Chapter 139
Athena had already stepped out with one foot, but when Matthew’s threatening words reached her, she froze and pulled her foot back.
As she turned her head to Matthew, Athena’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “Before you come after me, you’d better clean up your own mess. Don’t be the fool who helps the person who always harms you.”
Matthew was momentarily taken aback by her words. “What do you mean by that?” he asked.
Athena shot Matthew a sharp, sarcastic look. “Why is it that every time something happens, the information conveniently reaches you? Haven’t you ever stopped to wonder why?”
Athena never meant to say this much to Matthew, but honestly, he was such a fool—so clueless—that she couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him.
Matthew gritted his teeth and snapped, “Obviously, someone couldn’t stand all the nasty things you’ve done, so they came running to me to report you.”
“Oh,” Athena drawled sarcastically, “So I’m just supposed to turn a blind eye when Joseph frames Grandma and ransacks her storage room? Is that it?”
Matthew was momentarily speechless. “Well, you still shouldn’t have reported it to the authorities. Have you no brotherly bond left?”
Athena scoffed, looking at Matthew as if he were a complete fool. “You don’t even know the full story, yet you’re rushing to confront me. What exactly do you gain from being his pawn?”
“T–This is all your fault,” Matthew snapped, barely containing his frustration.
Every time something went wrong, it was Athena. Athena always caused him trouble.
Athena looked at Matthew with even more pity in her eyes. “Now I finally get why you’ve never gotten promoted all these years. With a brain like yours, you’re only fit to be a grunt in the Pidence Guards.”
With that, Athena couldn’t be bothered with Matthew anymore. She turned on her heel and walked away.
But Matthew wasn’t about to let her go without getting the answers he wanted.
Seeing that he was still blocking her way, Trina couldn’t help but cry out, “Sir Monson, please, stop giving Miss Monson a hard time. Just think about it. Someone knows you’re impulsive and is feeding you lies, all to turn you against her.”
A vague thought flashed through Matthew’s mind, but it slipped away before he could grasp it. He shook his head and snapped, “That’s absolute nonsense.”
His words were firm, but doubt had already taken root in his mind.
‘Come to think of it, Athena’s words do make some sense,’ he thought. ‘Every time I go after Athena, I either get punished or meet a miserable end. Could it be someone is really using me?’
Athena shot Matthew a look of disdain and said, “If you can’t figure it out, just go ask someone. Being a fool, you’ll never guess it anyway.”
With that, Athena turned sharply and strode off, Trina quickly falling into step behind her. Athena thought, ‘Why waste my breath on someone who refuses to see the truth?’
After Athena left, Matthew stood rooted to the spot, as if frozen, actually beginning to think things through for the first time.
Matthew wondered, ‘When exactly did Athena and I become sworn enemies? It seems that ever since Athena came back home, I’ve been going after her.
‘But that’s only because Athena is so vicious. She’s jealous of Willow, and that’s what started all this trouble.’
Athena’s words planted the first seeds of doubt in Matthew’s once unshakable conviction. She was right. The servant who reported to him was indeed from Willow’s courtyard.
Am I really being used?’ Matthew wondered.
Matthew headed toward Willow’s courtyard.
Willow was caught off guard by Matthew’s sudden arrival.
“Matthew, what brings you here?” Willow rose to greet him, her face adorned with an innocent, guileless smile. At first glance, Willow didn’t seem the least bit scheming.
With doubts creeping into his mind, Matthew’s demeanor toward Willow cooled.
Willow’s smile froze at his cold demeanor. “Matthew, what’s the matter? Did something happen?”
Matthew slowly swept his cold gaze across the people in the room and ordered icily, “Everyone, out.”
The servants didn’t dare defy such a stern order from Matthew and quickly filed out of the room.
Nona stood rooted to the spot, but her face betrayed a hint of panic. Matthew knew Nona was Willow’s confidant, so he didn’t dismiss her.
Matthew’s expression was so intimidating that Willow shrank back in fear, unable to meet his gaze.
“Matthew?” Willow called out in a soft, trembling voice, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
Willow’s pitiful, timid expression finally softened Matthew’s heart a little. His tone softened slightly as he asked, “Willow, tell me honestly. Why did you have Zick tattle on Athena to me?”
