Chapter 149

All eyes in the room were fixed on Henry. As the head of the family, his word was law. Margaret made no scene, only fixing Henry with her reproachful gaze. Seeing her like this, Henry’s heart ached as if stabbed. He didn’t want the duke’s estate torn apart, nor did he want to sever ties with Margaret. Most importantly, Margaret would take Athena away if they broke off relations.

Then what about the marriage alliance with the McGee family? Henry thought. He gritted his teeth, eyes red with tears, and pleaded with Margaret, “Wouldn’t all our plans be for nothing?”

“Mother, I beg you, please don’t make us sever our ties. You’re my mother…” His anguished cry of “Mother” was heart-rending, and Margaret’s heart ached in response.

“He’s my son,” she thought painfully. “How can I bear to sever ties with the son I’ve raised for decades? But if I don’t take this step, Athena will have no…” Steeling herself, Margaret shook her head. “We must sever ties,” she declared.

Eloise paled as she saw Margaret’s resolve. Her eyes were red-rimmed as she turned to Henry. Tears streamed uncontrollably down Henry’s face. For Margaret, all he felt now was guilt. After a long pause, Henry closed his eyes, then nodded.

“Alright, Mother, I’ll do as you ask.” Margaret exhaled a sigh of relief, though it felt like someone had carved a piece of her heart away. With weary resignation, she gazed at Henry and nodded slowly. “From this day forth, all bonds between us are severed. We shall have no further contact. Athena remains with me, and you shall have no say in her affairs.”

Hearing that, Eloise turned to Henry, her face twisted with grief, and sobbed, “Margaret, Athena is my daughter. You can’t just cut her off from us like…” Eloise felt a blade of pain pierce her heart, leaving her gasping for air. Pounding her chest, she wept uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face.

Willow stood beside her, tears streaming down her face. “Mother…” She wanted to say more, but Margaret’s imposing gaze made her shrink back in fear, the words dying on her lips. Were it not for Eloise's char, Willow would have been expelled from the duke’s estate long ago. Margaret loathed her to the core.

Eloise thought Willow was sharing in her suffering. Seeing Willow’s tear-swollen eyes, she felt somewhat comforted, wondering who was close to her and who wasn’t. Eloise and Willow put on a show of mother-daughter affection in the hall, while Margaret felt utterly weary as she watched.

“I will present the official document of severance to the authorities. From this day forward, we go our separate ways. Athena, let’s go,” Margaret declared. With that, she rose to her feet, took Athena by the hand, and prepared to leave.

At that moment, Nicolas rose to his feet. Gone was his earlier grief, replaced by an eerily detached gaze as he looked at Margaret. “Grandmother,” Nicolas said, “do you truly care so little for our familial bonds that you would tear the duke’s estate apart?”

Nicolas’s abrupt change of demeanor left Margaret momentarily stunned. She stared at him, puzzled, and asked, “What do you mean by this?”

Nicolas’s expression darkened like storm clouds. He spoke in a measured, icy tone, “I refuse.”

Athena stepped forward, shielding Margaret behind her. She asked, “What exactly do you refuse?”

Nicolas maintained a composed facade, but deep down, he had a dark and calculating nature. Personal gain always came first for him, and family meant nothing to him. So when Margaret’s decision to sever ties and split the family threatened his interests, it was only natural for him to react that way. Henry also looked at Nicolas with visible bewilderment, yet held his tongue.

Nicolas continued, “As the heir to the Monson family, I must bring prosperity to our family. Grandmother, you’ve been mistaken all along. My father always weighed every decision before acting. Severing family ties is out of the question. I won’t allow anyone to divide the duke’s estate into two.”

Ever since Nicolas became the heir, he had called the shots in the household. Even Henry had to consult him before making a decision. All that reluctance and grief he’d shown earlier was only for show, he just wanted to make Margaret stay. When he realized her resolve was unshakable, his mask slipped, revealing his true nature. He let out a cold laugh. “How nauseating, pretending your greed is noble.”

Nicolas shot them a cold glare. “You’re the root cause of all this trouble. Even if you keep clinging on, the duke’s estate has no place for you anymore.” His words left no doubt. He meant to cast Athena out.

Margaret’s face flushed with rage. “How dare you…”

Nicolas wasn’t intimidated. He bowed deeply and said calmly, “Grandmother, if we continue to let her have her way, this family will be doomed.” He then turned to Henry, gaining Henry’s tacit approval of Nicolas’s decision. As for Eloise, she was stunned and utterly speechless. Even she hadn’t expected things would come to this. After a long silence, Eloise could only manage this weak, ineffectual plea, “Nicolas, she’s your sister!”

Nicolas sneered. “You treat her like your own daughter, but has she ever regarded you as a mother, or me as a brother?” His words left Eloise speechless.

“By my authority as heir of the Monson family,” Nicolas said, “I hereby banish Athena from the family!”

Margaret’s face turned deathly pale, her whole body trembling with rage. “You… How dare you treat Athena like this? Do you have no respect for me as your grandmother?”

Nicolas took a deep breath and bowed to Margaret. “I wouldn’t dare,” he said, yet his actions were nothing short of outright defiance.

The room fell into heavy silence. Athena’s gaze swept over Henry, who was feigning ignorance, and Eloise, whose expression was utterly helpless. Beside Eloise, Willow buried her head, weeping with exaggerated fragility. Suddenly, Athena sneered.

Whether it’s being disowned or banished, Athena thought, it makes no difference now. At least I’m finally leaving this place for good. She looked up and said firmly, “Fine. I agree.”

Margaret burst into tears, her voice trembling with anguish as she cried, “Athena, how could you consent to this?” This is your home, Margaret thought with a pang of grief.

Athena gave Margaret a gentle, relieved smile. “Grandmother, I know well how much you love me, and how hard you’ve tried to protect this family and me. That’s all I could ever ask for.”

“Fine. From this day forward, Athena is no longer the legitimate daughter of the Monson family,” Nicolas pronounced, his expression dark and cold. We’ve already gone above and beyond for Athena. My patience is at its end.

We did everything for her, but not only did she not appreciate it, but she even wanted to cut ties with us. Since that’s what she wants, I’ll let her…

“Bring forth the family register,” Nicolas commanded in a low, authoritative tone.

The butler glanced at Henry cautiously, who sat with a dark expression, eyes slightly closed in tacit approval. Then he looked at Eloise, who was sobbing uncontrollably, and at Margaret, her face etched with helplessness. He knew Nicolas’s decision was now final. The register was brought forth.

Nicolas feigned sorrow and said solemnly, “You’ve brought this upon yourself. What else do you have to say? If she shows some remorse, he thought, I will let the matter drop…”

However, Athena suddenly bowed to Margaret and said, “Grandmother, I have failed you. Thank you for raising me.” She bowed to Margaret then, turning to Eloise and Henry, she bowed three more times. But she said nothing to them.

Nicolas’s eyes burned crimson with fury. Gritting his teeth, he hissed, “Fine. You’re something…”

With a sullen glare, Nicolas snatched up the pen, found Athena’s name in the family register, and cast her one last glance. Then, with a single, decisive stroke, he crossed her name out of it.