?Chapter 28:


    The night stretched on like an endless sea of passion, waves crashing against the shore until the first light of dawn. By the time it was over, I was spent,pletely exhausted, slipping into the darkness of unconsciousness.


    When I finally blinked my eyes open, sunlight was already streaming through the windowsill, flooding the room with its bright, almost harsh radiance.


    I pressed my fingers against my temples, trying to push away the pounding headache, but the memories ofst night surged back—vivid and relentless. My hand instinctively moved to my chest as I nced at the side of the bed.


    Bryan was gone. The chaotic state of the sheets was the only testament to his wild, unrestrained nature.


    He must have left while I was still out cold.


    I let out a long breath, feeling the tension in my muscles begin to ease. But just as quickly, a wave of pain and soreness washed over me, starting as a sharp burn in my lower abdomen.


    “Hiss—” The sound slipped out before I could stop it, a reflexive response to the pain. I lifted the nket, only to find my skin marred with bruises, scratches, and bite marks, some in ces I’d rather not mention.


    “Lunatic,” I muttered under my breath, the wordced with a mix of frustration and shame.


    The memory ofst night’s madness made my cheeks burn with embarrassment, and anger simmered just beneath the surface. If I could, I’d tear Bryan limb from limb for what he’d done.


    A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. “Miss Dunn, I’ve left lunch outside your room. Don’t forget to continue your training this afternoon,” a servant’s voice called from the other side.


    Maybe it was because I stood out since moving into this house, but the servants now treated me with a bit more respect, at least to my face.


    ‘Alright, got it.’


    I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the pain, and forced my aching body to the bathroom. Each step felt like torture, but I managed to clean myself up and get dressed, though every movement sent fresh waves of pain through the bruises fromst night.


    Soft fabric or not, it still stung when it rubbed against the marks Bryan had left. Cursing his name under my breath, I pushed through the difort, determined not to stir up any more trouble. After a quick lunch, I made my way to the training room, not wanting to bete.


    Thankfully, the training hadn’t started yet when I arrived. I exhaled in relief and found a seat, easing myself down ruefully.


    But it wasn’t long before I felt the heavy weight of eyes on me. The other women were staring, their gazes dripping with mockery, disdain, and something else I couldn’t quite ce. None of them looked the least bit friendly.


    One woman, in particr, stood out—she was the sex ve I’d crossed paths with the night before. A smug smile twisted her lips as she leaned in to whisper to the others around her, theirughter soon following, sharp and derisive.


    It didn’t take a genius to figure out that today’s cold reception had something to do withst night. Leaving yton’s vi earlier than expected was bound to raise some eyebrows.


    Sure enough, the woman fromst night swaggered over, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, well, look who had the nerve to show up today. Got a lot of gall, don’t you?”


    I met her gaze steadily. “Why wouldn’t I?”


    She threw her head back andughed, the sound grating on my nerves. “Because you got booted out by Prince yton. I saw you leave his vi not long after you went in. Guess you didn’t tickle his fancy, huh?”


    Her words grated on me, but I wasn’t in the mood to trade barbs.


    To me, sleeping with the princes didn’t feel like any sort of victory. If anything, I wished for nothing more than to escape this wretched ce. If letting them believe their twisted version of events kept them off my back, I’d let it slide.


    The woman next to her stifled a giggle, trying to appear sympathetic. “Come on, Alice, give it a rest. You’ll just embarrass her.”


    Alice’sugh turned even more triumphant, her eyes raking over me with cruel amusement. “Embarrassed? Her? Please, look at her—wearing a turtleneck to hide theck of proof she’s even been with the prince.”


    Then, raising her voice, she addressed the room. “Let’s see if she’s got any marks to show for it, shall we?”


    In a sh, Alice reached for my cor.


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