Chapter 133

Inside the shop, Athena sat at the low coffee table, unable to ignore the burning gaze from across the room. Ever since they'd entered the shop, Ferris had been staring at her.

Finally, Athena looked up at him and asked, "Why do you keep staring at me like that?"

Since they confessed their feelings to each other last time, Ferris no longer acted coldly toward Athena. Hearing Athena’s question, Ferris let out a soft chuckle and said, “I just think about how foolish I was before, missing out on someone as wonderful as you.”

His words made Athena blush slightly. She offered Ferris a soft smile and asked, “Is there something urgent that brought you out to see me this late?”

The lanterns under the eaves swayed gently, casting dappled shadows through the shop. The soft amber light fell upon Ferris’s face, adding a tender glow to his already handsome features.

Ferris straightened his expression and got down to business. “That matter you asked me to look into last time—I’ve got some leads.”

Athena grew visibly excited. “Where are they?”

Ferris’s expression turned hesitant as he debated whether to tell Athena the truth.

“Out with it.” Seeing his face, Athena felt a wave of dread wash over her.

If Thalia and Macy were really doing well, Ferris wouldn’t look like this, she thought.

After much hesitation, Ferris finally spoke up. “After you left, Thalia and Macy were sold off.”

Athena’s breath caught in her throat, her hands clenched involuntarily, nails digging deep into her palms.

“At Southalley,” Ferris murmured softly.

Southalley was the most squalid brothel district, teeming with all sorts of lowlifes. Even a beggar could buy a woman’s company there for just ten coins.

Athena felt all her strength drain away. Helpless, she stared at the table and choked out, "Then what?"

For any woman sent to a place like that, it was a living hell. The brothel madams had endless cruel ways to break them and force them to serve men. Countless young girls either perished or lost their minds in that place.

“Thalia died on her very first day there. She threw herself against a wall. Now, only Macy remains.” Ferris couldn’t bring himself to tell Athena the details.

Even in death, Thalia had suffered unspeakable violations. As for Macy, her fate was even more tragic. The torment one could imagine, the endured was beyond anything.

Athena’s eyes reddened instantly, blazing with grief and fury like ignited flames. She jerked her head up to stare at Ferris, her voice trembling as she fought to keep it steady. “Take me to see Macy now.”

Those once-lively eyes were now rimmed with fret, yet beneath that icy surface raged a hatred fierce enough to consume anyone in its path.

Ferris’s eyes were filled with compassion and reluctance. After a long moment, he nodded gently and uttered, “Alright.”

He reached out to Athena. “Take you thang."

Athena placed her hand in his, and only then did Ferris notice that her fingers were ice-cold, utterly devoid of warmth.

Chapter 133

They arrived by carriage in front of a secluded manor.

On the way, Ferris had explained things to Athena. Macy’s trauma was so severe that she hardly recognizes anyone now. She often lashed out or screamed uncontrollably.

Athena nodded woodenly. “I understand.”

Athena had mentally prepared herself, but just as she reached the door, Ferris stopped her. He said, “Athena, some hardships have already happened. You should try to let them go.”

Athena looked at him, utterly confused. “Ferris, what exactly are you trying to say?"

The light in Ferris’s eyes dimmed. Frowning, he told her the harsh truth. “Macy has been tortured beyond recognition. I’m afraid you won’t be able to bear it.”

Hearing this, Athena gritted her teeth and forced out, “I can handle it.”

I have survived the camps. I have made it through living hell. Fear? None, she wondered.

Athena pushed open the door and stopped inside. The room was sparsely furnished, every piece of furniture tightly wrapped in cloth strips.

Bound with ropes on the bed lay a figure—her hair wild and tangled as she cowers in the corner, most of her body hidden behind sheer drapes. Only the faintest outline suggested it was a woman.

Athena tentatively called out, “Macy?”

The figure flinched violently as if startled, then clutched her head and let out a piercing scream. Athena’s heart twisted in agony at the sight.

She didn’t dare get any closer, instead stopping about six feet away and softly calling, “Macy, it’s me, Athena.”

The woman on the bed didn’t respond, but at least she’d stopped screaming. There was a pause, almost like recognition dawning.

Seeing her react, Athena choked back a sob and called out again, “Macy, don’t you remember? When I was little, I loved the sweet pastries you made.

“You always said that sweet pastries could cheer people up, and if I ate more, I wouldn’t suffer anymore. Macy?”

The woman on the bed slowly turned her head. But the moment she saw Athena, she clutched her head and let out a shrill, terrified scream.

Athena wasn’t frightened by Mary’s deranged state. But when she caught sight of Macy’s mouth, Athena recoiled in horror, taking two steps back. Macy’s tongue had been cut out.

Macy opened her mouth, straining to produce garbled syllables. “L—Lady Athena..."

Then Macy wailed uncontrollably. Her hoarse, indistinguishable sobs sounded as if her throat was filled with gravel. With her tongue gone, it was impossible to tell whether she was crying or screaming.

“Macy?” When Athena saw that Macy recognized her, she shouted and rushed forward to her.

Hearing the commotion, Ferris burst into the room. “Athena, don’t,” he called out.

He tried to stop Athena from approaching Macy, but the two women were already clinging to each other, bursting into loud sobs. The words he meant to say died on his lips, replaced by shock.

When Macy was first rescued, she wouldn’t let anyone near her. She also showed severe self-harming tendencies.

At one point, Macy even managed to run away. After she was found and brought back, to prevent her from escaping again, they had no choice but to restrain her to the bed with ropes for her safety.

The ropes were padded with cloth, and she was given enough space to move around.

Chapter 133

Perhaps realizing that those caring for her meant no harm, Macy eventually stopped trying to run. Still, she remained mentally unstable, completely detached from reality.

Ferris had feared that Macy might hurt Athena, but the scene before him stunned him.

To his astonishment, seeing Athena seemed to bring a moment of clarity to Macy’s troubled mind. She actually recognized Athena.

They clung desperately to each other, sobbing uncontrollably for what felt like an eternity before Athena finally pulled away.

Her gaze trembling, Athena looked Macy over. Her body was covered in gruesome, livid scars. The sight made Athena's stomach churn.

But the cruelest thing was that the tendons in Macy’s wrists and ankles had been severed, even the simplest grasp was now an impossible dream.

“Macy, I’m so sorry,” Athena sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

Athena had endured so much suffering herself without ever shedding a tear, but now, seeing Macy like this, it felt as if she could cry until there were no tears left.

Though Macy was Athena’s maid, they grew up together. Macy was utterly devoted, always looking out for Athena.

Whenever danger arose, Macy would step in front of Athena without hesitation to shield her. Macy was more like a sister than a servant.

“I could kill myself for not finding her sooner," Athena berated herself inwardly. If only I’d found her earlier, she wouldn’t have had to suffer so much.

Macy could only produce guttural, inarticulate sounds from her ruined throat.

Tortured beyond speech, she whimpered weakly, straining with all her might to lift her trembling hand, just to wipe the tears from Athena’s face.

Athena clutched Macy’s hand tightly, her voice dripping with venomous hatred as she demanded through gritted teeth, “Tell me, who did this to you?”