?Chapter 137:


    Makenna’s POV:


    After Dominic left, I let out a deep sigh of relief, sinking into the sofa as if the cushions could swallow me whole. Lily handed me a ss of warm water, her eyes filled with concern. “What happened? You were all dressed up when you left, and now you’re just in a suit jacket. Where’s the rest of your outfit?”<iframe allow="autoy; attribution-reporting ''src'' https://cm.teads.tv" scrolling="no" title="native" id="teads-native-iframe" sandbox="allow-same-origin allow-scripts" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 100% !important; height: 411px; border: none; overflow: hidden; disy: block; float: none;"></iframe>


    I epted the water and took a few gulps, feeling the liquid soothe the knot in my throat. Once I’d gathered myself, I began to recount the ordeal.


    “I was set up. Someone drugged me and… wanted me to be vited. Dominic was the one who came to my rescue.”


    Lily’s eyes widened in shock, her voice rising with anger. “Who would do such a thing? That’s beyond cruel! Do they want to ruin you?”


    A bitter smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I heard her defend me. “Yes, Lily, that’s exactly what they’re aiming for.”


    Jessica, her parents, and Frank had been relentless, throwing every possible hurdle in my path—from forcing me into the pce to today’s vile setup. They’d never intended to let me off the hook.


    But I had my own ns. They would pay for everything they had done.


    I decided not to burden Lily with the details; this was my battle to fight.


    I shifted the conversation, patting the back of her hand gently. “At least you’re safe here now. You can stay in the pce and not have to worry about those peopleing after you.”


    “Yeah, I guess that’s true,” Lily replied, though her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes.


    I tilted my head, puzzled. “What’s wrong? You should be relieved. Why the long face?”


    Had something happened? Or was Lily hiding something from me?


    “No, it’s nothing,” she insisted, forcing a smile before hesitating. “It’s just…”


    She faltered, and I felt a knot of worry tighten in my chest.


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    “It’s just what?” I pressed, concern creeping into my voice. “Has someone been giving you troubletely?”


    “No,” she quickly denied, shaking her head. But then she sighed, as


    If battling with her thoughts, she whispered, “Makenna, honestly, I envy you a lot. I mean, you’re a… sex ve, but you’ve managed to win the princes’ favor.”


    I blinked in surprise. Envy? For being a sex ve?


    My expression shifted as I recalled the questions she’d asked me about sex ves before. The pieces began to fall into ce.


    “Are you saying you want to be a sex ve?” I asked, feeling a mix of confusion and concern. I spoke earnestly, hoping to dissuade her. “Lily, it’s not what you think. Being a sex ve might look morous on the surface, but the reality is harsh. The royal family controls your every move, and some ves even have topete for attention or undergo degrading training…”


    “Okay, okay,” Lily interrupted, sounding flustered. “You’re reading too much into it. That’s not what I meant.”


    I looked at her, still doubtful. She’d brought it up so often—was it really just idle curiosity?


    If being a sex ve was truly beneficial and promising, I would’ve tried to help her. But the truth was, it was a path fraught with pain.


    Sensing my skepticism, Lily quickly added, “I swear, that’s not what I meant. I was just talking. I’m really happy I can stay here. But I’m tired now, so I’m going to bed.”


    She hurriedly stood up and made her way upstairs, disappearing into her room with a swiftness that only deepened my unease.


    As I watched her retreating figure, a frown creased my forehead. Something about her behavior felt off, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.


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