Chapter 104:
Makenna’s POV:
The thought made my heart pound like a drum echoing in a silent room.
Lost in my swirling emotions, I was jolted back to reality by the sudden chime of the doorbell.
The sound snapped me out of my scattered thoughts. I went to the door, but what I saw left me utterly speechless.
There, standing side by side, were Alice and Lily.
I blinked, trying to make sense of it. “How did you two end up here together?”
I wasn’t surprised to see Alice, but Lily? She didn’t belong here, not in the palace. It made no sense.
Alice, clearly uneasy, patted my shoulder. “Stop asking questions. Just let us in.”
“Okay, okay.” I shook myself out of my daze, moved aside, and let them enter.
After they settled on the sofa, I fetched some water. Lily seemed uncomfortable, almost shrinking into herself, while Alice grabbed the glass and downed it as if she had been parched for days.
As soon as she put down the glass, Alice started complaining. “Why didn’t you tell us you were coming back? We were worried sick. Hayley nearly lost her mind over it.”
I sighed, exasperation creeping into my voice. “I wanted to find you, but then Kristina showed up…”
“Kristina?” Alice cut me off, her earlier annoyance forgotten as worry clouded her features. “Did she cause you trouble?”
I shook my head, trying to reassure her. “No, she didn’t. Anyway, Dominic sent me back, but…”
I questioned Lily with a look. “Why is Lily here too? She doesn’t live in the palace. It’s dangerous for her.”
Alice gestured toward Lily, signaling her to explain.
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Lily’s voice was soft, almost pleading. “Miss Dunn, I have no family. I’ve got nowhere else to go… I’m scared those people in the red-light district won’t stop looking for me, so I begged Miss Vance to bring me here. If it’s possible, could I stay?”
“Well…” I exchanged a troubled glance with Alice. I could see the same uncertainty reflected in her eyes.
We were barely more than prisoners ourselves, trapped in this palace with no real power, no money. How could we possibly decide if Lily could stay?
Lily must have sensed our hesitation. She suddenly dropped to her knees before us.
Alice and I jumped in shock, both reaching out to help her up, but she stubbornly refused to stand.
Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, “Please, Miss Dunn, Miss Vance, help me! I’ll do anything in return.”
Her desperation brought back a flood of memories, images of her being tormented by those men in the red-light district. I felt a pang of sorrow. How could I turn her away?
Alice glanced at me, and then gently lifted Lily to her feet. “That’s enough. Sit down. We’ll figure something out.”
Lily wiped away her tears, her gaze fixed on us with hope-filled eyes.
Alice seemed to wrestle with something unsaid. After a moment, she cautiously asked, “Makenna, since Prince Dominic was willing to help us earlier, could you ask him for another favor? Maybe he could let Lily stay?”
Her words caught me off guard. Asking Dominic for help?
The thought of Dominic brought back memories of his cruelty, of the darkness that clung to him like a shadow.
Could such a man be persuaded to help?
And even if he would, what would he demand in return? The thought sent a chill down my spine.
I hesitated, but then I felt Lily tugging at my sleeve, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Miss Dunn,” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
Her tears spilled over as she continued begging, “I have no one in this world. You both are the only kind-hearted people I know. If you don’t let me stay, I’ll have nowhere to go. I’ve just turned 18. I don’t want to be dragged back to that place, to be sold like a piece of meat. Please, I’m begging you!”
