Chapter 197:
Makenna’s POV:
“No…” I wanted to refuse, but the sharp impatience in Bryan’s gaze swallowed my words before they could leave my lips. Fine. This man was as unpredictable as a storm. One wrong word, and I’d be the one paying the price.
But I underestimated just how rough Bryan could be. His fingers, smeared with cold ointment, pressed against the bruises on my neck with a force that was far from gentle.
“Ouch…” I winced, instinctively shrinking away from the pain.
Bryan glanced at me, curling his lip. “So delicate.”
“You’re the delicate one,” I muttered under my breath, glaring at him with a mix of frustration and resentment. If he didn’t know how to apply ointment properly, why was he so insistent on doing it himself? Such an unreasonable man.
Maybe it was just my imagination, but after my complaint, his touch seemed to grow a bit softer, even if his words remained harsh.
The room fell into a tense silence, the only sound being Bryan’s steady breathing, which somehow set me on edge. As he finished applying the ointment, I noticed the scratches on Bryan’s arm—the wounds that foolish man had inflicted.
A twinge of guilt pricked at me. After all, it was my plan that had pushed that fool into a frenzy. Bryan might be a scoundrel, but I owed him this time.
With a sigh, I snatched the ointment from Bryan’s hand just as he was about to set it aside. “Let me do it for you,” I said, nodding toward his wounds. “You haven’t treated your injury yet.”
Bryan’s previously sullen expression softened immediately, a pleased smile spreading across his face. “At least you have some conscience.”
I couldn’t help but shake my head in exasperation at his smug look.
Why did I even offer to help him? He had his own hands, and servants to tend to him! It wasn’t my job to do this.
“What are you waiting for?” Bryan lounged on the sofa, extending his arm toward me and commanding, “Hurry up and apply the ointment.”
𝖥𝗂𝗋𝗌𝗍 𝖈𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗈𝗇 g𝖺𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝗌⨳𝖈𝗈𝗆
I rolled my eyes and reluctantly began to treat his wounds. But no sooner had I started than Bryan, who had just called me delicate, suddenly turned into the most fragile creature on earth, wincing and complaining that I wasn’t being gentle enough.
“Are you even a woman? You’re as rough as sandpaper.”
“I’ll be gentler, okay?” I gritted my teeth and tried to lighten my touch. But his complaints were endless—it was too painful, and I wasn’t applying the ointment in the right spot.
Finally, I’d had enough. I pressed down hard on the wound, my patience snapping. Bryan yelped, glaring at me. “Damn it! What are you doing?”
I met his gaze with a fake smile, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “That’s what rough really feels like.”
Bryan laughed at my defiance, a playful glint in his eyes. Suddenly, he pulled me closer, his hand gripping my chin as he stared into my eyes with a dangerous intensity. “You’ve got some nerve, daring to disrespect me like that.”
At that moment, I realized with a sinking heart that no matter how much of a scoundrel Bryan was, he was still a prince. And I was nothing more than a slave. I had indeed been too bold just now.
But Bryan didn’t seem angry. If anything, he looked intrigued, his fingers tracing the curve of my cheek as a wicked smile spread across his face.
“You need a lesson,” he murmured, his voice low and filled with dark promise. “Without a bit of punishment, you never seem to learn.”
