Chapter 23

Athena’s eyes flicked over him coldly. “What’s there to be satisfied about? It wasn’t Willow who was punished. You booked her punishment, so why would I be the one moved?” Her tone was frigid, laced with sarcasm.

Nicolas felt like he’d been struck by a needle. Even though he, as her older brother, had made a mistake, Athena was still his sister–and yet, she could be so heartless.

“You…” Nicolas couldn’t find the words to respond, his throat tightening with a strange, metallic taste. He tried to suppress the rising nausea, but his body couldn’t hold up anymore. Slowly, he staggered backward.

Eloise screamed, shoving Athena aside, and rushed toward Nicolas.

Athena’s legs were already weak, barely keeping her upright. When Eloise knocked into her, she lost her balance and began to fall backward.

Behind her, the sharp edge of a table loomed.

Just as Athena seemed poised to crash into the table, a strong hand caught her waist and pulled her back.

In the dizzying whirl of motion, Athena looked up to see Michael’s handsome face up close. Her heart skipped a beat, and as soon as she realized who it was, she quickly stepped back, putting some distance between them.

Her eyes lowered, not daring to meet his. But deep inside, a long-dormant part of her stirred at the brief touch.

Michael’s eyes darkened with a tinge of disappointment. After all this time, Athena still remained so distant from him. He wondered, “Is her heart really made of stone?”

“Nicolas…” Willow’s weak voice cut through the tension. She stumbled toward Nicolas, barely able to keep her footing.

But as she passed Michael, she grasped his sleeve with surprising accuracy. “Michael, please check on Nicolas, he’s hurt…”

She was cut off by another fit of coughing, almost choking.

Michael quickly caught her, carefully helping her back into a chair.

Then, he moved to assist Nicolas. Upon seeing the whip marks on his back, his eyes widened in shock. Glancing at Athena, he immediately surmised that today’s events were somehow connected to her.

His brows furrowed deeply. He thought, “Why is it that whenever Athena is involved, someone always gets hurt–whether it is her or those around her?”

Before he could think any further, Nicolas’s weak voice interrupted. “After today, I hope you’ll stop causing trouble for Willow.”

Athena smiled faintly. “As long as she doesn’t bother me, I won’t make trouble for her. I can manage myself–can you handle her?”

Nicolas glanced at Willow, who was crying pitifully with red, swollen eyes. His expression softened with concern. “It’s all my fault, Willow…”

The more she cried, the more Nicolas’s heart ached. One sister cried over his injuries, while the other remained as cold as stone.

He scoffed bitterly, his words sharp. “Do you really think she’s as malicious as you?”

Athena met his gaze with a cold smile. “Since you think I’m so malicious, then stay away from me from now on.” Without another word, she turned and walked out of the courtyard.

Behind her, more sobs echoed.

Nicolas seemed to collapse under the weight of it all, either from the anger or from everything that had transpired.

As Athena left, Gwen followed her out.

“Thank you, Gwen,” Athena paused, then asked, “Does Grandmother know about what happened here?”

Gwen sighed. “How could I tell her? I wouldn’t dare.”

“Then why?” Athena asked, confused.

Gwen smiled softly. “When you first returned to the manor, Lady Margaret asked me to keep an eye on you.”

She didn’t say more, but Athena understood. She had no reliable allies by her side. Margaret had tasked Gwen with looking out for her, knowing she might be taken advantage of.

Gwen had sensed something was wrong today and brought Siena over to investigate. She hadn’t expected it to prove so useful, but it did.

A warm feeling spread through Athena’s chest, and her eyes welled up slightly. It was as though the armor around her heart had been lifted, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a bit lighter.

Gwen noticed Athena’s vulnerability but found comfort in it. Three years of pressure hadn’t broken her; it had only made her stronger. This, in the end, was a good thing.

They continued walking and talking, moving through the garden.

As they reached a thicket, Gwen paused. “Where did the flower I planted here go?”

“The weeds have grown so thick that the flower got covered up,” Athena said, stepping forward to clear the weeds, revealing a young flower sprout.

Gwen chuckled. “See? Once you clear the weeds, the flower shows itself. Weeds steal the nutrients from the flower, so it’s best to get rid of them sooner rather than later.”

As she reached down to pull the weeds, Athena gently stopped her. “Even if we need to pull them, we should wait for the right time.

“The weeds may be taking the flower’s nutrients, but they also hide its sharpness. Once the flower is stronger, we can remove the weeds all at once, which would be better.”

Gwen smiled with approval. “You have a sharp mind, Lady Athena. As long as you understand what needs to be done, that’s what matters most.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Gwen,” Athena said with a polite smile.

“Lady Margaret should be waking up soon, so I must return to look after her,” Gwen nodded slightly to Athena before turning to leave.

