Chapter 137

Athena studied the man before her with puzzlement.

He bore a passing resemblance to Ferris, the same charming eyes and high nose bridge. Yet, compared to Ferris’s striking features, his looks fell far short.

What was more, his wicked nature made even these mediocre features seem repulsive.

“Who do you think you are, spouting such nonsense here?” Trina stepped forward, glaring.

She stepped forward, ready to strike, but the man’s attendant quickly blocked her and barked, “How dare you? This is the heir of the McGee family.”

Athena arched an eyebrow, her gaze darkening.

‘So that’s who he is,’ she thought. ‘Ferris’s dad’s bastard son by a mistress, later taken in as Gale’s nephew. Calling him the heir is really giving him too much credit.’

“There’s only one heir in the McGee family. Where did this random nobody come from, pretending to be the heir?” Athena shot Wade McGee a look of utter disdain. With that, she didn’t hesitate to slap Wade hard across the face.

Trina couldn’t do it, but Athena sure could.

Athena had expected Wade to be furious, but to her surprise, his eyes gleamed with twisted excitement as he looked at her, delight written all over his face.

With a mocking grin, Wade purred, “Oh, you’re feisty. That slap felt so good. Want to hit me a few more times?”

Though his legs were useless, he eagerly leaned his face closer to Athena.

Athena curled her lips in a cold sneer. ‘Disgusting,’ she thought, eyeing the scoundrel with open contempt. With a sharp flick of her sleeve, she clasped her hands behind her back.

Her icy gaze bore into Wade as she said, “The McGee family doesn’t welcome you. Spare yourself the humiliation.”

Just then, Ferris stormed out in a rage, brandishing a sword in his hand. He lunged at Wade, aiming straight for his back. “Get out. Get out of here,” he roared.

The two attendants quickly grabbed Wade and hauled him over the wall to make their escape.

Just before disappearing, Wade sneered, “If you knew about Ferris’s past, would you still marry him?”

Ferris’s eyes burned red with rage as he roared like a frenzied leopard, “If I ever see him in this mansion again, you’ll pay with your lives.”

The guards immediately dropped to their knees in terror, begging for mercy.

Ferris clutched his chest, a sudden gush of blood spilling from his lips. He swayed unsteadily, barely able to stay upright. He braced himself on his sword and dropped to one knee.

“Ferris?” Athena rushed forward to support him. Checking his pulse, she found his rage had triggered a breath deviation.

His condition, which had just stabilized, flared up again. Ferris’s body was burning hot, sweat streaming down his face.

Athena quickly supported his weight and half-carried him inside, snapping at the maids, “What are you standing around for? Go prepare the herbal bath, now.”

The young maids, frozen in panic, finally sprang into action at Athena’s calm command.

Trina helped Athena get Ferris onto the bed.

“Get me the silver needles,” Athena instructed Trina, while starting to unfasten Ferris’s clothes.

Even in his semi-conscious state, Ferris clung tightly to Athena’s hand. His expression showed not just pain, but also deep shame.

“D–Don’t look at me,” he muttered.

Athena’s brows knitted together. “Your life or your pride?” she snapped. “I’m still waiting for you to marry me.” With that, she pried his hand open.

Ferris fell unconscious, which at least made Athena’s job easier. But when she removed Ferris’s clothes, she was stunned by the sight before her.

From his waist to his chest, burns—uneven, irregular patches—extended up to his shoulder blades and back.

These marks were not uniform, but scattered as though inflicted intentionally, patch after patch.

His back was densely covered with centipede-like scars, crawling across every inch of skin—a truly horrifying sight.

Trina’s hand flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with horror. She whispered, “How could he be hurt so badly?”

Athena wasn’t frightened by those scars. They only made her heart ache. Athena turned to Trina and said, “You may leave for now.”

Trina, realizing her lapse in composure, quickly apologized, “Lady Athena, I’m not afraid. I just can’t bear seeing Lord Ferris suffer so much.”

Athena nodded. “Go.”

“Yes, Lady Athena.” Trina set down what she was carrying and withdrew.

‘No wonder he wouldn’t let me see him undressed,’ Athena wondered.

“Ferris, did you really reject me because of this?” Athena’s heart twisted in agony.

She’d thought she’d suffered enough, but now she realized Ferris had endured far more.

Athena took a deep breath, forcing down the storm of emotions inside her. With steady hands, she picked up the silver needles and gently inserted them into Ferris’s acupoints.

After a careful round of acupuncture, Ferris’s breathing finally grew calm and even.

Athena wiped the sweat from her brow and sat silently by Ferris’s bedside.

His face was pale, his brows tightly furrowed as if trapped in a nightmare, his head tossed restlessly, muttering incoherent words.

Leaning closer, Athena caught only a few stunned phrases. ‘Go away. Don’t…’

Then, to her shock, Ferris broke into helpless sobs, a vulnerability Athena had never seen in him before. He looked like a shattered doll, as if the slightest touch might break him completely.

“Ferris? Ferris, wake up,” Athena called softly.

Moments later, Ferris’s eyes fluttered open. His eyes were bloodshot, filled with terror.

When he saw Athena, he immediately averted his gaze, unable to meet her eyes. He pulled the covers higher, burying himself underneath them.

“How are you still here?” came his muffled voice from under the covers.

Athena wondered what could have happened to Ferris to cause him such agony. Suddenly, she recalled what Wade had said before leaving.

He had asked, “If you knew about Ferris’s past, would you still marry him?”

Were those words that had triggered Ferris’s inferiority complex? she wondered.

Athena slowly reached out, her fingers brushing the edge of the quilt. Looking at Ferris, she said softly, “Since I’ve made up my mind to marry you, I would never reject you. So why are you hiding from me? Is it really just because of those scars?”

But Athena knew it wasn’t just about the scars. ‘There must be another reason,’ she thought. ‘There has to be more to it. Could it have something to do with Wade?’

Athena pulled back the covers, revealing Ferris’s tear-streaked face. To her surprise, he was gazing at her, tears streaming down his cheeks. Seeing him so vulnerable tore at her heart.

Athena gave Ferris a gentle smile. “This too shall pass, Ferris. You’ll be okay.”

Ferris finally managed to steady his emotions and tried to smile at Athena. But no matter how hard he tried, his lips simply wouldn’t obey.

“Athena, I just need some time to myself,” Ferris said quietly.

Athena understood his emotional collapse. His scars, both physical and emotional, had almost healed. But everything changed with Wade’s arrival, which triggered memories Ferris had tried so hard to bury.

Wade made Ferris relive those painful memories he never wanted to revisit.

Even in such agony, the fact that he could still remain gentle with Athena spoke volumes about his strength.

“Okay, I’ll come to see you in a few days.” Athena gave a gentle, understanding nod. She slowly rose to her feet and quietly turned to leave.

Just as Athena reached the door, Ferris called out to her, his voice thick with emotion. “Athena?”

She turned back to see him forcing a bitter, self-mocking smile. “What if I’m not the perfect man you imagine? Would you still treat me this way?”

“I would. Always,” she said.

Ferris’s voice trembled as he looked at Athena. “What if I’m tainted?”