Chapter 0579
Chapter 0579
Julian glanced back at me. I gave him the best calming look I could muster. He closed his eyes and inhaled a deep breath in through the mouth, out through the nose.
"You had better listen to her, Julian," Bridget said. "Calm yourself and act like a gentleman to me for a change." Julian's calm face hardened once more. He opened his eyes and glared at Bridget.
"You wouldn't want to be cruel to me. After all, I know certain secrets about you that you wouldn't want others... like, your brother... to know."NôvelDrama.Org holds text © rights.
"You don't know anything," Julian growled. Though we all knew that wasn't true.
After all, Bridget knew that Julian had a crush on me, something that Julian later admitted to me was true. If she told Nicholas that... Would it start a war between the brothers? How would that possibly resolve?
I cared for both the brothers. The last thing in the entire world I wanted was for the two of them to ruin their relationship with each other because of their feelings for me.
"Back off, Bridget," I snapped. I gently shoved against Nicholas's chest. He reluctantly loosened his hold so that I could sit up straight on my own.
"If you want me to stay quiet on this, then you should accept my apology," Bridget said. She smiled sharply. "We wouldn't want Nicholas to get the wrong idea."
"If my brother wants me to know his secrets," Nicholas said. "He can very well tell me himself. I certainly don't need to have some middleman trying to lord things over us." Nicholas was getting angry now. Though his Alpha rage was gone, he was still tense as a taut bow string.
"You aren't the first person who tried to sew discord between us,* Nicholas continued. "Nor will you be the last. But to think you might actually succeed where all the others have failed speaks to your hubris. Piper will not be hearing your words now, neither will I, or my brother."
Bridget's eyes went wide. Her mouth opened, slacked.
Julian smirked. He leaned toward Bridget. "That's your cue to leave."
Bridget snapped her mouth closed.
From the dock, one of the crew yelled, "It's safe now. You can all depart!"
Bridget huffed, and turned from us. She stormed her way downstairs.
Jessica groaned as she stood and followed. Veronica stood as well. She looked between the two princes and myself, and said, "I'll see you ashore."
I wanted to be off this ship, but the air between the three of us remaining felt charged beyond belief. Julian was the one setting the tone. Nicholas had told off Bridget on his defense but he still lingered. Guilt weighed heavily on his face.
"You don't have to say anything," Nicholas said. He knew Julian even better than I, sometimes.
"I don't want her to be able to have this thing that she can use to hurt us," Julian said. "You're right, I'd rather tell you myself."
I sucked in a shaky breath.
"It has taken time," Nicholas said, "but we have both come to see Bridget for the person that she truly is. Whatever lies she tells -*
"I'm afraid it wouldn't be a lie this time," Julian said. "That's why I have to tell you. Here. Now. You can punch me if you want, but the truth will be out there and that's that, for better or worse."
My heart raced out of control, I didn't know what I could say to help this situation.
"Julian, you don't have to -" Nicholas began.
"I romantically like Piper," Julian said.
Nicholas's mouth snapped closed.