Chapter 159:
Makenna’s POV:
Alice’s words left me with an unsettling feeling. “We all had physical checkups when we first arrived at the palace, didn’t we?”
Alice nodded. “That was just a basic examination. I’ve heard that the king will use far more advanced equipment this time for a thorough check.”
She suddenly gripped my hands, her eyes bright with anticipation. “Makenna, I’ve also heard that those who pass the assessment will receive a substantial bonus!”
“Bonus?” Lily’s curiosity was piqued. “How much are we talking about?”
Alice waved her hands animatedly, unable to contain her enthusiasm. “I’ve heard it might be…”
But I wasn’t sharing their enthusiasm. In fact, I was far from it.
The idea of a bonus didn’t interest me in the slightest, but the mention of a thorough checkup caught my attention.
I had been with the princes multiple times, yet I hadn’t conceived. During a previous checkup, the doctor had mentioned that I might have difficulty getting pregnant. Maybe, just maybe, failing this assessment could be my ticket out of the palace.
A flicker of hope ignited within me.
Just then, the sound of the doorbell interrupted my thoughts.
Who could it be at this hour?
Perplexed, I went to the door, only to be greeted by Dominic, standing there with an air of nonchalance.
“Your Highness,” I asked, startled, “what brings you here?”
Dominic raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. “I heard you’ve returned from Bryan’s villa, so I thought I’d check on you.”
His words caught me off guard, but then it clicked. Bryan and Clayton had confronted each other because of me.
𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝘢𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝗲𝗹𝘀﹒ⅽ𝗼𝗺
Dominic must have caught wind of it.
Bryan had spirited me away in the dead of night and kept me locked up. Then Clayton had rescued me and brought me to his home. No doubt Dominic knew all about it.
Feeling a wave of embarrassment, I cast a glance at Alice and Lily.
Alice seemed just as surprised by Dominic’s appearance as I was, but it was Lily’s reaction that unsettled me. A flicker of joy and shyness flitted across her face. I blinked, scrutinizing Lily’s expression, but she looked perfectly normal again.
Had I imagined it?
My mind wandered back to Lily’s behavior since she had arrived. It had crossed my mind before that she might harbor feelings for Dominic. But before I could make sense of it, Dominic’s voice snapped me back to reality.
“Come with me. There’s somewhere I want to take you.”
I gathered my thoughts, masking my confusion as best as I could. Raising my chin, I asked, “Where? And why?”
Even though Dominic had helped me in the past, I had my doubts about his intentions. His sudden appearance didn’t sit well with me; I was sure he had something up his sleeve.
A slow smile curled his lips, and he drawled, “I’m here to give you a special training session.”
I stared at him, bewildered. “A training session?” What could he possibly mean?
Dominic nodded, a glint of mischief in his eyes. Without further explanation, he grabbed my arm and began to drag me along.
I couldn’t break free, so I quickly called back to Alice and Lily before reluctantly following Dominic.
Not long after, we arrived at a library.
I looked around, still utterly perplexed.
Was this really about training?
Dominic leaned against a bookshelf, finally offering some clarity. “I want you to be smarter, so you can pass the assessment without a hitch.”
“You want me to pass?” My confusion deepened. What was Dominic playing at?
He fixed me with a steady gaze, and his next words sent a shiver down my spine.
“Don’t pretend, Makenna. You’re thinking of using this chance to escape the palace, aren’t you?”
