Chapter 112:
Frank’s POV:
Makenna walked away, leaving behind that sweet, teasing scent of hers.
My hand twitched, almost reaching out to her, but I caught myself just in time and shook off that ghostly impulse.
And just like that, I went cold again.
I couldn’t wrap my head around it—how this woman I’d discarded so easily could now be the center of the princes’ attention. Sure, she was beautiful, that much I could admit, but what of it? She was still a woman I’d dumped.
That thought brought a smirk to my lips. Yes, she was nothing more than a discarded toy, now just a fleeting amusement for those princes who favored her. The thought soothed me, reassured me that I hadn’t made a mistake.
As I was lost in my thoughts, a sudden tap on my shoulder snapped me back.
“Frank?”
Jessica’s voice, syrupy sweet, dripped into my ear. I hadn’t noticed her sidling up beside me.
She eyed me skeptically and asked, “What’s got you so distracted? You looked miles away.”
I stole a quick glance at the spot where Makenna had been, but she was long gone.
I felt so relieved. I forced a smile, playing it cool. “Nothing much, just work stuff.”
Jessica seemed satisfied with my answer. She looped her arm through mine, leaning in. “So, how’s it going? Is Makenna coming?”
I nodded, a smug grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. “The king’s given his blessing. She doesn’t have a choice.”
A flash of Makenna’s face flickered in my mind—stubborn, beautiful, and utterly infuriating. Something about the memory stirred an odd feeling in me, but I buried it deep, letting nothing show.
Jessica was beaming with triumph. She lifted her chin, arrogant and delighted. “That bitch humiliated me at the banquet. This time, she’ll regret it.”
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She raised her hand, and the diamond on her ring finger caught the sunlight, dazzling. Bigger, brighter, and more ostentatious than the one I’d ever given Makenna.
Jessica’s smirk grew wider. “Who’d want the trash she left behind? I deserve better.”
I stared at the ring on her finger, feeling sorry for every coin I’d spent.
Ever since Makenna had pointed out that the ring Jessica was wearing was the very one she’d left behind, Jessica had gone ballistic. She demanded a new ring, a better one, as if the old one had suddenly become cursed.
Honestly, I just couldn’t get her. A ring was a ring, right? What made hers so different from Makenna’s? Besides, Jessica had always had a knack for taking things that belonged to Makenna. Why wouldn’t she just take that old ring and be done with it?
But no, she wasn’t having it. She cried, pleaded, nagging for something bigger, something shinier—something that screamed “better” in every way.
In the end, I caved. I bought her the damn ring, and now my credit card was maxed out, all for a piece of jewelry.
Jessica held the ring up to me, her eyes wide with expectation as she cooed, “Doesn’t it look perfect on me?”
The sight of it made my stomach churn, but I forced a nod. My mind was elsewhere.
If it had been Makenna, she would’ve understood…
Wait. Why was I thinking about Makenna now?
I shook my head, trying to clear the thought.
Makenna was barren. She didn’t know how to make me happy like Jessica did!
I tried to convince myself of that, but the more I tried, the more Makenna’s gentle words and quiet understanding crept back into my thoughts.
Jessica broke through as she started prattling on about how she planned to humiliate Makenna in front of everyone tomorrow. She was practically over-excited about it.
But as I watched that victorious smile stretch across her face, a chill settled in my gut. For the first time, her smile didn’t just seem triumphant—it felt cold. I felt a hard, heavy knot of regret pulling me down.
Had I made the right choice? Giving up Makenna… for Jessica?
