Chapter 150
"Chapter 150" is just two words, yet Nicolas’s hand trembled uncontrollably as he gripped the pen.
After all, it was his sister, his biological sister, bound to him by blood and fate.
With a stroke, Nicolas crossed Athena’s name off the Monson family register.
Henry and Eloise were both in tears, sobbing uncontrollably. Everyone was weeping bitterly, overcome with grief, especially Margaret. Athena’s heart shattered at the sight of Margaret’s helpless despair.
“Fine! Since you’ve all grown wings and won’t listen to me anymore, I’ll leave with Athena.” With that, Margaret, trembling, moved toward Athena.
From behind came Nicolas’s voice, laced with threat. “Grandmother.”
He bent down, his voice desperate as he roared, “Don’t you realize? If you leave, the Monson family will be doomed! The King will hold us accountable. He may even punish us. Grandmother, how could you bear to see decades of our family’s legacy destroyed by your hands?”
Margaret froze in her tracks, tears welling up in her eyes.
Henry and Eloise both bowed to Margaret, sobbing uncontrollably. “Please think twice!” they pleaded, their voices choked with grief.
Even Fiona walked in, cradling her months-old infant, and bowed to Margaret.
Every one of the Monson family, from the oldest to the youngest, collapsed into inconsolable weeping.
Margaret looked on helplessly, torn between sorrow and indignation.
She thought in anguish, “If I leave with Athena, the King will surely punish them. But if I stay, what will become of my dear Athena?"
Athena knew how much Margaret loved her, and her heart ached to see Margaret torn between two impossible choices.
So she said, “Grandmother, I will be fine even after leaving the duke’s estate. Please don’t worry about me. While I’m gone, promise me you’ll take good care of yourself."
“My dear Athena… My sweet child," Margaret sobbed, reaching out her trembling hand toward her.
However, Nicolas told Athena in a low, stern voice, “You are no longer a member of the Monson family. Leave at once.”
Athena forced a smile for Margaret. “Grandmother, I’ll take my leave now.”
With those words, she turned and walked away.
Behind her came Eloise’s heart-wrenching sobs. “Athena…”
But Athena didn’t even glance back.
Irina followed Athena, and they were cast out of the duke’s estate together.
Henry and Eloise rushed out after them all the way to the gate.
Eloise cried out. Nicolas remained stony-faced.
Though his heart ached, he refused to utter a word of concession.
He wanted Athena to know she was nothing without the Monson Family as she pleaded. “Nicolas, Athena just made a mistake in the heat of the moment. Please, talk to her and…”
Athena only watched them with detached indifference, a cold sneer in her heart.
So this is what passes for family, she thought. “Well, it’s just as well, I’m finally free of them."
“Why keep someone like her around? Let her get a taste of hardship out there. Only then will she realize how good we are to her,” Nicolas snorted coldly, his eyes flashing with a fierce glint.
The gate of the duke’s estate swung open. He immediately spotted Ferris anxiously waiting outside.
Ferris rushed over when he saw Athena emerge, his voice thick with concern. “Athena, are you all right?"
Two full days and nights passed without a single word from the duke’s estate, and Ferris was nearly driven mad with worry.
Athena shook her head. "I'm fine."
Her face was pale, and her eyes were red and swollen. ‘How could she possibly be all right?” Ferris thought, not believing that Athena was fine.
Ferris glared at Nicolas and barked, “What the hell have you done to Athena?”
The commotion at the duke’s estate had drawn a throng of onlookers, all eager for drama.
With a dark expression, Nicolas stepped forward and declared vindictively, “From this day forth, Athena is no longer the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Suffield. She is stricken from the family records, and all ties between her and us are severed."
“Without her status as the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Suffield," Nicolas thought, "let’s see how long she can keep up that defiant attitude."
He waited, thinking, “She’ll be back, groveling at the door, on her knees, pleading for mercy and admitting she was wrong."
“What? Has the Monson family’s legitimate daughter been expelled from the family register? Oh my god, what on earth did she do wrong?” one of the onlookers asked.
“Who knows? Word is, she never even called her birth mother ‘Mom‘ or the Duke of Suffield ‘Dad,’ and she always gave her three brothers the cold shoulder. Must be jealous of the Monson family’s foster sister. That would explain it,” another one said.
They clicked their tongues and whispered. “How vicious! No wonder the Monson family disowned her."
All those malicious whispers reached Ferris’s ears, stabbing at his heart like daggers.
Ferris whirled around and snarled at the onlookers, “Scram! If I hear any more poisonous gossip out of your mouths, I’ll have your tongues cut out.” The crowd recoiled in fear, shuffling back a few steps but refusing to budge further.
A spectacle like this wasn’t something they got to witness every day.
Moreover, Ferris was involved. They wondered if he, Lord Ferris, would still want an abandoned girl.
“Athena, don’t be afraid. I’m here,” Ferris murmured, his eyes full of worry as he looked at Athena.
He wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but with all these prying eyes, he could only clench his fists and hold himself back.
Athena forced a strained smile at Ferris. “Let’s go,” she said.
Ferris gave a firm nod, then took Athena’s hand in his.
As they were about to leave, Nicolas barked coldly, “Athena, think carefully. You’d never be allowed back in once you leave this door."
Athena curled her lips into a mocking smirk. “Couldn’t ask for more."
But for Margaret, she would’ve felt long ago that the Monsons weren't worth her time.
“Athena…” Eloise’s voice broke with sobs as she shook her head at Athena. “Please, just yield. I’m begging you, as your mother."
Athena’s eyes stung as a wave of bitter sorrow flooded her heart.
Athena slowly turned to Eloise, her eyes full of disappointment. “Even now, Lady Eloise, do you still think all this is my fault?”
Eloise sobbed helplessly, “I just can’t bear to lose you. You’re the child I carried for nine long months."
“The bond between mother and child is unbreakable. How can I possibly bear to let Athena get cast out to suffer alone in the world?” Eloise thought.
Athena let out a cold laugh. “How utterly ridiculous,” she sneered.
Seeing Athena’s cold, unfeeling expression, Nicolas felt like a knife had pierced his heart.
“How did she become like this, disowning everyone?” he wondered in anguish.
Nicolas, nearly beside himself with rage, nodded again and again. “Fine! Very well! If you want to leave, I won’t stop you. You can turn your back on us, but what about the debt you owe our mother for bringing you into this world? How do you plan to repay that?”
Athena sneered at Nicolas. “So, how do you expect me to repay you?”
Nicolas crooked his finger, and at once, a servant scattered a pouch of razor-sharp blade fragments across the ground.
Pointing at Athena, his voice cold and vicious, Nicolas said, “If you want to sever all ties with us, then walk barefoot across these shards.”
Ferris’s expression darkened as he urgently intervened. “Nicolas, think before you speak!”
“He is trying to push Athena to her death,” Ferris thought furiously.
Nicolas fixed him with a cold stare and said, “This is a family matter. It’s none of your concern.”
“You!” Ferris’s eyes blazed crimson with rage. At that moment, he even wanted to strangle Nicolas with his bare hands.
Athena raised her hand, cutting Ferris off.
“If I walk across those shards, will that mean I’m completely cut off from the Monson family?” she asked.
Seeing Athena’s defiant expression, Nicolas clenched his fists and said, “Yes.”
He refused to believe that Athena would have the courage to do it.