Chapter 0528

Bridget’s words stuck with me more than I wanted them to. As I rested in bed that night, I stared at the ceiling replaying everything that happened — not just last night with Bridget, but every time I had been with Nicholas before. Where had Elva been? Had she noticed any of my behavior? I didn’t think myself a whore for spending intimate time with the man that I adored, but that wasn’t necessarily an aspect I wanted Elva to see and learn and think acceptable.

When it came to be morning again, I think I had slept for maybe an hour or two total. Elva was fully rested and excited, bouncing out of bed at the first sign of light. She talked and talked about the merfolk children and how much fun she had. It was endearing and sweet, but I was very tired.

Still, I tried to be as attentive as I could. I rolled out of bed and made my way over to the dresser to pick out our day clothes. As soon as I opened a drawer, Elva switched her topic of conversation and said, “I knew someone was in here yesterday.”

My hand stopped halfway to the drawer with Elva’s shirts. I looked at her. She was serious.

“How?” I asked.

“They knocked over that pot,” Elva said, pointing to a decorative set of vases on top of the dresser. And yes, she was right, one of the vases had been knocked over and then not set correctly. Neither Elva nor I had done that, and Charlotte certainly would have fixed it if she had done it.

No, the person who had knocked over that vase must have been in a hurry.

Perhaps searching through the drawers for my swimsuits.

We knew someone must have come in here to steal my things, so it wasn’t providing any new information to point out that mistake of our thief.

However, for Elva to have noticed it before me rattled me. I always knew she was observant and smart, but to have this reminder so soon after Bridget’s words...

Maybe Elva did notice the nights I didn’t come home, or came home late.

out all night with a man that you weren’t committed to. A man who had several other women vying for his attention. | | | I

hurt I feel, being so closed to the man I admired while knowing it was doomed to fail. I wanted Elva to only know love and want and affection. 1 | I shook my head, clearing my worries away. Someday, when Elva was old enough to date, I would sit her down and explain most of what happened here

So rather than focusing on that, I needed

we were both awake and there was still no sign of Charlotte. On a normal day, she would have been here by

been missing yesterday too. I wondered if she was sick, but I worried

wanted me to miss the merfolk banquet, enough to sneak into my room, steal my swimsuits and turn off my alarm. To achieve their success, they would have also

wasn’t willing to take the chance

nanny arrived, I kissed Elva on the forehead, promised we’d reconnect later to make sandcastles, and then

a sturdy arm wrapped around

“Careful,” Nicholas lightly chided.

blush touched

then turned

your orders,” Nicholas

once more, and then dipped his head forward, suggesting

I asked, “Did you bring on

guard your door at all times,” Nicholas

three separate guards on rotation, who will protect you and

in my room,

the stairs, he stopped walking and faced

I was not ready to process yet, I said quickly, “Have you seen Charlotte?” He opened his

tilted his expression. “No,” he

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