?Chapter 657:


    After finishing the noodles, I wiped my tear-streaked face and turned to them, my voice thick with gratitude. “I don’t know what I’d do without you both. You’ve kept me from falling apart.”


    Alice pouted dramatically, crossing her arms in mock offense. “Well, obviously! We’re your best friends. If you start getting all formal on me, I’ll be seriously offended.”


    Evie squeezed my hand, her eyes glistening. “You’ve done so much for me, Makenna. If it weren’t for you, I’d still be stuck in that miserable ce with those awful servants. You stood up for me when no one else would. I’ll never forget that.”


    Her words brought a faint smile to my lips. “I don’t regret helping you, Evie. Having a friend like you makes it all worth it.”


    Alice tilted her head, her expression turning contemtive. “So… what now? What’s your n?”


    I shook my head, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me. “I don’t know. But one thing’s clear—those princes have shown me where I stand in their lives. I don’t think they’ll ever care for me the way I hoped. Maybe, in time, they’ll forget about me entirely.”


    “Don’t say that,” Alice interjected. She reached for my hand, but her silence betrayed her inability to find the right words.


    I forced a smile, though it felt more like a grimace. “It’s okay, Alice. I’ve epted it. Love isn’t something you can force. I tried, but sometimes… sometimes things just don’t work out.”


    Alice stared at me, her eyes wide with a mixture of sympathy and admiration. “You’re stronger than you think, Makenna. I just wish you didn’t have to be.”


    I let out a hollowugh, the sound echoing my weariness. “What’s the point in staying broken? Wallowing won’t change anything.”


    Before anyone could respond, there was a sudden, sharp knock at the door.


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    Makenna’s POV:


    The three of us exchanged nces, our eyes locked in confusion.


    Who in the world would be visiting me at this hour?


    “I’ll answer the door,” Evie said, her brow furrowing as she stood and made her way to the entrance.


    As soon as the door swung open, a strange servant, drenched to the bone, staggered forward and copsed to his knees.


    Water poured from his hair and soaked clothes, his body trembling like a leaf caught in a storm. His lips had taken on a deathly shade of blue, and his eyes were wide with terror and desperation.


    “Miss Dunn, please, save my friend!” he cried, his voice breaking.


    I couldn’t help but ask, “Who? Save who? Start from the beginning!”


    The servant looked up, his lips quivering as he cried out, “Save Martin!”


    My heart skipped a beat, and I sprang to my feet, panic bubbling up inside me. “What’s going on? Speak now!” I urged.


    The servant sobbed harder, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Martin and I, we’re in charge of cleaning the garden. We share the same room. Tonight, a group of men broke in, using Martin of damaging the rare peony in the garden. They said he had to be punished. Before they dragged him off, Martin told me toe to you for help. So, I ran through the rain, hoping you could save him.”


    Damn it! This was Antoni’s way of getting back at Martin for helping me.


    Alice and Evie exchanged puzzled nces and asked in unison, “Who’s Martin?”


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