Chapter 1176

Chapter 1176:

Dominic, refusing to back down, raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Don’t forget, Makenna is my mate.”

“Dominic!” Bryan choked, clearly seething yet momentarily lost for words.

Their bickering spiraled into a lively squabble, voices tumbling over one another in a noisy, chaotic chorus. Amid it all, Winfred burst into soft giggles, his tiny hands flailing in delight as if he were joining in the quarrel himself.

I couldn’t help but smile at the sight. Before long, Winfred let out a tiny yawn, his eyelids drooping heavily with sleep.

I gently rocked him in my arms. “Sleep now, sweetheart. I’m right here.”

And just like that, he drifted off in my arms, peaceful once more. After settling him carefully back into the cradle, we tiptoed out of the room, careful not to wake him.

Standing out in the hallway, a sudden wave of guilt and worry swept over me as Alice’s face filled my thoughts.

I turned anxiously to Dominic. “How’s Alice? Is she okay?”

He gave a reassuring nod. “She’s doing fine. All her wounds have been treated. The doctor said she’s just a bit weak and needs a few days of rest to recover.”

I let out a sigh of relief, though the guilt in my heart didn’t fade. “I want to see her. If it weren’t for her… Winfred…”

Makenna’s POV:

I stood alone outside Alice’s door, a storm of emotions churning inside me, making my hand falter on the doorknob.

Drawing a shaky breath, I rapped gently on the door and called out in a low voice, “Alice, it’s me—Makenna.”

“Come in,” Alice replied softly, her voice a little weary but carrying that familiar, comforting warmth.

I eased the door open and found Alice perched on the edge of the bed, cradling a cup of water in her hands. Though she was still pale, there was a new light in her eyes—a spark that hadn’t been there before.

M𝒪rє 𝒸ontєnt 𝓃𝒾𝓌: g𝒶l𝑛ovєls.𝓬○𝓶

When she spotted me, a small, tender smile curved her lips, and she spoke like a breeze whispering through the trees. “Makenna, you’re here.”

I hurried over and gently took her hand in mine, my chest tight with emotion. Guilt hit me like a tidal wave, stealing the breath right out of me. “Alice… I’m so sorry for everything you went through.”

Alice shook her head, her voice soft but steady. “Please, Makenna, don’t say that. Winfred is your son, and he is my family too. Protecting him… it was never a question.”

My vision blurred, and before I knew it, tears were spilling down my cheeks.

In the next heartbeat, I threw my arms around her, clutching her like a lifeline. My voice broke under the weight of my gratitude. “Thank you, Alice. Thank you… If it weren’t for you, I don’t know where we would be.”

Alice’s hand found my back, patting me with a tenderness that unraveled the tight knot in my chest, her voice soft as a lullaby. “Don’t cry. It’s behind us now. We’re safe. And Winfred is alright, isn’t he?”

I nodded furiously, wiping my cheeks with the heel of my hand. Pulling back just enough to meet Alice’s eyes, I asked, my voice thick with worry, “Are you hurt? What did the doctor say?”

Alice’s smile grew a little brighter, and for a moment, it was like the sun breaking through clouds. “I’m fine, really. Just a bit drained. A few days’ rest, and I’ll be good as new. You don’t need to lose sleep over me.”

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