?Chapter 525:


    “The water’s… off.”


    Dominic raised an eyebrow, tousling my hair with a smirk. “I’m tipsy, not brainless. Since when does the pce run out of water?”


    He took a step to sidestep me, and panic set in. What should I do? How was I supposed to stop him? Though my mind was racing, I couldn’te up with a better idea.


    Desperation crept in, and I clutched my stomach, wincing as though in sudden pain. “Ahh… it hurts.”


    Dominic stopped in his tracks, his demeanor instantly shifting as he reached out to steady me. “What’s wrong?”


    Fighting the embarrassment and guilt, I let…


    Tears pricked my eyes. “I don’t feel well, Your Highness… Could you take me back to my room?”


    He eyed me for a long, suspicious moment. “First, you tell me the water’s off, and now you’re suddenly sick?”


    Heart pounding, I nodded in what I hoped was convincing distress, nearly holding my breath.


    “Alright,” he sighed, suddenly scooping me up as if I weighed nothing. “I don’t have it in me to argue with you right now.”


    Before I knew it, he had lifted me off the floor, and instinctively, my arms went around his neck. My face flushed as I tucked my head against his chest, trying to bury the embarrassment. It was the first time I had ever shown such vulnerability in front of Dominic.


    He carried me back to my room, cing me gently on the bed. His touch was unexpectedly tender as he brushed a strand of hair from my face.


    “Do you want me to call a doctor?”


    L?t?st chαpt?rs in g??lnovels.??????


    I shook my head, a pang of guilt pressing into me. “No, really, I feel much better now.”


    He stood at the bedside, looking down at me, his gaze dark and contemtive. “Are you hiding something from me?”


    I forced myself to meet his eyes and shook my head quickly. “What could I possibly hide from you?”


    But he wasn’t convinced. He continued to study me, his gaze so piercing it felt as if he could see right through me, and I grew more anxious by the second. Just when I was on the brink of crumbling under the tension, he finally looked away.


    “Since you’re fine, I’ll leave you to rest.”


    No, I couldn’t let him leave. As fear clutched my chest, I reached out in desperation and grabbed his hand.


    Dominic stopped, ncing back, his brows knitted in confusion. “Alright, now, what’s really going on with you tonight? You’re acting… off.”


    “I…” I stammered, at aplete loss, my mind utterly nk. In ast, desperate attempt, I sat up, framed his face with my trembling hands, and pressed my lips to his, catching him entirely by surprise.


    Makenna’s POV:


    Dominic appearedpletely taken aback by the kiss that caught him off guard. This was the first time I had taken the initiative so boldly, and as I sensed his shock, an awkward flutter stirred within me. Just when I considered pulling away, he unexpectedly raised his hand, gripping the back of my head and deepening the kiss.


    “Mmm…” I was surprised as well.


    .


    .


    .