?Chapter 694:


    “Even though Martin isn’t trustworthy, he was loyal to Makenna and her mother. He won’t hurt them,” Grandma exined.


    I sat back down, curiosity burning inside me. “Why is that?”


    Grandma didn’t respond right away. Instead, she walked over to the window and stared out at the bright blue sky. Her eyes grew distant, as though she was lost in thoughts of the past. I couldn’t guess what she was thinking, so I urged her again, “Grandma, please tell me!”


    My voice seemed to pull her back to the present. She shook her head and said reluctantly, “Evie, this isn’t the right time to share these things with you. When Makennapletely loses faith in the Lycan royal family, only then will you learn the truth.”


    My excitement vanished in an instant, and I sank back into the chair as disappointment washed over me. I muttered under my breath, “But when will that be…”


    Grandma ced a reassuring hand on my shoulder and said with a smile, “Be patient, Evie. For now, go back and take care of Makenna.”


    “Grandma, I want to stay with you a little longer,” I said, trying my best to sound sweet.


    She pointed to the pile ofundry waiting to be washed and sighed. “Look at all this work I still need to finish. I don’t have time to sit and talk. Go on now.”


    Determined, I sprang to my feet and moved toward theundry. “Grandma, I’ll help you so we can spend more time together.”


    But she firmly pushed me out of the courtyard, shaking her head. “No, no. That won’t be necessary. Just go and look after Makenna. I can handle this myself. Now off you go!”


    Though I couldn’t change Grandma’s mind, my curiosity about what she hadn’t said still nagged at me. As I turned to leave, I instinctively nced back and saw Martin walking toward Grandma’s courtyard.


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    Why was Martin here? What was he up to?


    I squinted, then paused for a moment before deciding to quietly slip back into Grandma’s courtyard. I watched as Martin and Grandma walked into her room together.


    I crept closer and, without making a sound, pressed my ear to the door to hear what they were talking about.


    Makenna’s POV:


    When I returned to the house and eased the door open, I found Alice kneeling beside the sofa, gentlyying the child down. She picked up a small nket nearby, draped it over him, and tucked it snugly under his chin.


    “Alice…”


    I started to call her name, but she had already caught my gaze. She immediately raised a finger to her lips, signaling me to be quiet, before crossing to me with light steps. “He just ate and drifted off. Let’s talk outside.”


    I nodded, following her into the small garden just outside the house.


    “Alice, how is he?” I asked, concerned.


    “He’s such a sweet boy,” Alice replied with a tender smile. “After I fed him, he fell asleep without a single fuss. He’s absolutely adorable.”


    Her smile lingered for a moment, but then, like a cloud passing over the sun, it dimmed, reced by an expression of sorrow.


    “What’s wrong?” I asked, my heart sinking.


    She hesitated, and then sighed heavily. “You didn’t see, Makenna… His little body is covered in bruises. I can’t begin to imagine the kind of cruelty he’s suffered.”


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