Because my love had already died in the summer I turned seventeen.
Julian looked at me in disbelief. "Nina, what are you talking about?"
I repeated myself, enunciating every word clearly. "I said, I don't want to marry you."
As I turned to leave, he grabbed my hand. His tall figure completely enveloped me, while the surrounding crowd erupted into whispers.
"She's completely ungrateful, isn't she? Julian is the renowned Crown Prince of Meridia! He's got wealth, power, and looks."
"Is something wrong with her head or her eyes? If Julian gave me this chance, she wouldn't even be in the picture."
"Didn't Julian say a long time ago that he hated the good girl type? Being rejected by the very type he despises the most must be infuriating for him."
Julian was still asking, "Nina, were you
