Chapter 197
Michael was surprised by Athena’s reaction. Just because of a casual remark he made, she actually took Xander’s side.
He thought, “There was a time when those eager, caring eyes were only for me.”
The Osborne family wielded considerable power at court, inevitably making numerous enemies. He still remembered how people used to sneer at him, mocking that the Osborne family thought they were above everyone else. Athena immediately stepped forward, confronting the man and tearing him apart with her words.
But back then, Michael didn’t appreciate Athena’s kindness at all. He told Athena she was being too aggressive, that her actions were just making more enemies for the Osborne family.
In contrast, Willow would timidly hide behind him, giving him that gratifying sense of being truly needed. He even accused Athena of always meddling in his affairs. He believed that he could have handled it perfectly well without her.
It just seemed so laughable now. He was the one who trampled Athena’s kindness into the dust.
Now Athena had abandoned him. Those eyes that once protected him now rested on another man. Only now did Michael truly realize what he had lost, and the weight of that loss struck him harder than he ever imagined.
“Athena, must you say things like that just to upset me?” Even knowing he was at fault, Michael’s pride wouldn’t let him apologize. His status and pride wouldn’t let him yield.
Athena felt utterly drained. ‘I’ve spelled it out so clearly, does he really not get it, or is he just pretending?’ she thought bitterly.
“Leave now. I ceased being a Monson long ago. Today, I am Viscountess Athena.” Athena bit out the title, each word laced with deliberate force. She made it crystal clear to Eloise and Willow that they shouldn’t even dream of claiming any connection to her.
But Willow, who never learned from past humiliations, actually stepped forward to defend Eloise. With a pleading look in her eyes, she said, “Sister, even if you refuse to acknowledge me, how can you deny the mother who gave you life and raised you? Whatever happened between you two, it’s been so long. Surely it’s time to let it go.”
Willow dropped to her knees in her usual theatrics and pleaded dramatically, “Athena, please don’t treat Mother like this. If you have any demands, just say the word. Whatever it takes to ease your resentment, I’ll do whatever you ask.”
Willow’s devoted defense of Eloise was so moving it could soften even the hardest heart. Compared to Willow, a mere adopted daughter who went to such lengths, Athena appeared downright heartless.
Willow’s trick was truly disgusting. Back in the day, it would’ve made Athena so angry she couldn’t even eat.
But now, she smiled.
“Are you truly willing to do anything?” Athena asked, her voice calm but edged with challenge. Her face remained calm, but her eyes held a chilling, unnerving sharpness.
Chapter 197 Athena’s fleeting glance sent a bone-chilling shiver down Willow’s spine. She remembered that the last time Athena tried to kill her, she had looked at her with the same look in her eyes.
‘Even months later, the memory still sends chills down my spine,’ Willow thought.
Panic surged through Willow as she felt things spiraling out of control. She couldn’t help but think, ‘Logically, shouldn’t Athena be flying into a rage and hurling insults at me right now? Only then would Eloise pity me even more, defend me, and finally give up on Athena for good.”
But Athena remained perfectly composed; in fact, she even gave Willow a faint, almost mocking smile.
Willow felt a chill run down her spine, but since the words were already out, she could only brace herself and nod. “Yes, I’m willing to do anything,” she said, forcing herself to sound resolute.
“Fine. Then kill yourself.” Athena’s words cut like a knife straight to Willow’s heart. “Only with your death will we be square.”
She thought, ‘Only then would my suffering and the deaths of Thalia and Macy truly be avenged.’
Willow’s face turned deathly pale. She stared up at Athena, her entire body trembling with fear. Willow never expected Athena would dare to publicly demand her death right in front of everyone.
‘Perfect. This plays right into my hands,’ Willow inwardly rejoiced, even as she maintained her tearful facade.
Willow’s face was the picture of heartbreak, playing the part to perfection. But inwardly, she was gloating with the smug satisfaction of a scheme coming to fruition. Tears streaming down her face, Willow made a show of being utterly devastated before Athena. “If it will ease your anger, I’m willing to…” she sobbed dramatically, leaving her words hanging for maximum effect.
But before Willow could finish her little performance, Marquita stepped forward. “Lady Willow, if you were truly sincere, you wouldn’t have come here with Lady Eloise to make trouble in front of Lady Athena. When someone is truly repentant, they don’t put on such a theatrical display.”
Marquita sneered, “I may be just a lowly old servant, but even I know what decency means. If you really went and bashed your head and died at my lady’s doorstep, how is Lady Athena supposed to face society after that? Wouldn’t it be better for you to find a time and discreetly end your life somewhere else?”
Willow’s face turned deathly pale in an instant, her eyes wide with terror as they locked onto Marquita. Fury and humiliation burned through Willow. ‘How dare a lowly servant woman like Marquita point her finger at me and lecture me to my face!’ she fumed inwardly.
With that, Willow no longer dared to continue her play of throwing herself against the pillar. Eloise immediately helped Willow to her feet and shielded her behind herself.
Eloise glared furiously at Marquita and roared, “How dare you! A mere servant, making veiled accusations against a young lady of the Monson family. Is this how Athena has taught you?”
“Lady Eloise, there’s no need for anger. Marquita speaks for me,” Athena said coolly, stepping forward to shield the older woman behind her. “If you take issue with her words, then address them to me directly.”
Marquita’s blunt words may have been cutting, but they voiced precisely what Athena wanted to say.
Athena said, “If you can’t stomach my words, then don’t come begging for something unforgivable. I’ve always been a brute. Who knows when I might snap and say…”
Chapter 197 Eloise gasped, tears spilling down her cheeks in an instant. She couldn’t believe that her daughter could be so heartless to her.
“Do you truly despise me this much?” Eloise demanded, her voice trembling with barely suppressed bitterness.
Athena nodded slowly. “I do.”
“Is that it? Just because I dote on Willow a bit more, you hate me this much?” All her pent-up bitterness finally erupted as Eloise suddenly roared. Eloise pounded her chest, her face twisted in anguish. “I carried you for nine months! Even if I’ve wronged you, you have no right to hate me. We share the same blood!
“I meant no harm coming here today. I only want you to plead with Prince Xander to release your brother so our family can be reunited. Tell me, as a mother, what have I done wrong?”
Eloise suddenly exploded in fury, making Trina and Marquita shoot anxious glances at Athena, fearing she might buckle under the onslaught. Athena remained far calmer than they had anticipated. Step by deliberate step, she advanced, meeting Eloise’s murderous glare head-on. She eventually stopped just three feet away from Eloise, her gaze unwavering.
Her eyes, brighter than the stars and sharp as daggers, locked onto Eloise. Athena snapped, “What gives you the right to demand this of me? Why should I help reunite your family?
“You want your family to be happy, but what about my grandfather? He still endures hardships at the borderlands, even today, on his birthday. Have you ever spared him even a single thought?”
Athena pointed at the crumbling manor, its once-vermilion gates sealed shut. The gates were thick with dust and cobwebs. Eloise looked jolted, as if she had only just realized where she was.
Eloise stared at Athena helplessly, her lips parting as if to explain, but the words caught in her throat and simply wouldn’t come. “Athena, I… I…” Eloise stammered.
“Trying to make excuses again, are you?” Athena sneered coldly, her eyes full of pity as she looked at Eloise. “You’ve probably long forgotten your maiden name. Ashamed of being a Perkins, aren’t you? Out there, you always introduce yourself as Mrs. Monson, don’t you?”