Chapter 0140
As Linda dived at me, knife first, both Julian and Nicholas moved at once.
Nicholas ran at me. He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me toward him, shielding me behind his body.
Julian, meanwhile, went straight for Linda. He grabbed Linda’s wrist and twisted. The knife clattered
down onto the floor.
“Someone get Joseph the hell back in here!” Julian shouted at one of the guards. They ran out of the room, doing as
commanded. The others closed in around Linda.
Disarmed, she shrank in on herself, seemingly realizing what she had done. Her eyes were wide and vacant. Tears streamed
down her face.
Nicholas eased me back, though he kept his hands on my shoulders.
“Are you okay?” he asked me.
“Yes.” That knife never had a chance to reach me with both brothers moving as if in tandem.
Still, Nicholas checked me over, dropping his gaze down the length of my body.
“No one likes Piper, but to actually try to kill her?” whispered one girl to another.
“It’s too far,” said another.
When the danger had passed, and Nicholas released me, Susie rushed to my side.
“Piper!”
“I’m okay,” I promised her. I waved out my arms so she could see for herself.
“What happened?” Susie looked at Nicholas. “Why would Linda do that?”
Nicholas set his jaw. “Some nobles don’t know how to lose.”
“Linda,” Julian said, loud and authoritative. It was unusual to see Julian take anything seriously, but right.
now, he looked absolutely furious, glaring down at where Linda whimpered. “For attempting to murder a
fellow candidate, you are disqualified from the competition.”
“But...” She spoke weakly. Even she must have known that she had no defense. Everyone in the room
had seen her in the act.
When Joseph finally returned to the room, his eyes sunken in rage, Julian directed him to escort Linda
This is, of course, assuming Piper does not wish to press charges,” Julian said, looking at me. “What she has done is worthy of
jail time, Piper.”
I considered it. Linda had certainly treated me terribly, and now this final act of terror. But, even so, if I wished to press charges, it
would extend into a court hearing. Even though I would likely win, I really just wanted this entire situation to go away.
Holding Julian’s gaze, I shook my head a little. He seemed to understand.
“Take her away,” Julian said to the guards.
“You continue to be a weak–willed little mouse. You can dress yourself up in silks and satins, but you will always be common
underneath,” Linda said, finally finding her voice. “How dare you act like you are so far above me?! Piper, you absolutely
coward!”
I stepped into the way of the guards, forcing them to stop, and for Linda to face me.
“Do not confuse kindness for cowardice,” I told her.
She glared at me. “Kindness will never earn you Luna.”
“So be it,” I said, then stepped out of the way again.
The guards pushed Linda forward. “Go on.”
When she was cleared from the room, I waited for a bit, not wanting to feel like I was following her out
into the hallway. Susie and Nicholas kept me company. Julian, too, when he was done being authoritative.
He came to my side with his usual smile and swagger. “Did you see the show I put on?” he asked with a
wink.
I rolled my eyes, playing along.
Truthfully though, inside I was shaken. Even if she had been flimsy with that knife, unlikely to cause major damage, she had still
attempted it. She had meant to kill me.
I’d had people hate me before. I’d also weathered my fair share of threats in the service industry. But it
was one thing for people to talk, and quite another for them to pick up a knife and charge at me with it.