Chapter 241
The Osborne residence was plunged into deathly silence. Kelsey gasped in shock, instinctively stumbling back two steps, her eyes darting about in panic.
Fletcher, however, was utterly stunned. In his view, Athena was so deeply in love with Michael that she would gladly lay down her life for him. There was simply no way Athena would ever do anything to harm the Osborne family.
Even if Michael were marrying Willow instead, given Athena’s deep infatuation with him, Fletcher would have expected nothing but her blessings. She would never show up to ruin their wedding day.
While Fletcher was still at a loss, Michael was beginning to realize. ‘So, Athena still can’t let go of me after all,'
‘Her previous aloofness and sarcastic remarks must have been just a facade.’
A flicker of unexpected joy stirred within him. But soon, reality came crashing down, snuffing out the joy in his heart.
Radnor gave Michael a respectful salute. “Lord Osborne, could you make things easier for us?”
Michael’s face darkened as he stepped in front of Willow. “Out of the question. You’re trying to accuse my wife of murder and take her away for questioning based solely on minor evidence? Is this how your Justice Ministry handles cases–with such reckless disregard for solid evidence?
“You can only take her if you have solid evidence. Otherwise, don’t even think about it.”
Michael thought bitterly, ‘If I let the Justice Ministry take Willow away for questioning, I’d become the laughingstock of the capital. What kind of man can’t even protect his wife? I’d be a failure as a man.”
Seeing her son stand firm, Kelsey straightened her back and snapped, “How utterly preposterous. How dare you come to this property to arrest someone before the facts are even clear? Even if it costs me my life, I will bring this before His Majesty and have you charged with dereliction of duty!”
With both her husband and mother-in-law fiercely defending her, Willow burst into pitiful tears, pressing a handkerchief to her mouth and wailing as if mourning at a funeral.
But seeing this, Kelsey’s brows knitted tightly as she snapped, “Stop crying!”
‘All this weeping on such a joyous day? How is she unaware that she’s the source of this madness?’ Kelsey was utterly disgusted.
In her eyes, Willow had absolutely no bearing befitting the title ‘Mrs. Osborne.’ Even if Willow was afraid, she should stand tall and face the problem head-on. Besides, with the entire Osborne family behind her, she should be fearless. Moreover, Michael would be there to help her.
Willow’s sobs abruptly stopped, her tear-filled eyes wide with panic. ‘Oh no. Has Kelsey just started to scorn me?’ she wondered anxiously.
Willow was on edge, stifling her sobs, yet silent tears continued to stream down her cheeks. She turned her hopeful gaze toward Michael, only to find him stony-faced, not even glancing her way. It suddenly dawned on her–he wasn’t defending her, but protecting the Osborne family’s reputation.
Meanwhile, Radnor looked troubled–the case had grown beyond his sole authority. If he couldn’t handle it, the High Court would step in. And if it escalated to the government, it would be a disaster.
“Lord Osborne, you’d better think this through,” Radnor advised earnestly. “If this matter blows up, not only will I face punishment, but the Osborne family won’t be spared either!”
Should Willow’s involvement in this murder case be confirmed, the Osborne family would inevitably be tarnished by the association. No respectable family would keep ties with a house that harbored a murderer as its in-law.
Michael wavered, his scrutinizing gaze fixed on Willow as he demanded, “Willow, you had nothing to do with this case, right?”
Willow’s heart pounded with guilt. Her hand inside her sleeve clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She could not admit it.
‘As long as I stubbornly deny it, no one will ever know I was the one who pushed Matthew to kill Daniel,’ she thought desperately. ‘Even if they trace it back to Matthew, it still won’t implicate me,’ she reassured herself.
Willow’s eyes rimmed red with tears, nodded emphatically. Raising her hand, she swore solemnly, “I swear, this case has nothing to do with me. If I’m lying, I will never know peace for the rest of my life!”
Willow’s oath shocked everyone present. Such a solemn vow made it clear to all that she had nothing to hide.
Meanwhile, Michael nodded emphatically and let out a sigh of relief. ‘I knew it,’ he thought. ‘Willow would never be capable of such evil!'
“Mr. Cross, you heard that clearly,” Michael declared with unwavering confidence. “My wife is innocent of this murder. As her husband, I alone will bear full responsibility.” He was practically the head of the Osborne family; protecting them was his sacred duty.
Radnor saw Michael’s unwavering stance and dared not push too hard. After all, the Queen herself stood behind Michael.
Hence, Radnor bowed respectfully to Michael. “Since you insist, Lord Osborne, I won’t press the matter. However, as the case is still under investigation, Lady Osborne must remain within the residence for now.” This was the greatest concession he could offer.
Willow immediately frowned. “Isn’t this just house arrest?”
‘And in three days, how am I supposed to make my bridal homecoming visit?’
“My lord, no… please don’t!” Willow shook her head desperately at Michael, her face a picture of pitiful distress.
Michael paused thoughtfully, then addressed Radnor. “My lord, given that I am newly married, wouldn’t this be rather inhospitable?”
As he spoke, his broad sleeves concealed the discreet movement as he slipped a stack of banknotes into Radnor’s palm. The voluminous fabric ensured that no prying eyes witnessed the transaction.
Radnor ran his fingers over the thick stack of cash, inwardly overjoyed, though he put on a show of reluctance. “Lord Osborne, please don’t make things difficult for this official. Considering your recent marriage, I’ll be lenient. She must not leave the city.”
With the crisis averted, Michael nodded with a smile. “Human lives are at stake. This is the only proper course of action. Should the Justice Ministry require anything further, the Osborne family stands ready to cooperate.”
Michael paused for a moment, then inquired, “May I know who the deceased was?”
“He’s a hunter named Daniel,” Radnor said nonchalantly. “Though why he’s the Viscountess’s foster father, I’m not quite sure.”
Michael’s eyes widened instantly. “Who?” he pressed, his voice taut with disbelief, “Who did you say the deceased was?”
“His name is Daniel Holmes, a hunter,” Radnor replied.
Michael drew a sharp breath, his gaze snapping at Willow. ‘Damn it!’ he thought. He’d been so focused on protecting the Osborne family and Willow that he’d completely overlooked what Radnor had said earlier about the victim’s identity.
The dead man was Athena’s foster father, which, he realized, meant he was also Willow’s biological father.
Willow was momentarily paralyzed with shock, only snapping back to reality when Michael’s gaze locked onto her. Her body trembled violently as tears streamed down her face. In apparent anguish, she choked out, “How… How could this…”
But before she could finish, she had already dissolved into uncontrollable sobs.
Watching Willow’s dramatic sobbing, Kelsey frowned in bewilderment. ‘Willow was raised in the duke’s estate since childhood and had long severed ties with her birth parents,’ Kelsey thought skeptically. ‘Yet now she’s weeping so dramatically over Daniel’s death? Isn’t this performance a bit too over-the-top?’
Just as Kelsey was scoffing inwardly, Nona’s panicked shriek pierced the air, “Oh no, Lady Osborne is so heartbroken. She’s fainted!”
Seeing Willow faint, a flicker of disdain crossed Kelsey’s eyes. ‘What a cheap trick, and right in front of me? How presumptuous,’ she thought.
Still, with the family’s reputation at stake, Kelsey had no choice but to play along. “What are you all standing around for?” she snapped. “Escort Lady Osborne back to her chambers at once!”
And with that, the whole fiasco finally drew to a close. It was only after Radnor had finally been dismissed that the party began.
The long-famished guests wasted no time clinking glasses and devouring their meals.
Amid the laughter and conversation, they exchanged knowing looks, each one clearly in on the unspoken understanding