?Chapter 972:


    Dominic let out a quiet chuckle, the usual frost in his gaze melting into something lighter. “With your nerve, how could we dare not wee you?”


    Without a word, Bryan stood and strode over, pulling out a chair for me with practiced ease. He poured a cup of coffee and ced it in front of me with a look of genuine concern. “Did you rush over because something happened?”


    I wrapped my fingers around the warm cup, letting the heat seep into my skin before taking a slow sip. The rich warmth chased away the lingering chill from outside, settling deep within me. Satisfied, I set the cup down and met their gazes, my expression turning serious. “I just ran into Cody at the prison. He tried to force Alden into confessing but then rushed off like something urgent came up. I suspect Evelyn went to see him.”


    The moment my words sank in, Bryan’s expression darkened, his brows knitting with a spark of jealousy. “What were you doing at the prison? You went to see Alden?”


    I couldn’t help but smile at his pouting tone. His jealousy was almost adorable.


    “Alright, let’s stay on track,” I said, redirecting the conversation, my expression hardening. “Is there really no problem with the n?” The entire scheme was delicate, every piece linked like a fragile chain. One wrong move could shatter everything.


    Dominic seemed to read my worry like an open book. “Don’t worry. With Jett’s potion in y, Evelyn wouldn’t dare betray us. Everything’s under control.”


    But unease coiled in my chest, refusing to let go. Cody was always cautious, like a sly fox. Could Evelyn truly corner him so easily? yton’s smile was confident as he leaned back against a chair. “Makenna, rx. We’re pushing things forward from the shadows. The odds of sess are in our favor. This afternoon, we’ll head to the Harrison estate and work on lowering Cody’s guard. From there, we’ll arrange for Evelyn and her fake mother to move in. Once inside, Evelyn will sniff out the evidence of Cody’s treason.”


    His assurance settled my nerves, but notpletely. The seriousness of our task kept my expression grave. Finding proof of Cody’s treason would turn the tide in our favor, but failure would be catastrophic. Taking a deep breath, I spoke slowly, my words weighted with determination. “Once Cody is taken down, I’ll head into the Free Forest and face the king head-on.”


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    I let my gaze drift over the three princes, my tone testing their resolve. “Are you sure you want to stand by my side?”


    After all, this wasn’t just a battle against Cody. It was a direct challenge to Leonardo—their own father. And if we failed, the fallout would be beyond imagining.


    Makenna’s POV:


    Bryan appeared startled by my inquiry, his fingers tightening around my jaw with resolve. His gaze bored into me, tinged with frustration, as he spoke in a firm tone. “We’veid it out inly for you. No matter the circumstances, we’re your unwavering backbone! Are you still doubting our loyalty?”


    My emotions were a mix offort and turmoil, and I dipped my head in quiet contemtion.


    Dominic sauntered over, a yful smirk lighting up his face, and tousled my hair with gentle fondness. “Feeling a little touched by our devotion, huh?” he teased.


    “Hardly,” I shot back with a defiant edge, twisting my face aside, though tears were already pooling in my eyes, betraying my fa?ade.


    yton bounded over, his bright smile radiating warmth, and pressed a tender kiss to my cheek. “If we’ve got you all emotional, how about a little something in return?” he suggested cheekily.


    With that, yton deftly unfastened the buttons of my blouse, while Bryan seized the moment to pull down my skirt. Dominic tugged me toward the lone armchair nearby, guiding my arms to rest behind it. The position thrust my chest outward, my nipples hardening in the cool air.


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