?Chapter 346:


    The moment those words left his lips, the room seemed to freeze. All eyes were on me, a collective breath held in disbelief. I stood there, rooted in shock.


    “Father…”


    Dominic’s handsome face twisted with concern as he furrowed his brow, but Leonardo silenced him with a swift, cutting gesture.


    “There is nothing more to discuss!” His voice was final, brooking no argument.


    A whirlwind of emotions stirred within me.


    Was this truly the end of my life in the pce?


    My thoughts shed to yton’s earlier confession of love, his earnest plea for me to leave the pce and be with him. The idea sent a flutter through my chest. Could this be the moment I seized that chance, to escape and start a life with him?


    Perhaps for the sake of his sons, Leonardo allowed me to return to my residence and pack my belongings before leaving the pce for good.


    As I made my way back, the world around me seemed to blur. My head spun, and my legs felt as if they were treading on clouds, disconnected from solid ground. My thoughts were a tangled mess, a storm with no clear direction.


    When I finally arrived at the familiar little vi, a whirlwind of conflicting emotions hit me. There was something so unsettling about being back in this space that held so many memories, yet knowing I would soon be leaving it behind.


    Inside, Alice and Lily were waiting for me anxiously in the living room. The moment they saw me, they rushed over, their faces painted with concern.


    “Makenna, what happened? We heard that the king was furious when he summoned you. Are you alright?” Alice asked, her voice shaky with worry.


    Lily, biting her lip nervously, echoed the sentiment. “Makenna, what’s going on? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”


    I forced a weak smile, though it felt more like a grimace. “Connolly and Irene used me of having an affair with Frank…” I told them everything that had happened, sparing no detail.


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    When I finished and revealed Leonardo’s decision, Alice’s eyes gleamed with brightness. “Wait… so that means you can leave the pce? You can start fresh?”


    I nodded, my response barely more than a twitch of my head. Alice, however, lit up like a firework, her smile so wide it could have outshone the sun.


    She grabbed me and dragged me to the sofa, her excitement palpable.


    “Makenna, this is a silver lining! The world outside is full of beauty and opportunities. You’re free now! You’ll find real happiness, I know it.”


    Lily, ever perceptive, gently asked, “Makenna, aren’t you happy?” I scratched my head, trying to mask the jumble of emotions with a bitter smile. “Of course I am. It’s just… I guess I’m a little torn about leaving.”


    My eyes drifted over the room. Every nook and cranny of this vi had witnessed pieces of my life, fragments of my time here. Alice’s smile faltered when she caught my hesitation, a shadow of sadness crossing her face.


    She gripped my hand tightly, her expression mirroring my own reluctance. “Makenna, does this mean I won’t see you as much once you’re gone?”


    Her question cut deeper than I wanted to admit, and I felt my eyes begin to sting with the weight of unshed tears.


    I fought to hold them back, but my throat tightened, making it impossible to speak.


    The pce walls, high and unforgiving, represented both freedom and separation. Once I left this ce, returning wouldn’t be easy, and Alice would be just a distant memory in a world where we couldn’t cross paths often.


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