Athena watched her walk away and was about to head back to her courtyard when someone suddenly blocked her way.

Michael stood before her, his expression cold, his brows furrowed tightly. “No matter what Nicolas did, he’s still your older brother. How could you let him be punished so severely?”

“What right do you have to question me?” Athena’s gaze was filled with impatience. “If you hadn’t said those things to hurt Willow, how could she have run away from the manor?”

“Are you saying I should be punished?” Michael’s eyes widened in surprise. “I didn’t mean to push Willow away.”

“Those words are for you to say to her, not for you to come and question me.” As Athena spoke, she noticed Willow coming from the corridor, hurried, looking almost frantic, as if afraid Michael might be taken away by Athena.

Before she even reached them, Willow’s sharp voice rang out, “Michael!”

Michael turned toward her, confusion in his eyes. “Willow, you know I didn’t mean to distance myself from you that day. Why did you run away from home?"

“It was a stormy night, and as a man, how could I ask you, a fragile woman, to see me off? I thought you would understand that.”

Willow’s eyes flashed with panic, and before she could speak, her tears began to fall. “It’s… It’s my fault. I misunderstood you, Michael.”

“Whether it was a real misunderstanding or not, only you know in your heart.” Athena’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. “If you truly wanted to leave, would you have done so so obviously through the main gate?”

“You deliberately left crying from my courtyard, didn’t you? You wanted everyone to know I had wronged you. And it worked–otherwise, Lord Nicolas wouldn’t have stepped in for you.”

Willow shook her head frantically, her face filled with fear. “No, no, that’s not it…”

Athena stepped forward, locking eyes with Willow, her words slow and deliberate, “You’re so clever, manipulating everyone around you. This time, Nicolas took the lashes for you. Next time, you won’t be so lucky.”

“Athena, it’s not like that. It’s just a misunderstanding,” Willow cried, her tears flowing freely. She reached out to grab Athena’s hand, but Athena quickly pulled away.

Athena gave a contemptuous smile, her eyes filled with disgust. “Don’t touch me. I find you repulsive.”

Michael, clearly troubled, stood in front of Willow, his mind racing. There were pieces falling into place, but he didn’t want to believe them.

He faced Athena coldly. “This matter ends here. No one should bring it up again.”

Athena shot him a cold look. “Whether it ends or not is for me to decide. You, an outsider, have no say in this.”

With that, she pushed past Willow and walked off.

Behind her, Willow’s sobs echoed. Seeing her in such distress, Michael couldn’t help but feel sympathy. “Let me walk you back.”

Willow nodded quietly, and they walked in silence. Michael didn’t say a word.

He didn’t take her all the way back to her courtyard and left shortly after.

Willow stood there, staring at his departing figure, her heart aching as tears fell from her eyes. “Has Michael misunderstood me?”

“My lady,” the maid Nona Melton said gently, looking at her with concern. “Lord Osborne wouldn’t do that. I can see he truly cares for you.”

After a moment, Nona’s expression shifted, and she gave Willow an idea. “Why don’t you call for the second and third masters? They’ve always been protective of you and will surely stand up for you.”

Willow’s eyes flickered, and she nodded softly.

When Athena returned to her courtyard, she found Siena bowing, visibly nervous.

Aliza stood to the side, her lips pressed tightly together, looking equally terse.

As soon as Athena entered, Siena didn’t dare lift her head.

“Why are you bowing? Get up,” Athena said nonchalantly.

Siena stared at her in disbelief, unable to believe her ears. She thought, “Lady Athena isn’t going to punish me?”

Aliza quickly gave Siena a warning look, signaling her to stay down.

Siena hurriedly spoke up, “I would never betray you, my lady.”

Today, Athena had almost let Willow be punished, and both of them realized they were in danger, so they were trying to get on her good side.

Athena casually took out some money and placed it on the table. “Siena, this is for you.”

“Thank you, my lady,” Siena looked up cautiously, seeing Athena’s smile with no sign of anger. Her nervousness faded away.

Siena stepped forward and eagerly took the money, her face lighting up with joy, while Aliza’s expression darkened.

Athena noticed everything but kept her face unreadable. “I’m a little tired. You two can leave now.”

“Yes, my lady,” both maids replied in unison, quickly exiting the room.

Siena was practically beaming with joy, but Aliza sneered under her breath. “It’s just some money. What’s so special about that?”

Though she pretended not to care, Aliza was seething inside. "We are both Athena’s maids–why does Siena get rewarded while I don’t? Lady Willow is always fair with rewards."

Fuming, Aliza kicked over a flowerpot, and Athena, watching from behind the window, couldn’t help but smile faintly at the sight.