Everlastingly Loving You - Chapter 54

Just as she was about to stab Bartholomew in the throat, just as she was about to obtain the title of murderer and killer of King Bartholomew, she heard someone yell, “Stop!”

She halted in her tracks.

As if she’d been hit by realization itself, she quickly realized what’d stopped her, or rather… who.

“And why the hell not?” Sophia demanded, not turning to face him.

Without answering Sophia’s initial question, Nicholas told her, “Don’t.”

“Don’t make yourself a killer for someone like him.”

Getting Sophia’s silence as his answer, he continued.

“He’s not worth it.”

“Windsor, you’re better than that.”

Sophia turned around slowly, facing Nicholas and looking him directly in the eye.

Looking him in the eye, she felt like some monster. She felt as though it wasn’t Bartholomew who had done something sinister and outright wrong, but her instead.

She inhaled sharply.

Nicholas looked her up and down as a reply.

“You and I both know you can’t be told anything or ordered around.”

“All I’m trying to do is help you come to your own senses.”

“Deep down, you know this is wrong.”

“And yet, on the surface, you act as though it isn’t.”

Sophia raised her brow, “And how would you know that, you barely know me.”

She wouldn’t realize how incredibly wrong she was.

“I know you well enough,” Nicholas reasoned.

“And I’m telling you all this, and reasoningwith you to not… kill him for Julia, Louis, and Clarisse’s sake.”

“But most importantly, I’m pleading with you not to for your own sake.”

“Do you truly want to make yourself out to be a cold-blooded killer?” He reasoned.

“It’s a title you’ll ever be able to rid yourself of,” Nicholas added.

Sophia blinked.

Even if she would never admit it, Nicholas was right.

Why’d she make herself a killer for someone as undeserving as Barry?

He’d receive punishment from a much higher power, and if it meant he’d be left in the dungeons for the rest of his life to rot and eventually die, or him being executed… Barry would get what he deserved, in the worst way possible.

Sophia bit her lip.

“You two lovebirds done talking?” Bartholomew asked. He hadn’t moved since Sophia had him cornered, but he was rather insulted upon hearing what Nicholas had to say about him, that and how it was two to one. Either way, he’d meet his demise, it was up to him which he would much rather suffer.

With a new glow to her, Sophia turned back, facing Barry once again. She glared at him for a few seconds.

She then rolled her eyes and inhaled sharply.

She didn’t speak, instead raising her knife.

Nicholas sighed, he’d tried talking her out of it, but whatever she chose to do, it was her decision and completely up to her.

Sophia aimed her knife, causing Barry to shut his eyes. This was the end for him.

Frightened, he couldn’t manage to say a word. He cursed himself for not choosing to escape whilst the two royals were chatting, at least he could’ve had a shot at leaving the gardens alive.

Sophia then striked, purposely missing.

She hurled the knife towards Barry, but he oddly didn’t feel any pain.

“Argh!” He yelled.

__

Sophia opened her eyes. She was no longer in the palace gardens.

Her eyes dilated.

‘It… it was all a dream,’ she murmured.

She cursed.

‘Of course it was,’ she muttered under her breath. Just great.

Peering around, she realized she was in a hospital suite, on a hospital bed. Louis was by her bed, asleep.

With a hoarse voice, she called, “Lou.”

“Lou,” she repeated.

What did it take to simply wake her brother up?

“Wake up,” she said, poking her brother with her free hand.

Louis arose from his short nap.

He opened one eye.

“What?” He mumbled, still half-asleep.

He’d been dead tired, worrying about his sister for the past weeks.

He opened his other eye, before his eyes widened.

“You’re awake!” Louis exclaimed in astonishment.

Sophia retorted, sounding just as shocked, “And so are you.”

Louis’ forehead creased. He frowned.

“Could you quit joking for a second, I was so worried,” Louis said.

“One moment you’re telling me you’re leaving for Sanguis and the next, I get a call from Nick telling me you’re in the hospital after you were shot with a poisonous bullet. You were unconscious for what seemed like forever, sister.”

She croaked, “Nicholas… called you?”

Louis facepalmed.

“Is that seriously what you’re bothered about most?” He inquired.

“Nicholas, of all people?”

Sophia blinked.

“Of course not,” she said, her voice low and hoarse.

“I suppose Clarisse’s stuck in Beldovia?” She asked Louis.

Louis nodded.

Sophia pursed her lips.

She then noticed a load of floral arrangements on the suite floor. She was taken aback. Who…

With a stutter in her voice, she tried her best to string a line of coherent words, “W-who…”

“Who else,” Louis said, he strangely didn’t seem too annoyed over them.

“Grandmere…?” Sophia asked.

Louis furrowed his brows.

“She’s your first guess?” He asked.

He facepalmed.

“Sis.”

“It was that boyfriend of yours,” he said mockingly.

“Nicholas sent those?” Sophia squeaked. Her heart palpitated.

What else could she say, she was in utter shock.

He had the decency to send her flowers? What else did he do, check on her to see if she was okay?

She then remembered Nicholas had mentioned giving each other meaningful gifts for the ruse. Her mood soured. She’d momentarily forgotten about the ruse, only to remember it minutes later.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” she murmured aloud, correcting Louis.

Louis sighed, “You keep saying that, dear sister.”

He patted Sophia’s hand.

“Honestly.”

“I’m just glad you’re alright,” he admitted, to which Sophia responded with a tiny smile.

“Me too, Lou. Me too.”

A banging sound came from the door, catching both Sophia and Louis’ attention.

Sophia began, “Who-”

Before she was interrupted by a loud thudding sound she heard before the door swung open seconds later.