?Chapter 275:


    I stepped in front of Alice, my voice shaking with anger. “What right do you have to punish Alice?”


    “Your insolence,” Dominic replied coolly, his eyes boring into mine. “I don’t like your attitude. But since you’re so stubborn, your friend can take the punishment instead.”


    “You bastard…” The words came out as a hiss, my teeth clenched in fury.


    At that moment, the only thing I wanted was to tear Dominic apart, but I couldn’t let Alice suffer because of me.


    I bit down on my lip, my gaze locked on his, cold and defiant. “What do you want, Dominic?”


    Heughed mockingly, stepping closer until I could feel his breath on my skin, his eyes filled with icy contempt. “I don’t want anything from you. I just don’t like seeing you cry over another man. Today, I might let her go, but if I ever see this again, your friend will indeed pay the price for your defiance.”


    He patted my cheek with a mocking gesture before turning and walking away, leaving me standing there, shaking with rage and helplessness.


    As his figure disappeared, I staggered, feeling the crushing weight of my failure.


    I had been used, manipted, and now I couldn’t even retaliate against my enemy nor protect the ones I cared about. The overwhelming sense of despair nearly broke me, but no tears came.


    I was too drained to cry anymore.


    Alice, her face pale with fear, still managed to support me, her voice trembling with concern. “Makenna, are you alright?”


    I forced a bitter smile, shaking my head as guilt and sorrow welled up within me. “I’m sorry, Alice… I dragged you into this mess.”


    Alice choked back her own tears, shaking her head fiercely as she clung to my hand. “Don’t say that. We’re best friends, Makenna. We face things together, no matter what.”


    I gently pushed her hand away, my voice tinged with bitterness. “You should stay away from me, Alice. I don’t want you to suffer because of me.”


    I couldn’t bear the thought of causing more harm to the people I loved… all because of my own mistakes.


    Alice sped my hand with a grip that conveyed both strength and fragility, her eyes swollen yet shining with resolve. “Makenna, we’re friends through thick and thin. No matter the storm, I’ll stand by your side.”


    Her words tugged at my heartstrings, and I could feel the familiar sting of tears threatening to overflow.


    With a gentle brush of her hand against my cheek, Alice guided me, dazed and lost, back to my vi.


    As soon as we crossed the threshold, Lily hurried toward us, her eyes widening with concern at the sight of my tear-stained face. “Makenna, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”


    I managed a tired shake of my head. “I’m fine.”


    But to my surprise, her face clouded with disappointment. “Makenna, you don’t want to share anything with me. You even went out of your way to avoid me earlier. I don’t mean to pry; I’m just worried.”


    Alice and I exchanged a nce, a silent understanding of the resignation we both felt. Some truths were wrapped in the heavy chains of royal secrets—chains that tightened around you the more you knew. Lily, not being a sex ve, didn’t need those burdens. We agreed to protect her from that darkness. But our well-meaning silence was like a locked door, misunderstood from the other side.


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