Chapter 209

That devastated look in Ferris’s eyes shattered Athena’s heart along with his.

Athena understood Ferris’s intention. By removing just one Burrowing Spike, the treatment would be prolonged, giving him more time to stay by her side.

But who can really say what the future holds?

Athena thought, ‘I don’t want to hold Ferris back. He deserves better. He shouldn’t waste his time on someone like me.’

Athena felt heat rising in her eyes as she forced a bright smile at Ferris and said, with a double meaning, “It’s better to get over the pain quickly. Why drag it out?”

“Atheny!” Ferris exclaimed as he fiercely gripped her wrist.

It was as if only such desperate strength could bind Athena to his side forever.

Little did Ferris know, the moment Athena assumed the status of Mrs. Cavendish, their destinies had already diverged.

She thought, "We were like two parallel lines, destined never to intersect. So, why waste any more time clinging to this false sense of hope? Why bring myself to let go?"

Athena struggled to break free, but Ferris’s grip on her wrist was ironclad. He thought, ‘How could I possibly—’

His affectionate gaze now brimmed with defiance and helplessness, and that devastated look in his eyes almost made Athena flee.

Gently, Athena placed her hand over Ferris’s, curving her lips in a faint, sad smile. “Sleep now,” she murmured softly. “When you wake up, everything will be fine.”

“Atheny?” Ferris’s eyes snapped open in shock as he gasped. But before he could even process Athena’s words, his eyelids grew unbearably heavy and slid shut.

Athena let out a soft sigh. Removing the Burrowing Spike would require cutting through flesh. Using general anesthesia would keep him in a deep slumber, sparing him the agony.

A total of four Burrowing Spikes were embedded deep in Ferris’s flesh, and extracting them would take considerable time and effort.

Outside the courtyard, Athena stationed heavy guards, forbidding anyone from entering without permission. While she was extracting the Burrowing Spikes from Ferris, absolutely no disturbances could be tolerated.

Four hours later, Athena emerged from the room. Exhaustion lined her face, yet her eyes shimmered with quiet relief.

From now on, Ferris could once again wield his sword to defend himself and protect those he cherished. The Ferris who had been trampled into the dust was reborn.

At the doorway, Gale watched as Athena emerged with a drawn and weary face. With eyes brimming with unshed tears, Gale stepped forward. As she was about to kneel before Athena, Athena quickly caught her by the arms and asked, “Your Grace, what are you doing?”

With eyes full of guilt and gratitude, Gale looked at Athena and said, “I’m no longer a part of the Mcgee household. If you don’t mind, you can call me Mdm. Whitlock from now on.”

The immense kindness Athena had shown her and Ferris was a debt Gale knew she could never repay, not even in this lifetime. Yet, when Athena herself was in trouble, Gale had been utterly powerless to protect her.

Knowing what Gale was thinking, Athena offered a gentle smile and said, “Let bygones be bygones, Mdm. Whitlock. There’s no need to mention it anymore.”

“You – you accept me?” Gale stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief. Her maiden family was far away in Nimbial, and she was the daughter of a merchant. Ferris’s father, Percival, had married her for her family’s vast fortune. After marrying him, she spent lavishly to pave his way to power, helping him ascend the political ladder step by step. Yet in the end, all she got in return was betrayal. With no way to return to her maiden home, Ferris was now the only family she had left in this world.

Gale’s gratitude toward Athena was beyond words.

Athena gently nodded, reassuring, “Mdm. Whitlock, don’t be too hard on yourself. Maybe this is just how things were meant to be. We can’t keep dwelling on the past, and we need to move forward.”

Glancing back at the room with a hint of regret on her face, Athena added, “He can be a bit hotheaded sometimes. Mdm. Whitlock, please try to talk some sense into him when you can.”

Tears welled up in Gale’s eyes, and she nodded in response, “I’ll remember everything you’ve said.”

Athena reached into her pouch and took out a betrothal gold pendant. She placed it gently in Gale’s hand, and said with a voice tinged with resignation, “It’s time this betrothal gold pendant returned to its rightful owner.”

