?Chapter 686:
With each word, my confidence surged. The child in my arms stirred, letting out a soft, intive whimper. I gently patted his back, soothing him, though my eyes never left Antoni.
The man was fuming; frowning. He looked as if he mightsh out, desperate for a retort.
But before he could act on his frustration, Leonardo’s cold,manding gaze fell on him. He froze.
Then Leonardo shifted his focus to me and asked in a rtively calm tone, “Makenna, what do you propose we do?”
I hesitated, my gaze dropping to the child. A lump formed in my throat. I couldn’t suggest adoption—not again. As a mere sex ve to the princes, such an idea would only draw the king’s ire again. I needed a different approach.
Drawing a deep breath, I finally answered, “Your Majesty, perhaps we could find this child a new family.”
Somewhere safe, where he can grow up in a stable home. One day, when he learns of your mercy and grace, he will surely be filled with gratitude.”
Leonardo’s expression didn’t change, but he gave a single nod. His tolerance for the discussion was clearly waning. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he turned to Dominic. “See to it, Dominic. Handle this matter.”
Dominic stepped forward, bowing low. “Father, I will make the necessary arrangements.”
Leonardo’s gaze shifted back to Antoni, this time cold and cutting. “And you,” he snapped, “you’ve proven yourself more and more ipetent. This morning’s exnation was already tedious, and now you’ve caused yet another problem. Go and receive your punishment at once!”
Antoni’s head dropped immediately, sweat glistening on his brow. “Yes, Your Majesty,” he stammered. “I will go at once.”
Discover more at
Leonardo huffed, his fury palpable. He turned on his heel to leave, and Dominic trailed after him. “Father, will you not ride today?”
“Not in the mood!” Leonardo barked without breaking stride, his attendants falling into step behind him.
As he disappeared from view, Antoni finally raised his head. A forced, bitter smile stretched across his face. “Well, Miss Dunn, your maternal instincts are really showing, aren’t they? Losing a child must’ve hit you hard, huh?”
Before I could respond, Dominic’s boot connected with Antoni’s chest in a precise, brutal kick. The blow sent him sprawling to the ground, gasping in a pitiful heap.
Makenna’s POV:
Dominic’s face hardened, his stern expression leaving no room for misunderstanding. He lifted his leg and stomped on Antoni’s cheek as if he wanted to crush him into the dirt.
“Y-Your Highness…” Antoni stammered,pletely caught off guard. He groaned in pain on the ground. “W-What are you doing?”
Dominic cut him off with a ruthless grind of his heel against Antoni’s face. “Who gave you the audacity to speak to her like that?”
Antoni’s cheeks flushed red as he writhed beneath Dominic’s foot. He gasped, words tumbling out in desperate, uneven breaths. “Your Highness, I… I meant no disrespect…”
Dominic only pressed down harder. He bent forward, his towering frame looming over Antoni like a predator over prey. His cold, unrelenting eyes burned with warning. “She is my woman. Disrespecting her is disrespecting me.”
From my ce at the side, I caught a fleeting, venomous glint in Antoni’s eyes before it was quickly masked with a pitiful, almost groveling expression. “Your Highness, forgive me,” he pleaded. “I’m sorry… it won’t happen again. Please, have mercy.”
.
.
.