?Chapter 281:


    Caught in her enthusiasm, my spirits lifted momentarily, and I forgot my troubles. Smiling, I replied, “Yes, it’ll be wonderful to rx and recharge.” The strain with yton had worn me down, and I craved this respite.


    But the moment I spoke, a blonde woman in the next seat sneered, her voice dripping with venom, “How nice it must be to have princes adore you so much that you need a hunting trip just to ‘rx.''” Her words were clearly aimed at me.


    The other women nearby joined in, their mockingughter sharp in the air. “Careful,” one taunted, “or she’ll run crying to her precious princes!”


    “Exactly. How could we possiblypete with her? She’ll probably convince the princes to banish us if we displease her,” another woman added mockingly.


    Alice’s face flushed crimson with anger at their taunts. Her eyes burned with fury, and I could see her trembling with the need to defend me. I gently squeezed her hand to calm her before responding with a cool smile, “You’ve actually given me an idea. Why should I tolerate such unpleasantpany? Perhaps I will suggest the princes remove you after all.”


    “You wretched bitch!” the blonde woman snarled, her rage palpable. Her eyes bulged as she thrust a finger inches from my face, her entire body coiled for confrontation. “Just because the princes show you attention doesn’t mean you can do as you please!”


    I met her fury with steady, unblinkingposure,pletely unfazed by her outburst.


    Hayley, who had been observing the escting conflict, chose that moment to intervene. “Enough!” Her voice, though not raised, carried undeniable authority. “Silence, all of you.”


    The angry woman’s eyes shed with triumph, clearly expecting Hayley to reprimand me as usual. I prepared myself for the familiar criticism – Hayley’s dislike for me was no secret. But to everyone’s astonishment, her rebuke was directed at my tormentor instead.


    “Your behavior is shameful,” Hayley dered. “Rather than wallow in jealousy, perhaps you should learn from Makenna how to earn the princes’ genuine favor.”


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    Makenna’s POV:


    What on earth was going on with Hayley today? Since when did she start speaking on my behalf?


    I shot her a puzzled nce, trying to figure out her game. It was so unlike her to take my side like that.


    But she didn’t make any further moves. After restoring order in the vehicle, she simply returned to her seat, closed her eyes, and pretended to rest. I couldn’t help but feel suspicious, but for now, I decided to wait and see.


    Before long, we pulled into a gas station. Finally, a chance to stretch my legs.


    As I stood outside the convenience store, ready to grab a couple of drinks, I felt a tap on my shoulder.


    I turned, and there was Hayley.


    “What’s up?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral. She shed me a smile.


    “I just wanted to apologize,” she said.


    “Apologize?” I echoed, genuinely surprised.


    Hayley nodded. “I heard about the scene your father made outside your house the other day. Molly was the one who brought him in. She didn’t know the full situation at the time, and she feels really bad about it.”


    I couldn’t help but frown. I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I stayed quiet, letting her speak.


    Hayley wasn’t about to let the awkward silence drag on. “A lot of the bad blood between us was stirred up by Kristina. Now that she’s out of the picture, I’m hoping we can clear the air… you know… make peace.”


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