Examining the pendant, Gale thought, "This was the betrothal gold pendant Ferris had given to Athena, a symbol that he had entrusted his entire world to her. But now…"

Gale felt a complex, inexpressible mix of feelings. The gold pendant felt as if it were burning her hand, so she pushed it back toward Athena. “He gave this to you,” she said firmly. “It’s only right that you return it to him personally."

“No. Mdm. Whitlock, please give it to him for me,” Athena forced a faint smile, the corners of her lips trembling slightly.

Gale saw Athena’s predicament and, with a reluctant nod, said, “Very well, I’ll accept it."

“I've already portioned out the medicine and left it on the table. Just make sure he takes it on schedule,” Athena said, giving Gale a gentle nod before turning to leave.

Watching Athena’s receding figure, tears welled up in Gale’s eyes. She murmured almost inaudibly, “Silly girl, you might have returned the gold pendant, but his heart still belongs to you.”

Nicolas stormed back to the Duke’s Estate, seething with rage. As soon as he returned, Nicolas came face to face with Willow.

“Nicolas!” Willow called out cheerfully as she approached from the gate, beaming as she stopped in front of Nicolas. She was wearing a brand–new dress today and was eager to show it off to him.

Noticing Nicolas’s displeased expression, Willow quickly reined in her smile and asked, “What’s wrong, Nicolas? Who upset you?”

Willow knew that Nicolas had visited Athena, but she asked him about it anyway to provoke his anger. Sure enough, Nicolas exploded like a lit firecracker.

“Who else could it be?” Nicolas snapped, sweeping his robe aside as he plopped down on the gazebo bench.

Willow obediently settled beside Nicolas, giving his sleeve a gentle tug as she comforted, “Come on, Nicolas, don’t be angry anymore. Athena may have a stubborn streak, but her heart’s in the right place. Maybe once I’m married and leave the estate, she’ll finally be able to come back.”

At this point, Willow lowered her head, looking a little dejected.

Seeing the redness around her eyes, Nicolas quickly reassured her, “Don’t let your thoughts run wild. Even after you’re married off, the Duke’s Estate will always be your home.”

“Thank you, Nicolas," Willow let out a soft sigh of relief. She had always worried that, as people say, a married daughter is like spilled water—no longer truly part of her family. But with Nicolas’s reassurance, she could finally set her mind at ease.

Furthermore, it seemed clear now that Athena wasn’t coming back.

Just then, Nicolas noticed the lingering burn mark on Willow’s forehead, and he asked with concern, “Didn’t we already put ointment on it? Why hasn’t it healed yet?”

Willow had a fingernail–sized burn on her forehead from the incident at the palace that day. After they returned home, Eloise hurried to apply ointment to it, but to their surprise, the wound still became slightly inflamed.

Remembering the unused ointment he hadn’t given out yet, Nicolas pulled out a vial and unscrewed its cap.

Nicolas scooped some ointment onto his fingertip and said gently, “Lean your head closer.”

“Mm.” Willow obediently leaned her head toward him. He carefully dabbed the ointment on her wound, then softly blew on it to soothe the sting.

Willow blushed and smiled shyly. “Nicolas,” she said, “I’m not a child anymore. Why are you still treating me like when I was little?”

“You’re my sister. How could I not be concerned after seeing you hurt like this?” Nicolas chuckled softly, his gaze brimming with affection as he looked at Willow.

Just then, Fiona’s maid, Lina Bloom, hurried over to Nicolas and said, “Lord Nicolas, Lady Fiona has burned her hand. Please go check on her at once!”

Nicolas frowned and snapped, “How did she just burn her hand? How can she be so careless?”

There wasn’t a trace of concern on his face. In fact, when he heard the news, he even scowled, impatience written all over his features.

Willow quickly urged, “Nicolas, you should go check on Lady Fiona right away.”

“Her body’s always acting up, and she’s been ill for half the month. I’m not a doctor. Is her pain just going to vanish if I show up magically? Tell Lady Fiona I’ll get around to seeing her when I’m free," Nicolas tossed the ointment to Lina and said dismissively.

Lina was taken aback as she wondered, “But isn’t Lord Nicolas free right now? Does he really care more about Lady Willow than Lady Fiona?”