When Matthew suddenly brought this up, Willow’s eyes widened in genuine bewilderment.
She stared fixedly at Matthew, her gaze unwavering. Suddenly, a tear slipped down her cheek.
Her voice trembling with sobs, Willow said, “Matthew, why would you say that? I never told Zick to tattle on anyone. If you don’t believe me, just bring him here and ask him yourself.”
Matthew felt torn as he looked at Willow’s aggrieved face, his heart aching for her. But all Matthew wanted was a clear answer.
So even as Willow looked aggrieved, Matthew remained unmoved. “I’ve already had him brought here,” he said, his tone unwavering.
Willow’s eyes widened dramatically, and her tears flowed even harder. “So that’s what you really think of me, Matthew?” she cried. “I’ve never once tried to compete with Athena. I’ve always yielded and accommodated. Isn’t that enough for you?”
Seeing Willow cry so hard, Matthew panicked and fumbled for words. “Hey, don’t cry. That’s not what I meant. I’m just worried you’re too innocent and might get led astray by people around you, so I wanted to give you a heads-up. Don’t overthink it, okay?”
Matthew had been ready to haul Zick in for a direct confrontation, but seeing how truly heartbroken Willow was, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Matthew, utterly at a loss for how to console Willow, could only rise to his feet with a helpless sigh. “All right,” he conceded, “this must be a misunderstanding.” With that, Matthew made to leave.
Willow, however, refused to let it go. “Since you’ve already brought him here, Matthew, we might as well get to the bottom of this,” she said with feigned resolve. “Otherwise, you might hear some other nonsense and come accusing me again.”
Willow gave Nona a meaningful look. “Tell Zick to come in,” she murmured.
Nona responded, lifted the curtain, and called out, “Zick, come in and answer.”
Moments later, a slender, nervous–looking servant boy entered and bowed deeply. “Your humble servant greets Miss Monson and Sir Monson.”
Willow sobbed, her voice trembling with tears as she accused Zick, “I’ve always treated you well. Why would you frame me like this? What reason did you have to tattle to Matthew about Athena?”
Zick frantically waved his hands and swore on his life, “Sir Monson, Miss Monson is being wronged. This was all my own doing. I just couldn’t stand by and see people mislead you. If you must punish someone, punish me.”
With that, he apologized repeatedly.
Willow sat aside, dabbing at her tears, while the whole room, mistress and servants alike, burst into exaggerated sobs.
Watching this chaotic scene unfold before him, Matthew felt nothing but frustration and deep regret. He thought, ‘I was too rash. How could I have doubted Willow just because of a few words from Athena?’
Nona also spoke up for Willow, her voice tinged with grievance. “Just now, Miss Monson said your boots are worn out, Sir Monson, and she even asked me to make you a new pair.”
Upon hearing Nona’s words, Matthew’s gaze instinctively flickered to the table. Sure enough, several boot patterns were neatly arranged on the table.
For a moment, Matthew hated himself. He rushed to comfort Willow, saying, “It’s all my fault. I was being an idiot. Willow, please don’t take it to heart, okay?"
Willow sniffled and nodded, her voice trembling with feigned vulnerability. “I could never blame you, Matthew. You’re the best brother in the world, but please don’t do this again. It would shatter me.”
“Yes, it’s all my fault.” Matthew nodded frantically, his heart wrenching with guilt.
After placating Willow for a while longer, Matthew finally took his leave.
As soon as Matthew left, Willow finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Nona whispered, “Lady Willow, good thing you originally planned to make a pair of shoes for Lord Osborne, but now it seems she’ll have to make them for Sir Monson first.”
Willow looked at Nona gratefully. “Nona, what would I ever do without you?”
“Miss Monson, you are so kind-hearted and always treat me well. Naturally, my loyalty will always be with you,” said Nona.
“You can rest assured,” Willow said reassuringly, dangling the carrot of promotion before Nona. “Once I marry into the Osborne family, I’ll make you head maid.”
Nona’s eyes lit up with excitement, and she quickly thanked her. But a faint blush crept across her cheeks.
‘A mere head maid? That’s nowhere near what I’m after,’ Nona thought to herself, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. ‘Lord Osborne is so dashing and handsome, every girl’s dream husband. Honestly, even being his concubine would be worth it.’