The room was in complete chaos. Several maids rushed to drag Macy away, but she thrashed violently, refusing to leave.

Just then, Nona hurried to Willow’s side, her voice barely above a whisper, “Lady Willow, Lady Athena is here.”

Willow’s face paled with panic. Clutching Eloise’s sleeve in terror, she pleaded, “Mother, Athena is coming. If she finds out, she’ll make me pay for this.”

Eloise’s mind flashed with Athena’s ice-cold expression. She knew Athena loathed Willow with every fiber of her being. If Athena found out Macy was here, she would kill Willow for sure.

“Matthew, why are you just standing there? Get Macy out the back door now,” Eloise snapped urgently.

Matthew was still wavering, but Willow’s tearful pleas and Eloise’s urgent prodding finally wore down his resistance. Helplessly, he nodded and led Macy out through the back door.

At the gate, a maidservant saw Athena approaching with a menacing air and quickly stepped forward to block her way. “Lady Athena, you can’t go in-”

Athena snapped, “Get out of my way.”

Before the maid could finish, Athena shoved her aside. She stormed into the room and flung open the door, only to find Eloise and Willow sitting together, completely absorbed in admiring bridal gowns.

Their carefully staged warm moment was shattered by Athena’s violent intrusion.

Eloise’s face blossomed into a gentle smile as she turned to Athena. “Athena, you’ve come at the perfect time. Come help Willow decide–which of these two bridal gowns do you think suits her best?”

Athena’s eyes darted around the room, finding only Eloise and Willow inside. Her brows furrowed into a tight scowl as she demanded icily, “Where’s Macy?”

Willow’s face went pale as she forced a strained smile. “Athena, what are you talking about? I really don’t understand.”

“Let me ask you one last time,” Athena demanded, her patience wearing thin as her voice rose. “Where is Macy?”

Athena had received word that Matthew had brought Macy back to the duke’s estate and rushed back immediately.

Athena seethed with murderous intent, her fists clenched white-knuckled. “Where is Matthew?”

Matthew brought Macy to Willow’s courtyard. There was no way they were both gone.

‘Either they’re hiding,’ Athena thought. ‘But Willow’s courtyard is too small to hide anyone. There’s only one explanation. He’s taken Macy away again.’

Athena cast a searching glance toward the rear courtyard. Sensing this, Willow called out with feigned innocence, “Athena, are you looking for Macy?”

Willow deliberately blocked Athena’s path, clearly trying to stop her from going to the rear courtyard.

It was obvious Willow had something to hide. Athena snapped, “Move.”

Willow stood frozen in place, her eyes red-rimmed as fat tears rolled down her cheeks while she looked at Athena.

Willow actually had the nerve to play the innocent card first. With feigned innocence, she exclaimed, “Athena, you show up and immediately demand I hand her over?

“I truly don’t know where Macy is–she was banished from the duke’s estate three years ago.”

Athena felt sick watching Willow’s shameless performance. Shoving Willow aside, Athena strode straight toward the rear courtyard.

“Athena!” In desperation, Willow actually dared to grab Athena’s sleeve, trying to hold her back.

Athena whirled around and kicked Willow viciously in the gut, finally breaking free.

Willow clutched her stomach and collapsed to the ground, her face contorted in pain. Turning desperate eyes to Eloise, she cried out, “Mother, help me, please-”

Eloise was visibly flustered, torn between tending to Willow or chasing after Athena.

Finally, seeing Willow kicked to the ground cleared Eloise’s muddled thoughts. Eloise barked at the servants, “Don’t just stand there. Go after Lady Athena now.”

‘As long as Athena can’t find Macy, she’ll have no proof against Willow, and Willow will remain safe,’ wondered Eloise.

The maids cried out in alarm and rushed after Athena.

Trina saw the pursuers closing in and cried out in alarm, “Miss Monson, hurry. They’re right behind us.”

Athena never broke stride, her face dark with fury as she marched straight to the rear courtyard gate. Two estate guards stood watch at the gate.

