Chapter 114: A Voice I RecognizeVOICE I RECOGNIZE

"I missed you!" Xina exclaimed as she rushed toward Mary and Ann, pulling them into a warm hug. She didn’t care about Sullivan's sharp gaze drilling into her back. After dealing with Jade, Sullivan’s intensity was nothing. "We missed you too, my lady!" Mary beamed, forgetting for a moment that the king was standing right behind Xina. Ann, while happy to see Xina, kept her composure. It wasn’t long before Sullivan cleared her throat, reminding them of their position. Mary and Ann quickly stepped back, bowing their heads respectfully toward Gary. Xina, not pleased with the interruption, dismissed it internally. There would be time later to catch up with her friends when the king wasn’t around. Gary approached her, kissing her cheek gently before leaning close to whisper, “I’ll be in my study if you need me.” His voice was a soft rumble in her ear. Xina nodded, smiling as she kissed him back. The gesture seemed to please him, though Canan, standing behind him, looked less than impres