Athena thought, "I really don’t want to deal with Michael, but he’s just so obsessive and arrogant. Once he sets his mind on something, he’ll go to the end of the earth. He’ll only let go if he completely gives up hope. That’s the only way he’ll finally stop being so self-righteous."

Athena felt she had made herself clear.

But he didn’t listen. Instead, Michael flew into a rage. “You want to marry him? Not unless I say so!” he snapped.

From childhood, Michael had claimed Athena as his little sister, his childhood sweetheart, and above all, his future wife. That conviction never faltered. Relentlessly, he pursued this destiny from the very beginning.

But Athena told him she wouldn’t marry him.

Michael couldn’t accept it.

Athena was the only one I ever wanted, he thought desperately.

Just as Ferris was about to step forward and argue with Michael, Athena stopped him with a gentle touch. “Ferris, let’s go,” she said softly.

Her soothing air melted away the anger in Ferris’s eyes. He shot Michael a warning glare before growling out a single word: “Fine.”

Athena’s still hurt. I’m not wasting another second on scum like Michael. He’s not worth it, Ferris thought.

Ferris carried Athena into the carriage. Michael tried to intervene but was stopped by Willow’s choked sobs behind him. “Michael, are you casting me aside?”

Willow’s face was streaked with tears, her heart breaking.

How could he? How could he say he wanted Athena right in front of me? she thought, devastated.

“Michael,” Willow’s pitiful sobs sent waves of agitation through Michael’s heart.

A sudden punch came swinging at Michael from behind. He dodged with a swift tilt of his head, grabbed Nicolas’s arm in one fluid motion, and flipped him over his shoulder.

Nicolas crashed hard onto the ground. He reeled on the spot to absorb the impact.

Before Michael could cogitate, Nicolas lunged at him again. The two men tangled together, exchanging blows in a furious, chaotic fight. Michael unleashed all his fury on Nicolas. “She’s your sister! How dare you kick her out of the family?”

A solid punch landed squarely on Nicolas’s nose. Nicolas didn’t yield, and smashed his fist into the corner of Michael’s mouth, drawing blood.

Nicolas spat. “Athena turned out this way because you spoiled her rotten.”

On the surface, Michael seemed indifferent to Athena. But if anyone dared to wrong her, he’d make them pay dearly.

Simply put, he wouldn’t allow anyone to tease her but himself, not even the three Monson brothers.

When they were kids, Matthew pushed Albena over and laughed his head off. When Michael found out, he dunked Matthew headfirst into the water. He only pulled the boy out after he’d swallowed half the pond.

The two men were locked in a fierce brawl, neither willing to back down. Willow watched as more and more wounds appeared on Michael’s face. She rushed forward to break them up. But both men were so blinded by rage that they didn’t even notice her.

Just as Michael threw another heavy punch and Nicolas dodged, Willow’s face suddenly appeared right in front of him. He tried to pull back, but it was too late.

With a piercing shriek, Willow collapsed to the ground, clutching her eye.

“Willow!” Both men immediately ceased fighting and rushed to check on her injury.

Willow’s brow was badly swollen. The whole area was bruised a deep purple.

Seeing this, Nicolas drew a sharp breath. “Oh no! What are we going to do? The wedding’s the day after tomorrow, how can you show your face like this?”

At that, Willow wailed even louder. “I don’t want to be an ugly bride…”

No bride wanted to walk down the aisle with a black eye, especially when it was her own fiancé who did it. If word got out, it’d be so humiliating.

Willow was choking on her tears, sobbing uncontrollably. Michael panicked, stammering, “I’m sorry, Willow. I didn’t mean to.”

“Stop crying already! The more you cry, the worse the swelling gets,” Nicolas fumed, both angry and frustrated, then delivered a vicious kick to Michael. Michael didn’t dodge or resist; he took the blow squarely.

I’m a man who’d never raise a hand against a woman. But this time… I really was in the wrong, he thought to himself.

Willow saw Michael getting hit and rushed to shield him. “Nicolas, please stop hitting Michael! Can’t you two just stop fighting?” she cried out, her voice full of urgency.

Perhaps the sight of her injured face brought some sanity back to the two men. They stopped fighting.

Nicolas helped Willow up, his brows knitted so tightly it seemed they could crush a fly. “Come on, I’ll take you back to apply some medicine,” he said.

“Okay,” Willow nodded obediently.

Then, glancing back at Michael with every step, she followed Nicolas back to the mansion.

As Michael tried to follow, Nicolas barked at him, “It’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding!”

“Nicolas…” Willow gently tugged at his sleeve.

But he scowled darkly at her. “You’re not even married yet, and you’re already taking his side against your own family? Come on, you’re coming home with me.”

Blushing, Willow lowered her head. When she looked up, Michael was already on his horse, riding away.

In the courtyard, Fiona anxiously waited with Cedric in her arms. When she saw Nicolas leading Willow back, she hurried forward to meet them. But the moment she noticed the two of them holding hands, she froze in surprise.

Nicolas appeared completely at ease. “Willow’s hurt. I’m taking her back to treat her wound,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Fiona,” Willow murmured weakly, her voice barely audible. “My eye is injured… I can’t see the path clearly.”

Fiona snapped out of her daze and asked with concern, “Is the injury serious?”

Willow pressed her lips together and nodded, her voice tinged with grievance. “It hurts so much.”

“Would you like me to help you apply some medicine?” Fiona offered gently.

Willow shook her head. “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.”

She turned to Nicolas with an adoring gaze. “Cedric still needs your care. There’s no need to trouble you. My brother has always been the one to treat my wounds since I was little.”

Fiona’s smile gradually froze on her face. She glanced at Nicolas, who looked completely at ease, seeing nothing inappropriate in the situation. Willow seemed unaware that they were both adults now and should maintain proper boundaries.

I want to remind them, but I’m afraid Nicolas would scold me for having dirty thoughts.

After all, they’re just siblings. It’s only about applying medicine. What am I overthinking?

Forcing a smile, Fiona said, “That’s good, then.”

Willow clung to Nicolas as they walked, her childish coquetry ringing out. “Nicolas, do you think my injury will get worse? Can I still be a beautiful bride?”

“You’ll always be the most beautiful in my eyes,” Nicolas replied.

"Then be gentle when you put on the medicine," she pouted. "You know I’m scared of pain.”

Nicolas let out a hearty laugh and teased indulgently. “Alright, scaredy-cat.”

Seeing the two of them so close and affectionate, Fiona couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. Nicolas had never shown her that kind of gentleness. Even after she had just given birth, all he said was, “Get some rest.”

But with Willow, he was always so gentle, so patient.

Cedric’s cries snapped Fiona out of her reverie. She quickly wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. I must be losing my mind. How could I actually be jealous of my own little sister?

She said, “It’s okay, Cedric. Let’s go back to your room now. Daddy will come play with you tonight…”