Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 102

Chapter 102

Lillian’s POV

Days passed.

Grayson and I were cordial, but distant, only talking about important things, never touching. Things had been okay, but I struggled to contain my embarrassment around him, knowing how I acted. How I wanted to act again.

Distance was for the best.

With my title as Luna Princess intact, the invitations to ladies’ events picked up again. Josephine returned from her trip with lots of stories, and I was suddenly busy again.

At every event, I hoped to grow closer to the Gamma matriarch and her daughter, but they were difficult to approach, and not just because they were often absent. Even Josephine said, “Making conversation with them is like trying to get blood from a stone.”

At today’s brunch, I sat with Josie and Clara, watching as the other women congratulated my sister Maren on her recent engagement to Calvin.

Maren was beaming, happy to be the center of the attention. That was the spot she always felt she belonged the

most.

Josie watched me from across the table, like she was expecting a reaction.

“I’m fine,” I told her.

“Admittedly,” Clara added, “You don’t seem happy about this. Maren is your sister right?”

“Half-sister,” I said.

“Lily used to date Calvin, the fiancé,” Josie said.

“Date is not the term I’d use,” I said. “I was his little fool. When I wouldn’t give him what he wanted, he went somewhere else.” I gestured to Maren. “Though I suspect that wasn’t the only reason.”

Calvin and I never really had much in common. He was handsome and giving me attention I never had before. I shifted myself, wedging myself into the person I had thought he wanted, the perfect angel, always obedient, always doing the things he wanted. I never raised my voice. Never let my real self show.

“What did he want?” Clara said.

Josie and I both gave her a look.

“Oh…” Clara said. Her face scrunched. “What an asshole.”

“That’s only the start of it,” I said.

“Men are pigs,” Josie said. “I’m thinking of being single forever.” Lowering her voice, she said, “Don’t tell my father.”

“Well, you have Grayson now anyway,” Clara said to me. “You don’t need Calvin.”

“I never did,” I said. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy that he’s moving on. I’m just… the past leaves a sour taste in my mouth. And my sister…”

I looked back at Maren, who was grinning ear to ear, but her eyes were haunted.

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“I have no great love for Maren. We were never close. She only ever bullied me, but…” I sighed. “Knowing how Calvin is, is it wrong that I feel bad for her?”

“No,” Josie said. “That’s what makes you a good person.” Josie’s face also held sympathy. “Are you sure she knows the type of man he is? I didn’t with Piers, or at least I ignored it until it was almost too late. I’d hate to think of someone else caught in the net like I was.”

“I think she knows,” I said. “Or she’s done a heck of a job convincing herself. I don’t think there’s anything anyone could say to talk her out of this now.”

The ring on Maren’s finger was big and sparkly. She purposefully waved it around as she talked to her admirers, showing it off.

I had no love for Maren, but I still hoped she knew what she was doing. Calvin was a brute, a cheat, and a liar. I dodged many bullets in escaping him. It hurt to think that Maren might be running straight into the gunfire,

Our tea was low, so one of the servants picked up the teapot and started to pour.

“Well, she looks happy,” Clara said. “A smile that big has to be real, right?”

“Maybe Calvin will be true to her,” Josie said, hopeful. “Maybe he’ll love her the right way.”

The servant’s hand shook, and she accidentally spilled the tea. “I’m so sorry,” she said at once, and hurried to clean the spot on the tablecloth with her apron. In doing so, because her hands were shaking so much, she only proceeded to make things worse.

“It’s okay,” Josie said quickly, softly. “There’s no need to worry.”

“I’ll get a towel,” the maid said, stumbling back. She accidentally bumped into Ophelia, who spilled some of the tea she had been about to sip.

Seeing it was a servant who had disturbed her, Ophelia jumped to her feet. “What do you think you are doing?”

“I’m sorry!” the servant said, wincing. She stepped back, wrapping her arms around her waist almost… protectively.

I glanced at Clara, who gave me a similar knowing look.

The maid backed away. “I’ll get a few towels,” she said and then fled the room.

Ophelia watched her go before sitting down. To her table, she said, “What was that all about?”

“Good help is hard to find these days,” one of her lackeys replied.

I looked from Clara to Josie. “Did that seem to you…?”

“She was overly nervous,” Josie said.

“She protected her stomach,” Clara whispered. “Like she was… protecting a pregnancy.’

“The maids can’t be pregnant,” Josie said. “Matrons don’t have the same duties.”

“Unless she’s unmarried,” Clara said.

“Which could explain her nervousness,” I said, but then shook my head. “Does anyone know that maid well?”

“Only in passing,” Clara said. “Her name is Ivory, I think. But she’s very sweet. Always courteous, and even gets me extra strawberries at dessert because she knows I like them.” She leaned forward. “Do you think she’s in

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trouble?”

“I don’t know,” I said. We all shared a look of concern.

“We should check on her,” Josie said. Before we could, Ivory returned with two towels. She cleaned the messes as best she could, all while giving Maren and her group a wide berth.

She only finished cleaning just as the event was about to end. By then, Josephine’s princess duties had called her to be sociable with other tables, but Clara was still with me.

“I still want to speak with Ivory,” I said. I’d kept my eye on her for the rest of the event, and noticed how distant she was acting, standing near the door, continually checking the clock.

“I’ll go with you,” Clara said. “She’s familiar with me.”

“Thanks,” I said, and we stood.

Ivory stepped into the hallway and we followed her, hoping to catch her alone. Yet, when we stepped into the hallway, we saw her walking very briskly away.

After a quick glance between Clara and me, we took off after her, hastily following behind her but at a distance we

remained unseen.

A bad feeling started creeping over me. I had thought Ivory would go to the servants’ area after finishing her event duties. Instead, she seemed to be running straight for the guest rooms.

Finally she stopped in front of a door. Clara nearly ran into the hallway after her, but I stopped her just in time and gestured for her to stand near me in the hallway.

Ivory pounded on the door harder, almost desperately.

The door opened, and a familiar man leaned into the hallway.

“I had to see you,” Ivory said.

“I already know what you want,” Calvin grinned. He reached around her, grabbed her by the backside and pulled her against him.

Kissing, they disappeared into the room.

Aurora Starling Author

I’ve been working really hard lately and posting lots of updates. I hope my readers will spoil me with lots of love~

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