?Chapter 442:


    “Argh!” Gwyn’s scream echoed as shended about twenty feet away, hitting the ground with a sickening thud.


    I stood there, wide-eyed,pletely stunned. What just happened?


    I turned to Evie, who looked equally shocked, though her stance was firm, protective. How did she get so strong?


    Before I could process it, a familiar, calm voice broke through the tension. “What’s going on here?” I turned to see yton approaching swiftly.


    He barely spared Gwyn a nce as he made a beeline for me. “Makenna.” His golden eyes scanned me with concern. “Are you alright?”


    I nodded, my heartbeat beginning to settle. “I’m fine,” I assured him, exining the situation as briefly as I could.


    His jaw tightened as he listened, and a sh of anger darkened his eyes.


    Gwyn’s eyes darted nervously at yton’s growing anger. “Your Highness, please, don’t listen to Makenna! She’s just—” yton didn’t bother to listen. With a single dismissive wave, soldiers appeared from outside, storming in and pinning Gwyn to the ground before she could utter another word.


    “Take this unruly maid and punish her with tenshes,” yton ordered.


    Gwyn’s face turned ashen. She fell to her knees, her eyes wide with terror. “Please, Your Highness!” she cried. “Spare me, I beg you…”


    But it was toote. The soldiers dragged her away, her desperate pleas fading into the distance until only silence remained.


    yton turned back to me, his expression softening as he took my hands. “I’m sorry, Makenna. I should have been here sooner. This won’t happen again, I promise. I’ll station guards here to make sure no one unauthorizedes near.”


    I smiled gently, squeezing his hand. “It’s alright. This wasn’t your fault.”


    Still, guilt flickered in his eyes. Determined to make up for it, yton showered me with gifts over the following days—jewels that sparkled like the sun, rare herbs that were worth more than gold.


    Soon, my room overflowed with the evidence of his affection, a constant reminder that despite everything, he cared deeply. And though the jewels meant little to me, my heart warmed. He did truly care.


    Molly’s POV:


    I paced restlessly across the room, my thoughts spiraling. It had been days since ytonst came home, and the longer he stayed away, the heavier the weight of worry settled in my chest. My only hope now rested on Gwyn bringing him back.


    Hayley, ever the gentle voice of reason, noticed my distress and tried to soothe me. “Molly, don’t worry. You’re pregnant now. Prince yton will return for the sake of his child.”


    Her words were meant tofort, but they only stoked my frustration. The resentment I had been swallowing boiled up inside me, and my thoughts twisted toward Makenna. I spat her name like a curse. “It’s all that damned Makenna’s fault! If she hadn’t thrown herself at him, Prince yton wouldn’t be holed up at her ce for days, ignoring everything and everyone.”


    I clenched my fists, teeth grinding as memories of yton’s cold indifference washed over me. How could he treat me like this? If Makenna hadn’t slithered into his life, there was no way he’d be so heartless, so distant. I was so furious.


    Just then, Gwyn stumbled through the door, her limp catching my attention.


    My heart sank, and I met her with a scowl. “Where is he? Where is Prince yton?”


    Gwyn’s face crumpled, and she shook her head. “He refuses toe back. And Makenna—” Her breath hitched, and tears welled in her eyes. “She insulted you, and… and Prince yton punished me because of her!”


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