staring over her shoulder at the brothers on stage–at Nathan.
As Easton walks off, Peter turns to Nathan and smacks his arm, whispering something to him furiously.
Lucas pays them no attention and descends the stairs, disappearing through the door closest to the stage.
‘I stare at Nathan, who barely pays Peter any mind, his head still bowed. I’m trying to figure out what the fuck just happened.
How can he eliminate me after last night? After this morning?
You’re the only one I want to marry.
He said that to me less than twelve hours ago, and now…this?
“April,” Eliza says softly as she pulls away. “Do you want to get dinner?”
I blink. Food? How am I supposed to eat when it feels like someone took a blender to my internal organs?
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14:54 Sat, Oct 4
Chapter 78
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I glance down at June, who still has a hand in mine. Her face is contorted in confusion, and I wonder if she feels as hurt as I do. She loves It here, and she loves Nathan. He’s betrayed both of us.
“Yeah, dinner.” I squeeze June’s hand and force a smile I definitely don’t feel. “Come on, Summer. Let’s stuff our faces with all the goodies one last time, yeah?”
Her lower lip wobbles, but she returns my smile. “Yeah, okay.”
As we walk out of the ballroom, I turn around one last time. Nathan’s head is up, and our eyes meet. Something shudders in my chest at the look in them–blank, unrecognizing. Like that first day on the terrace.
He says he fell for me at that moment, so maybe I shouldn’t read into the look. But I can’t help feeling like just as it was what welcomed me, it’s what’s bidding me goodbye.
Jessica and Lucy are waiting for us in the room after dinner.
“Miss April!” Lucy gasps and pulls me into a hug before I’ve even stepped across the threshold into my room.
The emotions I held throughout dinner threaten to burst as I wrap my arms around the maid. The fact that she didn’t want to be assigned to me when we first came, and now she’s sobbing softly against my shoulder at the knowledge of my impending departure makes me realize just how much of an impact I’ve had on this place—and that it has had on me.
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14:54 Sat, Oct 4
Winning the Heir Who Bullied Me
