Athena’s relentless barrage of questions left Willow utterly overwhelmed. Willow sobbed and shrank back, shaking her head frantically. “I don’t know, Athena. I really don’t know…” Her voice trailed off into helpless sobs.
Seeing how terrified Willow looked, Athena couldn’t be bothered to press her any further. She knew that, no matter how hard she pressed, Willow would never say a word.
Athena rose to her feet, looking down imperiously at Willow. “If you don’t want this scandal exposed, you’d better behave yourself.” “You… are you threatening me?” Willow stammered in terror. Athena smirked. “Isn’t it obvious enough, or do you really need me to spell it out?”
Willow looked at Athena with pleading, desperate eyes. “Athena, why are you telling me this today? What do you want from me?” “I want you to testify that I never hurt you.” “What?” Willow’s eyes shot open in horror. “Are you seriously asking me to prove that? I’m the victim here. You nearly killed me!” Athena smirked coldly. “You’re out of options.” Willow retorted in a trembling voice, “I don’t believe you. You have no evidence.”
Willow thought to herself, ‘Dead men tell no tales. Daniel is gone. He can’t testify against me. There’s no way Athena has any real evidence.’
Athena smirked and said, “You severely underestimated Daniel. Before heading to the church, he left a letter with Loretta.” Athena pulled a letter from her sleeve and waved it tauntingly before Willow. “This letter details every step of your conspiracy with him at the church. What do you think will happen if I submit it to the Federal Bureau?”
At that moment, Willow’s face drained of all color as she stared at the letter; she knew she was utterly doomed. Willow instantly recognized Daniel’s handwriting.
“How did these letters end up in your hands?” Willow’s expression turned icy, her eyes fixed on Athena with a murderous glare. Willow finally dropped the act. Athena smirked. “Loretta is illiterate. These letters were just sitting under her bed. Wasn’t hard to find at all.”
Willow closed her eyes briefly, letting out a bitter laugh of resignation. “Fine… I’ll do it.”
Seeing that Willow had stopped resisting, Athena strode to the door, opened it, and announced to those waiting outside, “Willow has regained consciousness.” She had barely been inside for fifteen minutes when she miraculously revived Willow. It was a jaw-dropping feat that left everyone stunned.
Both Henry and Fermin looked surprised. They stood up and walked into the room. They saw Willow propped up against the headboard, offering them a composed smile. “Greetings, Your Highness, Father,” she greeted respectfully. “You are truly awake now.” Fermin smiled approvingly and raised his hand in a graceful gesture toward Willow. “No need for formalities.” Henry asked anxiously, “Willow, how are you feeling?”
Willow shook her head slightly. “Father, I feel perfectly fine now. There’s no need to worry.” “But your injuries…” Henry stared at Willow in disbelief. “The imperial physicians said you had only a month to live, yet Athena’s treatment miraculously cured you.” Henry’s gaze at Athena now held a new layer of astonishment. Henry thought to himself, ‘Truly a miracle healer. The moment she acts, you see the difference!’
Fermin gave a slight nod and asked imperiously, “Were your injuries inflicted by Athena?” Henry also looked at Willow anxiously, only to see her shake her head weakly. “Father, my injuries have nothing to do with Athena… I hurt myself by accident,” she said, her voice soft but resolute. “What?” Henry and Fermin exclaimed in unison, their eyes widening as they stared at Willow.
Fermin clearly didn’t believe Willow’s story. Fixing her with an imperious gaze, he said, “Willow, think carefully, who truly hurt you? Speak freely. You have my word that justice will be served.” Henry said, “Willow, you needn’t be afraid.”
No matter how much Henry and Fermin hinted, Willow stubbornly insisted, “Truly, I accidentally hurt myself… it had nothing to do with anyone else.”
Still weak from her illness, Willow had exhausted herself just by speaking and could barely stay upright. Willow’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Unable to hold on any longer, she slipped back into unconsciousness.
“Willow!” Henry gasped in alarm and rushed forward to examine her injuries. Athena turned to Henry and said firmly, “Your Grace, I advise you not to approach Lady Willow. She has lost much of her strength and needs rest.” Henry gazed at Willow with pained concern, then reluctantly stepped back two paces.
Athena turned to Fermin and said calmly, “Your Highness, since it’s clear I’m not involved in this matter, may I take my leave?” Athena wasn’t the one who hurt Willow, so naturally, Fermin had no reason to detain her any longer. Fermin’s face darkened with fury. He had assumed Athena was just a helpless woman, yet she had outmaneuvered them all. It was clearly Athena who injured Willow, and now Willow testified in her favor. Fermin seethed inwardly, ‘How utterly despicable!’
Fermin remained silent for a long moment, his face dark as he glared at Athena. Finally, he hissed through clenched teeth, “How wronged you must feel, Lady Athena. Since this case has nothing to do with you, you may go.” Reluctantly, Fermin stepped aside. Athena curtsied gracefully to him, then walked away with unshaken composure.
One of Fermin’s subordinates asked in astonishment, “Your Highness, are we really just going to let Athena walk away like that?” Fermin had gone to great lengths to bring Athena into his place, but after all that effort, she was about to slip right through his fingers. Just when victory seemed within his grasp, it slipped away at the last moment.
Fermin gave a sinister smirk and said, “Do you really think I’d let go of someone I want so easily?” Fermin was hot on Athena’s heels as she walked out.
Outside the Monson family, Fermin’s guards had already surrounded Athena. Athena turned to face Fermin, who had followed her, her brow furrowing slightly as she asked, “Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?”
Fermin flashed a deceptively warm smile. “Athena, why be so distant with me? I’d like to invite you to my residence for a private audience. Surely you won’t refuse me this courtesy, will you?” His cold and piercing eyes locked onto Athena, sweeping over her like a venomous snake sizing up its prey.
Athena frowned slightly. “Your Highness, I dare not refuse your invitation. However, Lady Gale is expecting me, so I’m afraid I must decline your gracious offer.” Athena was subtly warning Fermin not to overstep his bounds. Though she might appear vulnerable, she had the formidable backing of Gale behind her. If Fermin insisted on having his way, he’d have to consider whether it was worth openly confronting the McGee family.
Sure enough, Fermin’s face chilled as he fixed Athena with a cold stare. “Athena, why must you insist on defying me?” “Your Highness, you can never get what you want by forcing others.” Fermin fixed his gaze on her and said, “And what if I insist you stay?” Athena’s expression turned steely. “Then I’ll stake my life on it.”
Though she held little power, should her life be lost here, even Fermin would struggle to answer to the Emperor. Moreover, he had to carefully consider whether offending the McGee family was worth the consequences. Fermin fixed Athena with an icy stare, weighing his options.
Throughout the entire confrontation, Athena never yielded an inch. Fermin seethed inwardly, ‘This woman is utterly despicable!’ Just as the tense standoff reached its peak, a royal procession slowly approached.
Xander’s voice rang out, smooth and commanding. “The Monson family is quite the spectacle today.” Fermin turned in surprise toward the voice, only to see a sleek black carriage pulling up at the entrance of the Monson family. A slender hand lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a face of celestial beauty. Xander’s razor-sharp gaze swept the room, and his formidable presence left everyone visibly shaken.
Henry gasped in shock and immediately dropped to his knees in fearful reverence. “Prince Xander, we are honored by your presence.”