Chapter 176

Spring Villa was renowned for its natural, ever-flowing hot springs and its impeccable service. The finest wines and delicacies were available in abundance. The lavish décor was far beyond the reach of commoners. Men and women were accommodated in separate areas, each with personal attendants. From bathing to dressing, several maids took care of everything. The guests never had to lift a finger.

Willow only dared to accept the invitation because of this. With so many people watching, she figured Athena wouldn’t dare lay a finger on her. Besides, Nicolas’s guards were waiting just outside; one shout for help and they’d rush in to rescue her.

When Willow arrived, Athena was already there. Her face emerged faintly through the swirling steam. She reclined lazily with half-lidded eyes, like a weary yet watchful cat. Willow never dared to underestimate Athena. She certainly didn’t dare get too close.

After entering the water, she deliberately sat directly across from Athena. With several feet between them, Willow thought, “At this distance, she can’t pull any tricks on me.”

Willow called softly, “Athena.”

Athena opened her eyes and smiled. “You’re here.” But her gaze was cold and detached, as if she were examining a lifeless specimen. Even though the water was perfectly warm, a chill still crept up Willow’s spine.

Willow didn’t want to be alone with Athena in a place like this, but thinking of Fermin’s order, she steeled herself and stayed. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Willow shrank back, her shoulders hunched in fear. In that moment, she thought, “She doesn’t even look human… more like a ghost.”

Athena’s icy gaze locked onto Willow. In one swift motion, she rose and strode forward, looming over her with menacing dominance. “Willow,” Athena said, her voice dripping with venom, “do you remember Macy?”

At the mention of Macy, Willow’s face drained of color. Instinct screamed at her to flee. Before Willow could rise, Athena viciously seized her by the hair, yanking her back. As Willow gasped to scream, Athena mercilessly forced her head underwater.

In one fluid motion, Athena wrenched the hairpin from her own bun and plunged it deep into Willow’s chest. All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

No matter how careful Athena was, she still caught the attention of the maids on the bank.

A maid called out from outside, “Miss, is something the matter?”

Athena stood in the water, her expression steady as she offered a faintly apologetic smile. “I lost my footing.”

Had the lighting been any brighter, the maid would have noticed Willow’s blood on her chin. Beneath the water, Willow was still struggling weakly. Her face, distorted with terror, was mirrored in the clear water. Her features were so twisted by fear they were almost unrecognizable.

Athena kept her pinned down mercilessly, one foot pressing hard against Willow’s chest, leaving her unable to move. Tendrils of blood blossomed from her chest, slowly clouding the water and obscuring her features. A stream of bubbles escaped her lips as her eyes rolled back, a sight that only widened Athena’s cruel smile.

The maid peeked inside curiously and, seeing only Athena, frowned in confusion. “Why is there only one guest here?” she asked.

“Isn’t she over there?” Athena pointed casually, and the maid followed her gesture. Through the swirling steam, a woman’s silhouette reclined in the corner. The dim lighting and thick mist deceived the maid into thinking it was Willow, easing her suspicions.

Beneath the water, Willow had gone completely still. Athena nudged her with a foot, and didn’t receive a response. The amusement vanished from Athena’s eyes as she sneered coldly. “Too easy for you. You deserved to be torn limb from limb, what a pity.”

In Pidence City, Willow was always under heavy protection, leaving Athena no chance to strike. To avenge Macy, Athena devised a diversionary tactic to lure Willow away from her protectors.

'If I had come alone, Willow would never have dared to follow,' Athena thought. But with Gale using hot spring therapy as a pretext, it was only natural for Willow to tag along. Athena knew that the moment she made a move, Michael would inevitably follow, and Willow would never let Michael get close to her.

'So she obediently walked to her doom,' Athena thought coldly.

This was a game Athena had been plotting for ages, and now that it had ended just as she envisioned, she felt profoundly satisfied.

Athena splashed water on her face, then rose from the pool and stepped onto the bank with deliberate calm. The maids hurried forward to help her dress. Before leaving, Athena instructed the maids, “Miss Monson says she enjoys the hot spring and wants to soak longer. Do not disturb her.”

The maids replied respectfully, “Yes, Your Ladyship.”

As Athena emerged, she saw Nicolas waiting anxiously nearby with his retainers.

“Athena?” Nicolas’s face registered surprise. “Why are you the only one here? Where’s Willow?”

“She’s still soaking in the hot spring. Why so anxious, Lord Nicolas? Afraid I might have killed her?” Athena taunted, her tone dripping with mockery.

Nicolas’s expression darkened, but then he remembered there were people everywhere. Even if Athena wanted to act, she wouldn’t get the chance. The anxious look faded from Nicolas’s face as he scoffed, “What nonsense are you spouting now?”

But Athena simply smiled at him.

He thought, “What is she smiling about? What could possibly be so amusing?” Seeing the triumphant smile in Athena’s eyes, Nicolas seemed to grasp something. He smirked knowingly. “You really don’t need these taunting tricks, Athena. I know you’ve always envied Willow because she’s more favored. If you’d just mend your ways, we could still welcome you back.”

Athena gave him a cold look and replied, “There’s no point in wasting breaths on you.”

Just then, panicked screams erupted from the hot spring. “Help! Miss Monson needs help!”

Nicolas’s face darkened as realization struck. He thought, “So that’s why she’d kept me talking here. She was just stalling for time!”

“Willow!” Nicolas shouted in panic, abandoning his confrontation with Athena as he charged in.

The maid’s voice called out again in alarm, “Lord Nicolas, this is the ladies’ bathing area. You mustn’t enter!”

Nicolas snapped, “Now’s not the time to worry about that, her life comes first!”

Athena let out a soft, mocking chuckle. “How amusing, everyone says Lord Nicolas is the very model of noble propriety, yet here he is, breaking all the rules.”

Watching Nicolas charge recklessly in to save Willow, Athena just shook her head in disdain.

She thought, 'Back when those noble ladies shoved me into the ladies' privy and humiliated me, Nicolas wasn’t half as frantic as he is now. He didn’t care about me at all. All it would have taken was one kick to break the door down, but he chose to turn a blind eye. Afterwards, he even had the nerve to say, "If Athena hadn’t provoked them, would those noble ladies have mocked her?" In the end, it was always my ‘crude manners’ that brought trouble upon myself. Those noble ladies walked away without a scratch, while I was forced to offer them apologies.'

Athena used to feel heartache, but now all that remained was a cold sneer.

Athena turned to leave, but Nicolas’s retainers blocked her path. “You can’t leave,” they said.

Athena said coldly, “How dare you try to stop a viscountess from going wherever she pleases?”

The retainers hesitated, clearly torn. Willow’s accident was undeniably linked to Athena. If they let Athena go, Nicolas would surely have their heads for it. Athena merely shot them a frosty glare and strode away without hesitation.

From behind came Nicolas’s desperate cry. “Willow, wake up!”