?Chapter 873:


    The question struck me harder than I expected. I faltered, my mind scrambling for the right words. In the end, I forced a fragile smile. “There is… aplicated history between us. It’s easier to pretend we don’t know each other. That way, no one gets into trouble.”


    Jett’s expression darkened slightly, as if he were weighing my words. Then, after a pause, he asked, “Do you still love them?”


    The air in my lungs turned to stone.


    Did I love them?


    How could I not? The past we shared was seared into my soul, each memory an indelible mark. But love wasn’t enough—not with the chasm between us, too vast and impossible to bridge. The happiness we once knew had long since slipped through my fingers. I couldn’t find the words to answer. Jett must have sensed my turmoil because he reached out, his hand moving toward my hair as if to offerfort. rmed, I jerked away before he could touch me.


    His hand hovered in the air, the moment between us stretching awkwardly. A flicker of surprise crossed his face, quickly reced by confusion.


    Heat crept up my neck as I scrambled to exin. “We can’t touch. It would… cause problems.”


    A breath escaped him, barely a sigh, before he dropped his hand. I straightened, forcing myself to focus. “Jett, I don’t want my identity revealed—not yet. But I can’t stop worrying about my friends… and my child. I feel powerless, trapped. If I go back now without a n, I won’t be able to save them—I might only make things worse.”


    Emotion wed at my throat, and before I knew it, I reached out and gripped Jett’s arm tightly. “Can you help me? I need information. You haven’t interacted much with the princes, and with your new appearance, they won’t suspect a thing. Please, Jett.”


    His gaze softened at my desperation, and without hesitation, he nodded. “Don’t worry. I’ll find a way.”


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    Makenna’s POV:


    At the break of dawn, Jett was summoned to tend to Dayton’s illness.


    The moment I learned that the three princes would also be present, unease curled in my stomach like a warning whisper. Instinct screamed at me—danger was near. I needed to avoid them at all costs. Feigning illness seemed the perfect excuse to keep my distance. But then, a bold thought crept into my mind—this was an opportunity wrapped in risk.


    With the entire mansion focused on the royal guests, security would be looser than usual. The guards would be distracted, and the servants would be preupied. If ever there was a moment to slip past their watchful eyes, it was now. This could be my chance—my one perfect shot—to steal the pass to the werewolf forest.


    The sooner I had it in my hands, the sooner I could escape this perilous ce, slipping away before anyone uncovered my true identity.


    Over the past few days, I had done my homework. Through careful observation, I had pinpointed Dayton’s office—it wasn’t within the main house but tucked away in a separate building on the estate. So I set my n into motion. Keeping my expression neutral, I strolled leisurely through the garden, each step deliberate, casual—just another aimless wander through the estate.


    As I neared my target, I slipped into the shadows. Just as I had anticipated, the security was not as tight as usual, the guards’ attention likely divided by the presence of the three princes.


    My eyes scanned the perimeter of the building, searching for an entry point. Then, in a secluded corner, I found it—a window, slightly ajar. If I could get through it, I’d be inside in seconds.


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