Chapter 185:
Makenna’s POV:
As soon as Dominic’s words left his mouth, Bryan’s gaze locked onto me like a predator sizing up its prey.
His piercing stare sent an icy chill down my spine. I shot a quick, frustrated glance at Dominic, but he just sat there, as calm as a cat in the sun, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle he had set in motion.
Grinding my teeth, I averted my eyes, scrambling to find a way to respond that wouldn’t dig my grave any deeper. If I claimed that Bryan wasn’t overbearing, Dominic would likely twist my words, turning them into a fresh weapon to use against me.
But if I dared to admit the truth—that Bryan was a royal pain—he wouldn’t let me off the hook.
My hesitation seemed to fan the flames of Bryan’s anger. Suddenly, he grabbed my chin, forcing me to meet his furious gaze.
“Why aren’t you answering? So, you do think I’m overbearing, don’t you?”
His grip was iron, and just as I was about to offer some placating words, a waiter appeared with our food, cutting through the tension.
“Your Highnesses, please enjoy your meal.”
Seizing the opportunity, I quickly pulled away from Bryan’s grasp and forced a smile.
“I don’t know anything about that. Let’s just eat first, shall we?”
I dragged my plate closer and immediately began eating, hoping to divert their attention.
But I barely managed two bites before a hand shot out and snatched my plate away.
Startled, I looked up to see Bryan holding my plate, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
“I’m hungry too. Mind if I share your food?”
𝙉𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙂𝖆𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀・ⅽ𝘰𝗺
Of course, I minded!
Rage simmered inside me, but when I saw the glint in his eyes, I swallowed my retort.
There was no point in arguing with him; he’d just do as he pleased anyway. Fine. I’d lost my appetite anyway. Resigned, I put down my fork.
“Then go ahead, Your Highness. I’m already full.”
I made a subtle move to leave, hoping to slip away unnoticed.
“Wait!”
“Who said you could leave?”
Bryan and Dominic spoke in unison, both of them reaching out to block my escape.
The scene felt eerily familiar, like déjà vu. This had happened before, with the same two men, no less!
Our little drama had drawn the attention of everyone in the restaurant, and I could feel their curious stares drilling into us. My head throbbed with the mounting stress. I tried to pull my hand free from their grip, but neither of them budged.
“Let go!” I whispered urgently, a note of desperation in my voice.
Bryan’s smile was cold, his eyes dark as he looked at me. “Why are you trying to leave now that I’m here? I helped you, didn’t I? Don’t you know how to repay a favor? You can’t even stay for a meal?”
Dominic, never one to be outdone, chimed in with a sly grin, saying, “I’ve helped you plenty of times, too. You wouldn’t leave me to eat with someone else, would you? That would be so unappetizing.”
The two men glared at each other, the tension between them crackling like a live wire.
I was caught in the middle, unsure of how to escape this mess. Sure, both of them had helped me in the past, but they’d also taken their fair share of advantage. If it were up to me, I’d prefer to dine alone and have them both vanish into thin air.
As their standoff dragged on, their grips on my wrists tightened, sending jolts of pain up my arms. I couldn’t hold back a small gasp.
Wasn’t there anyone who could get me out of this? As if in answer to my silent plea, a familiar, gentle voice cut through the tension like a lifeline. “You’re hurting her!”
The next moment, I was released by a warm hand and nestled into a reassuring embrace.
