?Chapter 501:


    Jaxen had only wanted to clear his mind with a quick walk downstairs. But as soon as he opened his door, something stopped him in his tracks—Katelyn, locked in a deep conversation with another man. He wasn’t close enough to hear everything, but one word hit him like a punch—”Proposal.”


    Jaxen blinked, trying to process what he had just heard. How much attention was Katelyn getting? She had only been in Yata for a few days, and already someone was asking for her hand.


    This was a problem. He had to let Vincent know immediately. Maybe this would finally prompt him to make a move. If not, someone else could swoop in and snatch Katelyn right from under his nose, and Vincent would be left sulking, single again.


    Jaxen quickly shut the door and sent Vincent a message. “Mayday! Mayday! Bad news!”


    Katelyn wasn’t fooled by Bartley’s tone. There was something more in his words—a warning, maybe even a threat. Her expression hardened, a coldness settling in her eyes. “So, after everything you’ve said, what you really want is the castle,” she said, her voice sharp and frosty.


    Bartley’s tone shifted, adopting a more conciliatory note. “There’s no need to be so defensive. Think of me as a partner. Together, we can protect the treasure beneath the castle. Sounds like a good deal, right? Vincent might be powerful, but this is Yata, not Granville.”


    Katelyn’s mouth curved into a sarcastic smile. “Let me guess. This is the part where you tell me that choosing you is the smartest move I could’ve made, isn’t it?”


    Bartleyughed awkwardly, trying to ease the tension. “Look, if marriage isn’t what you’re after, that’s no problem. We can keep this strictly business. But when ites to the treasure under the castle… I expect my cut. Half, at least.”


    There it was. His real purpose was finally clear. It had always been about the treasure—the legendary fortune hidden beneath Earl Poulos’ castle.<fnf547> Chapters first released on find·novel</fnf547>


    Chapter updates at g??ln ov els.????????


    Katelyn raised an eyebrow, a sly smile creeping across her face.


    “Come closer,” she said, her voice low and teasing. “I’ve got a little secret for you.”


    Bartley’s eyes lit up, the thrill of the moment flickering in them. He was certain that Katelyn was far too clever to turn down an offer like this. There was no way she’d let such a big opportunity slip by. What Bartley didn’t seeing, however, was how, as Katelyn’s smile widened, her actions grew more determined.


    Just as he basked in his own satisfaction, Katelyn struck. She didn’t hesitate. With a swift motion, she mmed her foot down onto his, a sharp stomp, and then followed with a quick punch straight into his gut, knocking the wind out of him.


    She’d been waiting for this moment for a long time.


    Even though she didn’t have much love for Elora, she couldn’t stand seeing another woman tormented by someone like Bartley—a man who treated women as trophies to show off.


    Bartley’s face twisted in pain as he staggered back, clearly shocked by her strength. How was she that strong?


    Katelyn’s eyes gleamed with triumph, and her voice dripped with sarcasm as she looked down at him. “That punch was a lesson. Try messing with me again, and next time, I’ll aim for your face.” With that, she mmed the door shut, not sparing him another nce.


    As for Bartley’s so-called “business deal,” Katelyn couldn’t have cared less. Whatever he thought he was offering, she wasn’t interested.


    Unbeknownst to her, Jaxen had been nearby, quietly watching. He had just snapped a picture of her and Bartley standing close together. The way the doorframe cut into the image made it appear more intimate than it actually was. From this angle, anyone would think they were about to kiss.


    Jaxen grinned as he admired his work. Without wasting any time, he quickly sent the picture to Vincent.


    “Told ya! It was disastrous.”


    At that very moment, in a private hospital suite across town in Yata, the sound of breaking ss and crashing objects echoed through the halls.


    Elora, barefoot and wild-eyed, was in the middle of another fit. Her face burned with anger as she threw anything she could grab to the floor.


    “How dare you treat me like this?!” she shouted, her voice shaking with rage. “I’m the princess here! Let me out!” Her screaming grew louder with every word. “Bring me Katelyn! I’ll tear her face apart! She’s the reason I’m stuck in this…”


    “ce! She’s ruined my life!” Elora screamed, her voice breaking as she paced the room like a caged animal, her fury consuming every step.


    Outside the door, several nurses stood silently, watching her through a small window. They had witnessed this scene countless times, and now, no one even reacted. Twice a day, every day, like clockwork.


    Usually, they would slip inside afterwards, quietly cleaning up the mess she had made, their movements careful and routine, as if they had long since grown used to it. But this time, one nurse couldn’t hold back any longer. She opened the door and stepped in, her voice calm but firm.


    “Do you still think you’re a princess?”


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