?Chapter 136:


    Makenna’s POV:


    Dominic cradled me in his arms as he strode into the house. His height made me feel as though I was floating, and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat echoed in my ears, powerful and unyielding. Somehow, my own heart began to race.


    As soon as we crossed the threshold, Lily emerged from the kitchen. The moment her eyes fell on Dominic holding me, she froze, her expression shifting to something I couldn’t quite ce.


    There was a flicker in her gaze that made me think of the other sex ves I’d seen in simr situations. Was it… jealousy?


    The idea puzzled me, and I studied Lily’s face, but she quicklyposed herself, her voice rising with concern. “Makenna, what happened to you? How did you end up like this?”


    This gave me thefort that perhaps I was mistaken. Her worry pulled me from my thoughts, and I tried to reassure her with a shake of my head. “Don’t worry. I’m alright, really.”


    Feeling the awkwardness of the situation, I gently tapped Dominic’s shoulder. “You can put me down now.” He lowered me onto the sofa, taking in the room with a critical eye. It was his first time here, and he seemed surprised. “Not bad. I didn’t expect you to have a personal maid.”


    His assumption startled me, and I quickly realized he was mistaken. “Oh, no, you misunderstood. Lily isn’t my maid.”


    “Oh?” One eyebrow arched in curiosity, and he nced at Lily. “If she’s not a maid, then why is she here?” Lily met his gaze, only to lower her eyes shyly. “Your Highness, don’t you remember? You saved mest time in the red-light district. I never got the chance to thank you.”


    Dominic frowned, his eyes narrowing as he tried to recall. After a moment, recognition dawned. “Oh, right, that was you. But it wasn’t me who saved you, it was Makenna. You should be thanking her.”


    His tone was so cold it sent a chill through the room, leaving Lily looking more than a little ufortable.


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    Dominic didn’t dwell on her difort. Instead, he turned to me, his voice softer. “Why is she here then? She’s not one of the pce staff.”


    At this, I exined what had happened to Lily. “She had such a hard life, and she doesn’t have anyone outside the pce. But here, we can look out for each other. Can you let her stay?”


    I seized the moment to plead her case, and Lily immediately dropped to her knees, her voice trembling. “Please, Your Highness, let me stay. I’ll do anything to stay!”


    But Dominic said nothing, his silence weighing heavily on the room.


    I couldn’t read his thoughts, so I began to form a backup n. If he refused, I’d find another safe ce for Lily. But just as I was bracing myself for his answer, Dominic’s gaze shifted, assessing Lily with a calcting look before turning back to me with a slow, thoughtful smile.


    He bent down, his face close to mine, and his voice took on a teasing edge. “If I agree to this, what will you give me in return?”


    The flirtatious tone caught me off guard, making me shift ufortably. I bit my lip, trying to steady myself. “What do you want?”


    “I haven’t decided yet,” he said after a moment of contemtion. “But keep it in mind—I’lle collectingter.”


    He gently tapped my cheek, a smirk ying on his lips. “Don’t forget, alright?”


    Seeing my nod, he straightened up, his demeanor turning icy as he addressed Lily. “You can stay here, but you’ll be serving Makenna as her maid.”


    “Thank you, Your Highness!” Lily’s relief was palpable.


    Dominic didn’t spare her another nce. He gave me onest look, a smile lingering on his face as he said, “I’ll be going now. Don’t forget about that reward.”


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