Chapter 0289
“Don’t worry,” Mark told me. “I will not leave this room. Elva will not leave my sight.”
I nodded. That did make me feel marginally better.
We’d received word earlier in the day that Terry himself was coming to the palace to personally deliver the results
of his event. Since then, we’d mostly barricaded ourselves inside of the bedroom.
However, I was required to attend this meeting, which was to be treated as an official event, broadcasted live
across the kingdom.
I wasn’t looking forward to seeing Terry again, by any stretch. But at least, with Mark’s promise to protect Elva, I
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtdidn’t have to worry about her.
I hugged Elva goodbye.
“Good luck, Mommy!” she said brightly. Thank G od I had protected her from the worst of the trauma I had
experienced from Terry’s hands. I would rip the whole world apart before I ever let Terry enter within a hundred
feet of my daughter.
“Be good, Elva. Listen to Mark and the nanny.”
“I will.”
After one last squeeze, I released Elva and stood. Then I walked to the door, where Nicholas was waiting for me.
“Ready?” he asked, as I stepped into the hallway.
“Not really.” I didn’t think I’d ever be ready to see Terry again.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Nicholas said, determination making his voice strong. “I will be your shadow
tonight.”
“I’m sure you have other duties./”
“They can wait. Your safety takes precedence.”
With relief, I laced my arm with his and together, we walked down to the ballroom.
In the ballroom, the other candidates were already waiting around, while Nathan spoke with
a camera crew on a makeshift stage. Terry wasn’t there yet. Neither was the rest of the royal family.
Susie approached Nicholas and me when we entered. “Have you seen him yet?” she asked.
I shook my head.
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It was strange. Maybe it was the anticipation of seeing Terry, or the knowledge that he was in the same building, but
my nerves pri ckled since coming here. Even with Nichola s’s closeness, I could not release the tension of my
shoulders.
All too soon, Nathan cleared his throat and the event began. It felt more informal, compared to the rest. The
candidates were in our nice gowns, with our hair and makeup done in the modern fashion. But there were no other
guests, and no fanfare.
The royal family came in them, Terry among them, with Julian sauntering along behind.
When I saw Terry, my stomach clenched uncomfortably.