Before they could react, Athena had already drawn the long swords from their waists.

Athena whirled around, leveled her blade at the pursuers, and snarled, “Come any closer and die.”

The maids froze in terror, not daring to advance another step. The more timid ones collapsed to the ground, quaking with fear.

Athena stepped outside and barked at Trina, “Bring the horse here.”

Trina led the horse over, and in one fluid motion, Athena swung herself into the saddle, leaving everyone–even Trina–stunned.

Trina gaped in shock. ‘Miss Monson can actually ride?’ she wondered.

Athena was burning with anxiety. After all this delay, she had no idea where Matthew might have taken Macy.

A light rain had fallen last night, leaving the ground damp. Athena followed the carriage wheel tracks relentlessly.

Thankfully, it wasn’t long before Athena spotted the duke’s estate carriage up ahead. ‘Macy must be in that carriage,’ she wondered.

Athena cracked her whip hard against the horse’s flank. The beast reared up in pain before bolting forward at full speed.

Athena, still on horseback, galloped forward and intercepted the carriage.

Athena pointed her whip inside the carriage and barked, “Matthew, get out here now.”

The carriage was forced to stop. The coachman, trembling, looked nervously at Athena. “L–Lady Athena, w–who are you looking for?”

Athena’s heart lurched. Something was wrong. She swung down from her horse and yanked open the carriage curtain, only to find it empty.

“Where is he? Where’s Matthew?” Athena barked urgently at the coachman. Her mind raced as she pieced everything together.

‘With me hot on his heels, there’s no way Matthew could have gotten far with Macy in such a short time,’ Athena thought.

The coachman trembled as he stammered, “Sir Monson never boarded the carriage at all.”

Athena’s pupils dilated sharply. ‘Damn it,’ she thought. She’d fallen right into Matthew’s trap.

Athena swung onto her horse, wheeled sharply, and galloped back the way she came.

Athena thought, ‘Macy must still be at the duke’s estate.’

In a forgotten corner of the west wing crouched a derelict house.

Matthew was tormented with guilt. He knew full well this was wrong. But he couldn’t bear to watch as his mother and Willow suffered under Athena’s torment.

He turned to Macy, who was bound hand and foot, and said calmly, “Don’t worry. I won’t take your life. I’ll give you enough money to ensure you want for nothing for the rest of your days. Just promise me you’ll never return to Pidence City.”

Macy shook her head wildly, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes brimmed with utter despair. Macy trusted no one but Athena.

Even if Matthew spared her, Macy knew Willow never would, because she knew Willow’s deadly secret.

Macy kept her head bowed, the very picture of docility. She was actually scanning her surroundings with darting eyes, searching for any chance to escape.

Just then, a footman approached Matthew and whispered urgently in his ear, “Sir Monson, you are so great. Lady Athena took the bait and went after the empty carriage.”

Matthew let out a relieved breath and ordered, “Take Macy with us. We’re leaving.”

In a desperate move, Macy threw her full weight at the door. With a loud crash, she slammed into the door and tumbled out.

Just then, Willow’s agonized scream pierced the air from outside.

Macy and Willow crashed to the ground in a violent tangle. Terror flashed in Macy’s eyes as she stared at Willow–then, all at once, she snapped, launching herself at Willow in a wild, frenzied attack.

Letting out a wild, guttural scream, Macy lunged and sank her teeth into Willow’s neck.

“Ah!” Willow shrieked in terror, desperately clawing at Macy to break free. But Macy sank her teeth into Willow’s throat and refused to let go, determined to rip her throat out.

Warm blood trickled from the corner of Macy’s lips as she bit down hard. Willow shrieked in terror, her screams echoing through the air.

Macy suddenly snapped into a frenzy. Desperate, Matthew lunged forward to pry them apart, only to be met with Willow’s bloodcurdling scream.

Desperate, Matthew drew his dagger and plunged it deep into Macy’s back.

Athena arrived just in time to witness the brutal scene.