Chapter 442

Chapter 442:

“Argh!” Gwyn’s scream echoed as she landed about twenty feet away, hitting the ground with a sickening thud.

I stood there, wide-eyed, completely stunned. What just happened?

I turned to Evie, who looked equally shocked, though her stance was firm, protective. How did she get so strong?

Before I could process it, a familiar, calm voice broke through the tension. “What’s going on here?” I turned to see Clayton approaching swiftly.

He barely spared Gwyn a glance as he made a beeline for me. “Makenna.” His golden eyes scanned me with concern. “Are you alright?”

I nodded, my heartbeat beginning to settle. “I’m fine,” I assured him, explaining the situation as briefly as I could.

His jaw tightened as he listened, and a flash of anger darkened his eyes.

Gwyn’s eyes darted nervously at Clayton’s growing anger. “Your Highness, please, don’t listen to Makenna! She’s just—” Clayton didn’t bother to listen. With a single dismissive wave, soldiers appeared from outside, storming in and pinning Gwyn to the ground before she could utter another word.

“Take this unruly maid and punish her with ten lashes,” Clayton ordered.

Gwyn’s face turned ashen. She fell to her knees, her eyes wide with terror. “Please, Your Highness!” she cried. “Spare me, I beg you…”

But it was too late. The soldiers dragged her away, her desperate pleas fading into the distance until only silence remained.

Clayton turned back to me, his expression softening as he took my hands. “I’m sorry, Makenna. I should have been here sooner. This won’t happen again, I promise. I’ll station guards here to make sure no one unauthorized comes near.”

I smiled gently, squeezing his hand. “It’s alright. This wasn’t your fault.”

Still, guilt flickered in his eyes. Determined to make up for it, Clayton showered me with gifts over the following days—jewels that sparkled like the sun, rare herbs that were worth more than gold.

Soon, my room overflowed with the evidence of his affection, a constant reminder that despite everything, he cared deeply. And though the jewels meant little to me, my heart warmed. He did truly care.

Molly’s POV:

I paced restlessly across the room, my thoughts spiraling. It had been days since Clayton last came home, and the longer he stayed away, the heavier the weight of worry settled in my chest. My only hope now rested on Gwyn bringing him back.

Hayley, ever the gentle voice of reason, noticed my distress and tried to soothe me. “Molly, don’t worry. You’re pregnant now. Prince Clayton will return for the sake of his child.”

Her words were meant to comfort, but they only stoked my frustration. The resentment I had been swallowing boiled up inside me, and my thoughts twisted toward Makenna. I spat her name like a curse. “It’s all that damned Makenna’s fault! If she hadn’t thrown herself at him, Prince Clayton wouldn’t be holed up at her place for days, ignoring everything and everyone.”

I clenched my fists, teeth grinding as memories of Clayton’s cold indifference washed over me. How could he treat me like this? If Makenna hadn’t slithered into his life, there was no way he’d be so heartless, so distant. I was so furious.

Just then, Gwyn stumbled through the door, her limp catching my attention.

My heart sank, and I met her with a scowl. “Where is he? Where is Prince Clayton?”

Gwyn’s face crumpled, and she shook her head. “He refuses to come back. And Makenna—” Her breath hitched, and tears welled in her eyes. “She insulted you, and… and Prince Clayton punished me because of her!”

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