Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 85

Chapter 85

By the afternoon, I was due for tea with Josephine, so I left the room and went about my business. Though the thrum of embarrassment stayed in my veins. For now, I tried to ignore it.

Walking into the sitting room, I saw Josephine sitting at one of the small tables near the window. Others were there, the usual crowd of noble ladies who attended these events, including Ophelia and her lackeys. gave them a wide berth on my way to Josephine’s table:

As I sat down, Josephine immediately leaned forward. Her gaze flittered over me, first with concern, then with excitement. “Did you really get attacked? Tell me everything!”

I glanced behind us, where Ophelia and her lackeys sat at the slightly larger table, watching us.

“It’s a long story,” I said to Josie, who followed the trail of my gaze.

Lowering her voice to a whisper, she asked, “Ophelia was involved?”

At that moment, Clara appeared in the door. She started to walk in, but then paused, glancing between the spare chair at Ophelia’s table, and the one at table with Josephine and me. Clara swallowed hard, then tucked her chin to her chest, and walked quickly past Ophelia’s table to come to ours. She sat down in that open seat.

Josephine looked at her with surprise but kindness.

Ophelia was on her feet in an instant and came to stand beside our table. “Why would you choose to sit here, Clara? You’ve always sat with us.”

“You know why,” Clara said.

“Because you are a traitor. A betrayer. I’d watch out if I were you, Princess, Clara here is not someone to be trusted. In fact, I am going to start trying to push her and her parents out of court.”

Josie looked between the two with intrigue.

“Clara isn’t the traitor,” I said, unable to stand for this. I knew Ophelia was behind the attack on my life, even if I couldn’t prove it yet.

“Watch your words, Lillian,” Ophelia said. “You wouldn’t want to say something you’d regret.”

“You should watch your actions,” I said. “You’ve already done things you will regret.”

Ophelia huffed a harsh breath. “That remains to be seen.” Her gaze slid back to Clara. “You are no longer welcomed at my table, Clara. And you should count your days at court. I have influence.”

“Not as much influence as I do,” Josie said. “And no one is getting kicked out if Lily says they don’t need to be.”

Ophelia’s hard gaze sliced to me. “You think highly of yourself, don’t you? Because Grayson felt bad for you and made you his mate. But the sooner you face the facts, the better. Do you really think he loves you? How could he? You are nobody. A burden. He’ll cut you out of his life before long, and you’ll deserve it.”

“That’s enough, Ophelia,” Josie said.

“My apologies to you and you alone, Josephine,” Ophelia said. “If you will excuse me.” She turned and returned to her own table.

Josie gave Clara and me apologetic looks. “She really isn’t so bad most of the time. She’s always been protective of Grayson.”

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Chapter 85

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Josephine could laugh off Ophelia’s words, but I couldn’t. And not just because of the threat she posed.

Maybe she was right about Grayson. He had touched me intimately, but that didn’t require love. Maybe he would never love me.

My chest clenched at the thought, and I condemned it.

What did I care what he thought? I didn’t need or want him to love me. This situation had only ever been a match of convenience for us both.

I never expected him to love me.

I never wanted that…

I didn’t need that.

Yet, the more I tried to convince myself, the more the doubts crept inside of me and took hold.

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