Chapter 13

Nicolas stared at her, stunned. “You still won’t repent? You are lucky Willow’s safe. If anything had happened, you’d have paid with your life.”

Athena let out a soft, bitter laugh. “So. You found her. Let me guess–she cried, didn’t she? Said she couldn’t come home unless I forgave her. Isn’t that right?”

The disdain in her voice was unfiltered, cutting straight through the air. Nicolas and Henry stood frozen, stunned–because she’d guessed it perfectly.

Willow had gone back to a remote village outside the city. When they found her, her eyes were red and swollen from crying.

When she saw them, she looked like she wanted to run into their arms–but held herself back.

She said it was all because of Athena. That Athena’s resentment had driven a wedge between her and the rest of the family. That she didn’t want to make things harder for their parents. Leaving had been the best choice.

Henry felt a surge of irritation. Willow may not have been his biological daughter, but he’d raised her himself.

She never competed, never caused trouble. She always put the family first. And Athena–he wondered, ‘How could she not even tolerate someone like that?’

His expression turned colder as he looked at her.

“Willow has always been gentle,” he said. “She grew up well-loved and sheltered. She’s not the kind of person who schemes or manipulates. Don’t project your own bitterness onto her. She stayed away because she was thinking of you.”

Then his voice hardened, leaving no room for negotiation. “You’ll go to her yourself–and convince her to come back.” It wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command.

Chapter 14

Athena let out a sharp, incredulous laugh. “So you couldn’t persuade her, but somehow I’m supposed to succeed? That’s strange, isn’t it? Almost as if you’ve set this whole thing up–just waiting for me to back down.”

Henry’s face darkened, ready to lash out, but Nicolas quickly shot him a look to hold back.

Athena had already bowed through the night and hadn’t yielded an inch. Pushing her further would only deepen her resentment.

With a cold huff, Henry turned his head away in silence.

Nicolas swallowed his temper and spoke with deliberate calm, “How far do you plan to take this? If Grandmother hears about what’s happened, do you think her health can take the shock?”

At the mention of Margaret, a flicker of emotion crossed Athena’s otherwise frozen heart. That was the only reason she’d returned to this place–to treat Margaret’s illness.

The herbal medicine she’d prepared had already begun to work. Margaret’s condition was improving steadily. Just two more months of treatment, and she’d be fully recovered. After that, Athena could finally leave this household behind for good.

“Fine. I’ll go,” she said quietly, her voice stripped of all feeling.

Nicolas glanced at her in surprise, clearly not expecting her to give in–especially not so easily. ‘All for Grandmother? If only she’d done this earlier,’ he thought, ‘all this punishment could’ve been avoided.’

Still, a trace of irritation crept into his tone. “Change your clothes before you leave. If Willow sees you like this, she’ll start blaming herself again.”

Athena didn’t bother responding. She had no strength left to argue.

Siena and Aliza hurried forward to help her stand. Her legs had long since gone numb. It took a long moment before the blood began to circulate again and sensation returned.

Leaning on their shoulders, she hunched slightly and limped forward, one slow step at a time.

Seeing her struggle to walk, Nicolas couldn’t help but frown.

He thought, ‘Did I go too far yesterday? Was the punishment really that harsh? Or is she just pretending–to make me feel guilty?’

What he didn’t realize was that Athena’s knees had already been damaged years ago. Even on normal days, they throbbed with pain like needles driving into her joints. And now, after a full night bowing in the cold rain, it was far worse.

Willow was staying in a small village on the outskirts of Pidence City--not far, but far enough to feel separate.

After the truth came out—that the girls had been switched at birth—the duke’s estate had immediately sent people to bring her home.

Athena’s adoptive father, Daniel Holmes, had been a hunter and a gambling addict. Whenever he lost, he’d drown himself in wine and come home to beat Loretta Holmes, her adoptive mother, half to death.

That kind of life had worn Loretta down over the years. But when she realized the woman giving birth beside her in that run-down church was Eloise, something inside her shifted. While no one was watching, she did the unthinkable–she switched the two newborns.

Maybe it was fate. It had rained heavily that day, trapping both women in the abandoned church. One after the other, they gave birth to two baby girls.

Now, as Athena returned to that same village, memories from thirteen years ago came crashing back. It had been the darkest five years of her life - filled with beatings, insults, and endless suffering.

When Loretta saw her, she looked stricken with guilt–wanting to come forward, but too ashamed to face her. She knew she owed Athena far too much.

Daniel and her older brother, on the other hand, lit up the moment they saw her–like they were looking at a gold mine.

Instead of showing any guilt, the two men eagerly stepped forward, trying to cozy up to Athena.

“Athena, you’re finally back! You have to talk to Willow,” said Daniel, smiling as if nothing had happened. “Ever since she got back from the duke’s estate, she hasn’t said a word. Just cries all day.”

Daniel was far from pleased about Willow’s return. When the truth about the baby swap first came out, if it hadn’t been for Willow’s desperate pleading, Henry likely would’ve had their whole family executed.

Fortunately, Henry had spared them–unable to harden his heart toward Willow he’d raised for so many years. He even gave them a large sum of money, severing ties with the Holmes family for good.

Athena glanced at the crumbling house and a faint smirk tugged at her lips. Clearly, Daniel hadn’t given up gambling. If he had, there’s no way they’d be living like this.

Daniel looked at Athena nervously. She still looked like the same girl–but the presence she carried now was worlds apart. Cold, distant, untouchable.

She was no longer the scared little girl he used to yell at and beat.

He braced himself, expecting a scolding, but to his surprise, Athena pulled out some money and pressed it into his hand. “I’ll have someone bring money regularly,” she said flatly.

Daniel’s face lit up with joy. “Athena, I always knew you were a good girl. You haven’t forgotten your dear old dad!”

Athena smiled, cool and sharp. She thought, ‘Go ahead, gamble away everything. Ruin yourself, ruin this family. That’s what you deserve!’

Loretta peeked up at her, eyes wet with tears. She didn’t dare come closer. Head bowed, she avoided Athena’s gaze entirely.

But she didn’t regret what she’d done. She thought, ‘People die for money–what’s a baby swap in comparison?’ And she’d bet on the right child. Willow was now a noble young lady with a future paved in gold. She’d secured a prosperous path for Willow.

At the duke’s estate, Willow had food, status, and warmth. If she’d stayed here, she’d have ended up just like Loretta–beaten down by poverty and circumstance.

Forcing a smile, Loretta said, “Athena, go talk to Willow, will you?”

Athena didn’t answer. She simply stepped inside.

When Willow saw her, she panicked and stumbled back a step. “Athena… you–why are you here?”

She shrank into the corner like a frightened animal. Her face was deathly pale, her eyes rimmed with red, tears trembling on her lashes.

Athena said nothing. She simply scanned the room with a calm, measured look.

The quieter she was, the more frantic Willow became. Finally, one tear slipped down her cheek.

The only sound in the room was Willow’s soft sobbing.

Athena looked at her, voice level. “You left the duke’s estate of your own will. So what are you crying about now? There’s no audience here–it’s just the two of us. Who are you still putting on a show for?”

Willow shook her head frantically, rushing to explain. “Athena, I never meant to fight you. I really did want to come back here…”

“If this is what you want, then make it official.” Athena pushed pen and paper in front of her. “Write.”

Willow blinked, stunned. “Write what?”

“A letter cutting all ties."

She froze, her lips paling. “With… which family?”

Athena’s voice was cool, unflinching. “With the duke’s estate. With the Monson family.”