Chapter 169
A thrill of joy shot through Willow, though she kept her expression perfectly composed.
Willow nodded gently, her eyes red-rimmed as she gazed at Eloise. “Mother, you’ve worried yourself sick over my affairs. Even if I devoted my whole life to serving you, I could never repay your kindness.”
Eloise’s heart ached as she looked at her ever-considerate daughter. Willow had been sensible since she was little. If it weren’t for her company, Eloise truly wouldn’t know how to get through these days.
Before long, both Henry and Nicolas arrived. Clearly, they’d come to back Willow up.
After they sat down, Henry turned to Nicolas and said, “You and Michael grew up together, so he actually listens to you. Make sure you have a proper talk with him later, alright?” Not long ago, the two came to blows, and Henry was enraged. Thankfully, after the fight, the two made up and held no grudges against each other. Only then did Henry finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Nicolas frowned deeply and nodded. “Understood, Father.”
Just then, footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard. The butler entered, leading Michael and his mother into the courtyard.
Willow’s face instantly brightened at the sight of Michael. If only the timing were right, Willow would have thrown herself straight into Michael’s arms. She’d been smitten with Michael since childhood, but their marriage plans kept getting postponed because Athena wouldn’t stop pestering him.
She thought, ‘Now that Athena is gone, surely Michael only has eyes for me.’ Willow looked at Michael, her eyes tinged with red, heart pounding nervously.
But Michael only gave her a brief, indifferent glance before shifting his gaze away. Willow’s heart clenched as a wave of grievance washed over her. ‘Why does Michael seem to be growing more distant from me when we’re already engaged?’ Willow wondered bitterly. Back then, the moment her eyes turned red, Michael would come fussing over her. Willow couldn’t help but recall it bitterly. ‘Yet here I am, standing right before his eyes, and he won’t even spare me a glance,’ Willow thought, her heart sinking.
Nicolas’s heart ached at the sight of Willow’s pitiful expression. Nicolas gently nudged Michael’s arm and whispered, “It’s been ages since you saw Willow. Go have a word with her, alright?”
Michael frowned. These days, Willow’s tears only irritated him, though he couldn’t quite say why. But since he had accidentally hurt Willow last time, Michael couldn’t, in good conscience, ignore her now.
Michael stepped in front of Willow and murmured, “Has that injury of yours healed?”
Willow blushed shyly and nodded. “I’ve been fine for a while now, Michael. Why haven’t you come to see me for so long?” At this moment, all Willow could feel was fear, pure, overwhelming fear. Willow thought anxiously, ‘Ever since Athena left, Michael has been getting colder and colder toward me. What if Michael rekindles things with Athena? What if I mean nothing to him anymore?’
Willow stepped closer and gently tugged at Michael’s sleeve. In a soft, trembling voice, she asked, “Michael… do you not like me anymore?” Her voice trembled as she spoke, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her tear-streaked face looked utterly pitiful.
Michael’s brows knitted tightly. Somehow, he’d grown immune to Willow’s usual obedience and her victim-playing ways. Before, just one teardrop from Willow would make Michael’s heart ache terribly. He would have plucked the moon from the sky for Willow if she’d asked.
Michael thought, ‘But now…’
Michael sighed and put some distance between himself and Willow. “No, you’re overthinking it,” he said, his tone flat and distant. His actions clearly contradicted his words.
Willow’s eyes rounded slightly in shock and disbelief as she caught the unmistakable impatience in Michael’s gaze. ‘Sure enough, he really does hate me now…’ Willow thought, her heart sinking.
Just as Willow was desperately trying to win back Michael’s heart, the butler suddenly rushed in. Behind him trailed officers from the police station.
“My Lord, something terrible has happened,” the butler said urgently, his meaningful glance at Henry conveying the gravity of the situation.
Henry’s expression darkened. In such a short time, the police station had already sent staff to the Monson family twice. He thought, ‘What do they take this place for?’
Nicolas stepped forward, blocking the officials with an imposing stance. “What is the meaning of this?” he demanded. In that instant, imposing authority filled the air.
Seeing Nicolas, the official from the police station hurried forward and bowed respectfully with cupped hands. “Lord Nicolas, I am here to investigate a case.”
Nicolas’s brows knitted tightly, his face darkening with displeasure. “Mr. Larson, have you mistaken your way? This is the Monson family, not your police station.” He thought, ‘A lowly officer like you dares to barge into the Monson family to investigate? How utterly presumptuous.’
Osbert Larson wore a troubled expression as he addressed Lord Nicolas. “Lord Nicolas, you may not be aware, but I have handled a burglary case last night and arrested several suspects. The case implicates both Lady Athena and Lady Willow.” As he mentioned Willow, the official deliberately cast two meaningful glances at Willow. Under that pointed gaze, Willow’s face instantly drained of color.
“Is Willow involved?” Nicolas’s brows furrowed deeply.
Osbert nodded solemnly. “The prisoners confessed to acting under orders and identified Lady Willow as the mastermind.”
Hearing this, Willow felt a chill run down her spine. ‘What the hell did that bastard Blake do to drag me into this mess?’ Willow thought in panic.
Willow desperately clung to Eloise, sobbing, “Mother, it wasn’t me! I would never do such a thing!”
Eloise was equally baffled. She gently patted Willow’s shoulder to comfort her, then her expression darkened with fury as she snapped, “This is utter nonsense! Willow has never left the estate, let alone had any contact with strange men. How could she possibly be the mastermind behind all this?” Eloise snapped, “It must be those criminals making false accusations. They’re probably acting under someone’s orders.”
Osbert wore a troubled expression as he addressed Eloise. “Madam, whether it is true or not, I must ask Lady Willow to come to the police station. A direct confrontation with the suspects will clarify everything.”
“No! I won’t go!” Willow burst into terrified sobs. “Mother, it wasn’t me! I swear I had nothing to do with this! I don’t want to be thrown in prison!”
With a troubled look, Osbert said, “Lady Willow, this is merely a routine inquiry. After all, this matter concerns Lady Athena, and it was she who reported the case herself. I find myself in a rather difficult position.” Osbert’s face twisted in distress. Caught between Lady Athena and the powerful Monson family, he dared not offend either side. But now that Xander had intervened, Osbert dared not handle the matter carelessly. Left with no alternative, Osbert steeled himself and came to the Monson family to take Willow into custody.
Nicolas’s expression turned icy as he countered, “Athena reported this to the authorities?”
“Indeed, four intruders broke into Lady Athena’s residence. Fortunately, her household was well-guarded, preventing the villains from succeeding. I heard Lady Athena flew into a rage and intends to report this incident directly to His Majesty.” Osbert was utterly terrified that such a serious incident had occurred within his jurisdiction. He thought, ‘If this blows up, I can kiss my job goodbye.’
Michael’s brows knitted tightly. “How dare those scoundrels target Athena? Do they have a death wish?”
“Lord Osborne, please calm down! Those men were only after money. They wouldn’t dare lay a finger on Lady Athena!” Osbert was sweating bullets. He realized he’d gotten himself tangled up with a bunch of untouchable big shots, none of whom he could afford to cross.
Michael shot a frosty glare at Willow and demanded of Osbert, “So Lady Willow is truly implicated in this?” He didn’t even call Willow by her name anymore. That alone showed how furious he was.