Chapter 0242 

Beside me, Elva yawned. “I’m tired, Mommy.” 

I immediately crouched down beside her. I touched my hand to her forehead, but I didn’t feel a fever. Still, my nerves were frayed and I couldn’t help but worry. “Do you feel hot?” 

“No. Just sleepy.” She rubbed at one eye. 

I hated to leave early. We really needed this victory to stay in the competition. The stakes were so much higher now that I knew the underground organization had their sights on me and Elva. The minute we 

stepped foot off the palace grounds, we’d likely be snatched up. 

But I couldn’t chance Elva’s health. She’d been doing so well since she started receiving regular 

treatments. I wouldn’t dare risk taking her heath any steps in the wrong direction. 

“Honey, do you want to go  Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“There you are, Piper.” 

A shiver rattled my bones. I knew that voice. I dreaded that voice. 

I looked up and Terry was beside us, standing too close, peering down with the eyes of a viper. 

“A pleasant picture, seeing you on your knees,” Terry said. He smirked, but the joy of it did not extend 

beyond his l*ps. 

“A vile thing to say in front of a child.” I pushed myself up to my feet, then ushered Elva behind me. 

“I meant it innocently, I assure you.” 

I hadn’t needed Julian’s mental self–defense lessons to know that was a lie. 

“But is that anyway to greet me?” Terry continued. His gaze narrowed slightly, like a predator eyeing his 

prey. “After all, we are such good friends now that you feel comfortable visiting unannounced. I only 

wished I knew you were coming. I would have prepared one of the cells for you.” 

He was needling me, trying to get a reaction. I had to stay calm, as Julian had helped me train. I couldn’t 

let him get to me. Only if I was calm, could I poke back. 

“You had your hands full, as I recall,” I said, attempting a sneer. 

Something sparked in his eye, a flicker of fire. “Yes. I did.” 

I tasted bile. 

This wasn’t going to work. I didn’t want to go toe to toe with Terry. I didn’t want to even be in the same room as him. But I especially didn’t want to talk about my sister somewhere Elva could overhear. 

You shouldn’t expect a return visit,” I said, struggling to maintain my composure. I was proud when my voice didn’t waver. “That path has been permanently sealed.” 

It was a bluff. The secret tunnel might have been sealed but I already knew Terry had brought Piper back into the house through some other means. Unfortunately, I couldn’t call him out on it and press for more 

information. Not with Elva in earshot. 2 

Just then, Elva peered around my shirt to look up at Terry. 

Terry flashed her a crooked grin. 

Elva gasped and returned to hiding behind me. 

“Why don’t you just go?” I said. “I’m sure many other women would be interested in speaking with you 

tonight.” 

His smile turns cruel. 

I wanted to run from him. To take Elva, and fly to an entirely different continent if I had to. Whatever it 

took to get away from him and keep him away. 

Terry leered openly at my barely–exposed cleavage. He licked his l*ps. 

“Oh, Piper. Don’t you know? I’m a benefactor tonight. And as a benefactor, it is my obligation to speak 

with each and every candidate, including you. Such a lovely little practice, isn’t it? A bit of money, and I 

get what I want?” 

I swallowed the rising lump in my throat. “You donate the money to charity,” I said. “You don’t get 

anything.” 

“I get time with you,” he said. 

“That time is up.” 

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