?Chapter 1444:


    The memories of Katelyn’s and Vincent’s treatments in Granville still burned bright in her mind. The wound remained raw, refusing to heal. Yet now Ryanna extended olive branches instead of swords. Annie’s thirst for revenge went unquenched, and that simple fact gnawed at her like a festering splinter. All she craved was to witness Katelyn’s and Vincent’s downfall.


    Ryanna’s face hardened into a royal mask as she pivoted toward Annie, her voice dropping to a cial whisper. “I don’t need you to tell me how to handle things.”


    She paused, allowing the silence to stretch taut between them before adding with razor-sharp precision, “And if you don’t like them, you can go deal with them yourself. Stop pushing me to be your pawn. Annie, do you think I’m a fool?”


    The formidable aura of true authority descended upon Annie like a physical weight, causing her heart to plummet. Panic shed across her features as she looked up at Ryanna. “Ryanna, I didn’t mean that. I just…”


    “Enough,” Ryanna cut through her excuses like a de through silk. “I want to rest. You should go.”


    She had tolerated Annie’s presumptions far longer than wisdom dictated. Continuing to indulge Annie’s behavior would only nt seeds of future…


    Complications. Everyone recognized their close association. If Annie’s schemes unraveled, the threads would inevitably lead back to Ryanna’s own hands. Ryanna understood with crystal rity that she bnced on a knife’s edge, where one misstep could prove catastrophic.


    Annie’s mouth opened to protest, but upon meeting Ryanna’s frostden stare, her words died in her throat, leaving only stunned silence in their wake. She quietly got up, smoothing her clothes with practiced grace, and faced Ryanna with carefully constructedposure.


    “Alright, get some rest. I’lle by another time.”


    She bowed her head in deference and turned toward the door, her movements stiff with unspoken resentment.


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    Ryanna watched Annie’s departing figure, her eyes darkening. She hoped Annie would heed today’s warning and exercise more caution. Ryanna couldn’t risk allowing Annie to be another Fiona.


    Fiona’s incident had been overlooked thanks to the King’s intervention. But if something simr happened again, Ryanna couldn’t guarantee the same leniency would be shown.


    The rtionship between Vincent and Katelyn wasn’t something to be disrupted by reckless interference.


    As these thoughts weighed on her mind, her phone suddenly rang. Seeing the caller ID, her expression immediately darkened.


    Ryanna answered the phone, her voice low and cold. “What?”


    Brendan’s wicked voice,ced with teasing amusement, drifted through the speaker. “Princess Ryanna, why so frosty? I’m just calling to chat about our future.”


    Ryanna’s expression hardened. “Cut to the chase.”


    Brendan wasn’t the least bit affected by her tone. If anything, her irritation only amused him further. Leaning back on the sofa, he twirled a cigarette between his fingers, his smirk widening.


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