Athena spoke in one breath, without the slightest pause. Her shiny eyes shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, radiating a piercing glare that made people avert their gaze.

Nicolas’s brows furrowed, as if pondering Athena’s true meaning.

Eloise’s face paled with shock, her eyes darting about in utter disbelief, as if refusing to accept this revelation. It was Eloise’s second son, Matthew, who accused Athena of causing harm. Although Matthew could be a bit irresponsible, he had never committed any truly evil acts.

And Willow was the apple of her eye. Willow was such a sweet and innocent girl. How could she possibly ever intentionally harm Athena? What was really going on here? Who was telling the truth, and who was lying?

Athena wasn’t trying to defend herself. All she cared about was her grandmother. She hadn’t done it, and she wasn’t about to take the fall for anyone.

She spoke up only to let them know they were directing their anger at the wrong person.

Athena said coldly, “I’m going in now. If you still try to stop me, don’t blame me for the consequences.” Athena arrived with an armed entourage. While her men were no match for the Duke’s elite guards, they were enough to teach the family a lesson.

As the Viscountess, no one would dare lay a finger on her. Athena strode into the courtyard without hesitation. Seeing Nicolas still rooted to the spot, she reached out and shoved him aside.

Nicolas suddenly seized Athena’s hand, his voice tight with urgency as he demanded, “Athena, is what you’re saying true or not?”

Athena wrenched her hand free, glaring at him with disgust as she snapped, “If you can’t even tell truth from lies, how the hell did you become Vice Minister of the Justice Ministry? And just how many times have you wrongfully accused me?”

Athena shot him an icy glare, then turned on her heel and strode inside. At the courtyard entrance, Nicolas looked utterly lost and dejected.

Nicolas blinked in bewilderment, feeling utterly lost. Then, as if making up his mind, he abruptly turned and hurried toward Willow’s courtyard.

Seeing Nicolas rushing off in such haste, Eloise rushed after him. “Nicolas, wait for me!”

Within moments, Nicolas and Eloise arrived at Willow’s room.

Willow had just taken her medicine, her face still deathly pale. Thanks to the aconite powder, the pain had already subsided considerably.

Nona leaned in and whispered animatedly to Willow about Athena, “Matthew really dotes on you. He even fell out with Athena for your sake and now won’t let her set foot in the estate!”

A faint smile played on Willow’s pale lips. “Matthew is always so impulsive,” she said weakly. “Though Athena may have her faults, she’s still his sister. How could he be so harsh?”

“Outrageous?” Nona exclaimed shrilly. “Miss, you have no idea how vicious Athena is! She exploited her medical skills and actually made Matthew’s legs completely numb. They had to carry him back to his courtyard. Nicolas has taken his men to confront Athena. I’m sure he’s already avenged you.”

The corners of Willow’s lips curled up even further as she said with feigned remorse, “It’s all my fault. I caused yet another conflict between Nicolas and…”

Nona stepped forward to take the medicine bowl from Willow, grinning as she said, “She had it coming! She deserved it.” Before Nona could finish speaking, she was violently hurled backward by a powerful force.

She crashed onto the floor with a sickening thud.

Nicolas glared at Nona and snapped, “You reckless fool! Who gave you the audacity to wag your tongue here?” Nicolas entered just in time to catch every word of Nona’s gossip. Never in his wildest dreams had Nicolas imagined that Willow would keep such a wicked servant sowing discord by her side.

Chapter 223

“Guards! Cut out this wretch’s tongue and throw her out of the estate!” Nicolas roared. Nicolas stormed in, his fury directed at Athena, not just for her defiance, but for how she constantly challenged his authority.

Nicolas sneered inwardly, “What the hell is Nona? Just a worthless maid, yet she dares to sow discord between us?”

He had every right to discipline Athena. As her elder brother, it was his natural privilege. Monson by blood—

No matter how much trouble Athena caused, she was still…

Willow was utterly taken aback by Nicolas’s sudden appearance. “Thank goodness I didn’t say anything wrong,” she thought to herself, secretly relieved.

Willow gasped, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded desperately, “Nicolas, please calm down! Nona spoke thoughtlessly. Spare her tongue and vent your anger on me instead. This is all my fault for failing to discipline my maid.” Willow was so frantic that half her body was dangling off the bed.

Just as Willow was about to tumble off the bed, Nicolas swiftly stepped forward, caught her, and helped her sit upright.

Nicolas looked at her, his voice laced with both anger and heartache. “What are you doing, Willow? Are you really willing to throw away your own leg just for a mere servant?”

“Nicolas,” Willow gasped between sobs, her face etched with remorse. “This is all my fault. If anyone deserves punishment, it’s me. Nona has served me the longest. If she’s taken from me too, I’ll have absolutely no one left.”

Willow cried piteously as she pleaded, and Nicolas’s fury subsided a bit.

Nicolas glared at Nona’s trembling form, his anger still simmering. “Get out!” he barked.

Having narrowly escaped with her life, Nona stumbled and scrambled her way out of the room in utter terror.

Nicolas took a moment to compose himself, then fixed his gaze on Willow and asked sternly, “Willow, tell me the truth. How exactly did you injure your…”

“Nicolas, didn’t you already know? Why are you asking again?” Willow’s heart sank as a wave of dread washed over her. Under Nicolas’s stern gaze, tears welled up in Willow’s eyes. She looked at him, her eyes filled with genuine fear and feigned grievance.

She looked at him, her eyes filled with genuine fear and feigned grievance.

But instead of comforting her as he usually did, Nicolas’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, cold and commanding. “Answer me.”

Tears streamed down Willow’s face. She knew there was no way out, but no matter what, she absolutely couldn’t admit she’d ever intended to harm Athena.

Willow, her voice choked with tears, began, “That day, I was desperate to win the race. Knowing I couldn’t beat Athena, I panicked and pulled the hairpin from my hair, planning to prod my own horse to make it go faster. But somehow, Athena’s horse suddenly lashed out at me, and I was thrown off. In the chaos, my leg was trampled and broken by a horse. Athena’s horse was far stronger than the others. Thankfully, I only broke my leg instead of losing my…”

Willow’s voice broke into a sob, unable to continue speaking.

Nicolas’s furrowed brows gradually relaxed, his eyes softening with tenderness. He asked gently, “So, you just wanted your horse to go a little faster, is that right?”

Willow tilted her head up, her tear-filled eyes gazing pleadingly at Nicolas. “Big Brother Nicolas, did… did someone say something to make you doubt me?”

Seeing that innocent, pure look on Willow’s face, Nicolas felt his heart waver. “How could I ever doubt her?” he thought, as the last shred of suspicion within him finally dissolved.

Having handled countless cases, Nicolas prided himself on his ability to spot a lie at a glance, especially from a suspect.

Chapter 223

But looking into Willow’s eyes, he was convinced she was telling the truth. Sure enough, it was Athena, trying to drive a wedge between us.

A wave of guilt surged through Nicolas as he let out a heavy sigh. He said firmly, “No one can ever shake the bond between us siblings. You’re my dearest sister—you always have been, and you always will be.”

Willow trembled uncontrollably, her voice choked with sobs as she pleaded, “Nicolas, please don’t make things difficult for Sister Athena. I don’t want to be the cause of another fight between you two. She utterly despises me—if this keeps up, she'll kill me for sure.”