Winning the Heir Who Bullied Me Chapter 108

The next day, Eliza and I have our first fight.

It’s about who had the best date.

“You realize that you two essentially committed a felony, right?”

“And you two maimed a thirteen-year-old *on his birthday.*”

Eliza’s mouth drops open—and we burst into laughter.

A couple of the girls in the pavilion turn to us, their gazes curious and mildly annoyed.

But we don’t care. It’s like someone opened a bottle of champagne inside me, and the laughter bubbles out like effervescence.

Eliza sighs wistfully, laying her head against my shoulder. “He *likes* me, April.”

“I told you so,” I chuckle.

“Yes, but—” she grips my hand. “He talked about marriage and kids and the dynamics of parenting.”

“*Peter?*” I ask incredulously, unable to reconcile the wild, carefree manchild I know with the image of a responsible, family man.

She nods enthusiastically. “He wants to marry me, April.”

I bump my shoulder with hers. “As he should.”

“What are we talking about?”

Eliza and I look up as Lara slides onto the bench opposite us, looking gorgeous in a pale pink playsuit and huge Raybans pushing back her hair.

“Our dates,” Eliza giggles.

The megawatt smile that blooms on Lara’s face could power a small country for a whole year. “Did yours also end with you kicking your feet and dreaming about running through open fields?”

Eliza laughs. “Something like that.”

She glances around at the courtyard, taking in the girls. “Do you think they know?” She lowers her voice. “That they have no chance?”

In an ideal, perfect world, I would marry Nathan, Eliza would marry Peter and Lara…

I shake the thought away, along with the prickly feeling I get every time I think of Lara marrying Lucas.

“Ugh,” Eliza groans, pulling my attention back to her. “I’m so nervous about the last date selection.”

I nod. “Yeah. It sucked so bad when Nathan was out with Valerie.”

“Is it too much to hope they’ll pick us again?”

I snort. “I don’t think we could be that lucky.”

She sighs. “A girl can dream.”

“After we get married,” Lara says, “we could go on triple dates. Maybe weekly brunches.”

Eliza lets out a little squeal. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited for anything in my entire life.” She stretches a hand out to Lara as she grips mine. “I can’t wait to call you two sisters.”

Lara squeezes her hand. “I’ve always wanted sisters.”

I squeeze Eliza’s hand, too, even as my heart squeezes in my chest. Lara looks so content, so *happy.*

Like Eliza and me, she’s in love with her Ashford brother. Unlike Eliza and me, her Ashford brother has a tail and horns he keeps hidden from the world.

What if he reveals his monstrous proclivities after they're married? What if he hurts her? It would all be on me. She doesn’t know the truth. I should warn her. Maybe she can—

“April?”

I blink at both girls, who are staring at me in mild confusion and worry.

“You good?” Lara asks.

I let out a nervous, breathless laugh. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“Are you sure?” Eliza nudges me affectionately. “Tell us what’s on your mind.”

I should. I *really* should. But my tongue feels heavy, and my lips refuse to cooperate.

I shrug. “Like you said earlier, I’m nervous about the final selection.”

Lara smirks and leans in, gesturing for us to do the same. “Wanna know a little secret?” she asks, her eyes twinkling.

“Oooh, spill,” Eliza says.

“For the final dates, the heirs are choosing themselves.”

“Seriously?!” Eliza’s exclamation attracts more annoyed glances, and Lara hisses, “Shhhh.”

“Sorry,” Eliza stage whispers. “*Seriously?*”

Lara nods.

Excitement flutters in my belly. The heirs are choosing this time. Nathan is going to call my name out, and it won’t be to eliminate me.

“Ugh, I can’t wait!”

As if the universe is attuned to Eliza and her desires, a maid steps out into the pavilion to politely inform us that the selections for this evening’s dates will hold in thirty minutes.

Eliza is so excited, I fear she’ll burst with excitement.

“I have to go pee,” she announces. “If I don’t do it now, I’ll do it when Peter calls out my name.”

Lara and I burst into laughter as Eliza scurries away.

I start a little when Lara takes my hand. “I’m glad you’re going to be with Nathan,” she says, her smile melding into something sincere. “You two are perfect for each other.”

I blush. “You only saw us in the closet that one time.”

She scoffs. “You forget that I know him almost as well as I know Lucas. Nate’s reserved and withdrawn to the point where he comes off as stoic. But inside, he’s a lonely, lost boy who needs someone’s hand to hold. That someone is you, babe.”

My mouth drops open. Not at her interpretation of Nathan, but at how *accurate* it is. If she sees Nathan so well, why can’t she see Lucas?

The question dances in my mind as we stand, Lara’s hand still in mine, and head to the ballroom.

The buzz of the final selection is in the air. So far, only Lara, Eliza, Valerie, Jamie, Bea, and I have been chosen. Leaving Savannah, Rachel, and Willow.

But if what Lara said earlier is true—and God, I hope it is—the three of them are practically out of the running. Performative contestants, as Easton so eloquently put it.

And after the heirs make their picks tonight, even Jamie, Valerie, and Bea won’t matter much anymore.

I can’t bring myself to feel bad for them. This isn’t just any contest. It’s my future and that of two girls who are quickly becoming everything to me.

“Today,” Easton starts without preamble, “the selections will not be random. The Ashford heirs themselves will pick the girls with whom they want to date.”

A ripple of excited whispers runs through the crowd as Lara, Eliza, and I exchange a giddy, conspiratorial look.

I glance up at the stage to see Nathan looking at me, his lips twitching like he’s engaged in the fight of his life against a smile.

More than the eliminations, which showed who the heirs weren’t really feeling, this selection is a statement: *“Out of all the girls here, I like you. I choose you.*”

I wonder what everyone will think when Nathan calls out my name, selecting me just like he eliminated me.

At least we have a dramatic story to tell our kids and grandkids one day. The thought sends a spiral of happiness through me. Just like that day when I watched him with June, I imagine what our kids would be like—little green-eyed angels with blonde hair or grey-eyed cuties with curly brown hair? Will they take his natural talent for sports or my eye for design? Will they be shy or outspoken? How many will we have? I think I want two—a boy and a girl, but if Nathan wants more, I don’t—

“April Farrah.”

My heart skips a beat as I snap out of my reverie. My smile is automatic as I look up at Nathan, who—

Who is looking at Lucas, his face tight with shock and rage.

And Lucas…

Lucas is looking at me, his lips quirked into a private smile, like he and I are sharing an inside joke.

I don’t understand what’s happening.

I glance at Eliza and Lara. Eliza is stunned, confused.

Lara looks…betrayed.

“I—”

“I choose April Farrah,” Lucas repeats, and understanding dawns on me like a scalding shower of acid rain.

I’m going on a date with Lucas Ashford.