?Chapter 1036:


    From my vantage point, I struggled to contain augh. Bold didn’t begin to describe Alden’s audacity—disrupting important proceedings without the slightest hesitation.


    Beads of sweat suddenly appeared across Dayton’s forehead, hisposure cracking under the strain.


    “Alden!” he snapped, his voice sharp with authority. “When I say go and rest, you go and rest. No more nonsense!”


    Alden’s lips formed a childish pout, betraying his frustration.


    Still, Dayton’s threatening re proved effective, and Alden begrudgingly turned toward the door.


    Just before leaving, he whirled around again, his eyes finding mine with startling intensity. “Makenna, I’lle find youter. Wait for me!”


    An ufortable silence descended after Alden’s departure, broken only by Dayton’s forced, awkwardughter.


    “Your Highnesses,” he began, his facial muscles straining into what he hoped was a diplomatic expression, “Alden is young and impulsive. I hope you won’t hold it against him.”


    All the while, his hand moved nervously, wiping away the perspiration dotting his brow.


    With calcted coldness, Bryan pulled one corner of his mouth into a smile that never reached his eyes. “I hope you can teach him some manners,” he said.


    Such was the pressure in his voice that Dayton shivered involuntarily.


    “Okay, I will.” Dayton’s head bobbed up and down rapidly, words tumbling from his mouth. “It’s myck of discipline. I’ll make sure to educate him properly.”


    Amusement bubbled up within me as I watched this awkward exchange unfold. I couldn’t help but rub my forehead.


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    Once Dayton finally exhausted his stream of apologies, a sudden urge to escape the stifling atmosphere gripped me. Without hesitation, I reached out to tug gently at the princes’ sleeves, shing a disarming smile. “Alright, let’s go.”


    Under the weight of everyone’s varied gazes, I led the three princes out of Dayton’s office.


    Makenna’s POV:


    As we emerged from Dayton’s office building, the three princes’ faces remained etched with undisguised displeasure.


    Bryan’s jaw was tight, his cheeks flushed with barely contained anger.


    Avoiding his gaze, I quickened my pace, desperate to put some distance between us.


    Unexpectedly, his fingers wrapped around my wrist as he growled, “We’ve already epted sharing you with Jett. Do we really need to add a little kid to the mix too?”


    My heart stumbled in its rhythm. I cleared my throat awkwardly, brushed a wayward strand of hair behind my ear, and feigned indifference.


    “Alden just sees me as a sister. He’s young and innocent. How could he possibly understandplex emotions like love and affection? Don’t overthink it.”


    Bryan’s dark eyes narrowed, a dangerous chill flickering through them.


    In one swift motion, he pinched my jaw, applying just enough pressure to make me wince. I struggled to break free but found myself trapped.


    He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a sinister whisper. “Alden isn’t that young. At eighteen, he’s perfectly capable of understanding adult matters.”


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