Chapter 253

Fiona had made it clear she was done with Willow. Anyone with half a brain would have left by now before things turned any uglier.

But Willow, with baffling confidence, gave her a wounded look and asked, “Fiona, how could you treat me like this? Haven’t I always treated you well when I lived here?”

Fiona had barely suppressed her fury while entertaining her. Seeing her still clueless, Fiona commanded, “Escort her out!”

With that, Fiona rose to her feet and walked away without another word.

Willow’s eyes welled up with tears, as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice. She snapped, “How heartless you are, Fiona! Don’t come crawling back someday, because I won’t even look at you.”

She dropped the hint, hoping Fiona would pick it up.

She wasn’t the timid, self-effacing girl anymore; she was Lady Osborne now.

Willow had come with sincere intentions to help Fiona, but her goodwill was met with cold rejection, fueling her fury.

With that, Willow stiffened her spine and limped away.

The moment she stepped out, Fiona slammed the door behind her and hurled a basin of water after her.

“That’s how you treat us? My lady came here out of kindness, and you shut her down like that?” Nona burst out. “You’re just ungrateful!”

Willow’s eyes were red-rimmed, but she forced an indifferent look. “She’s not worth it. Let’s just go.”

“Yes, my lady,” Nona replied, carefully helping Willow as they made their way out.

Just as Willow reached the courtyard gate, she bumped straight into someone.

With a startled gasp, Willow stumbled right into his arms.

The familiar scent hit Willow as she looked up to meet Nicolas’s anxious gaze.

“Willow, are you okay?” Nicolas asked, quickly reaching out to check on her. “Let me look.”

And just like that, they clung to each other with an easy, quiet closeness.

Willow managed a strained smile. “Nicolas, I’m fine.”

“Fine?” Nicolas’s brows furrowed deeply as he saw her red-rimmed eyes. “You’re crying. Tell me who upset you, and I’ll make it right for you.”

Only then did Willow’s tears fall. She shook her head, a look of aggrieved resignation on her face. “I’m really fine.”

Her words only made Nicolas more suspicious. His sharp gaze shifted to the tightly shut door as he asked, “Was it Fiona? Did she upset you?”

Nona jumped in. “My lady came here to patch things up, and Fiona threw her out! So rude!”

Willow hastily scolded, “Nona, stop it. Lady Fiona hasn’t done anything to me.”

Something in her words didn’t sit right. Willow had always called her Fiona—never Lady Fiona. That change wasn’t lost on Nicolas.

His face darkened instantly. He figured that Fiona had been bullying her.

Then he clenched his fists, his voice cold with anger. “I’m not letting anyone hurt you and just walk away, not even Fiona.” With that, he whirled around, ready to find Fiona.

Willow pretended to hold Nicolas back, shaking her head repeatedly. “Nicolas, let it go. It isn't important. Please don’t…”

As he tried to break free, Willow lost her footing and fell. He stumbled too, unable to stop himself, and landed on top of her.

The scene left everyone stunned. Nicolas’s face flushed crimson in an instant, while Willow’s eyes widened in shock.

They stared at each other, too flustered to move. Suddenly, a piercing gaze fell upon Willow. She looked up, and her face drained of color.

At the courtyard entrance stood Michael, staring at them in disbelief.

His face darkened. Without a word, he turned and strode away.

“Michael!” Willow called out, shoving Nicolas away.

She didn’t bother brushing herself off. She limped after Michael, heart pounding, knowing this was going to spiral into a serious misunderstanding.

“Michael, please, let me explain!” she shouted.

Her tears had always been for show. But this time, they were real.

Tears streamed down Willow’s face. Even with her leg barely cooperating, she trotted, determined to catch up.

When she finally reached Michael, she grabbed his hand, her voice trembling. “Michael, please don’t be mad. It’s not what you think…”

“Is this how your family raises daughters?” Michael sneered, his face twisted with contempt. “I don’t care how close you and Nicolas are, all that clinging and cuddling is out of line.

“You’re married now. Whatever passes for normal back home doesn’t fly here. You might not care about your reputation, but the Osborne family still has one.”

The more Michael spoke, the angrier he became. He shook off Willow’s hand and strode off without a backward glance.

She stood rooted to the spot, her face etched with shock as she watched his retreating back.

His words hit hard. Willow felt a chill run down her spine.

Willow tried to blink back her tears, but they kept falling. Michael knew how close she and Nicolas were, yet he still said those things.

‘Didn’t they grow up together?’ she thought, her heart aching with confusion.

Nona came running up, out of breath. “Ms. Monson, wait for me!”

Willow spun around, eyes blazing. She slapped Nona hard across the face. “What did you just call me?”

Nona’s head jerked to the side, stunned. Her cheek stung, but more than that, she was shocked back to her senses.

She’d been so flustered just now that she’d used the wrong title.

Nona burst into tears, her voice choked with sobs. “Y-yes, Lady Willow.”

Willow’s face darkened as she hissed, “You mess that up again, and I’ll have your tongue cut out.”

“I won’t. I–I’ll never dare again!” Nona stammered, trembling all over as she met Willow’s cold eyes.

Nona thought, ‘She’s changed so fast. It’s only been a few days since she married into the Osborne family, and already she seems like someone else entirely.

‘Or maybe… maybe this is who she’s always been. Was she just pretending the whole time?’

Chapter 253

Willow’s anger faded, and her mind cleared a little.

She had just married into the Osborne family and hadn’t yet secured her place.

Nona was Willow’s closest confidante, loyal to a fault. She didn’t deserve to bear the brunt of Willow’s outburst.

Then she extended a hand to help Nona up, but Nona recoiled, trembling with fear. “M–my lady?”

“Get up,” Willow said, her expression settling into its usual calm. She looked at Nona with genuine regret and added, “Nona, I lost my temper just now. I shouldn’t have hit you. Let me see your face.”

Nona’s cheek was red and swollen, the mark clear. It wasn’t a light slap.

Willow produced a jar of salve and thrust it into her hand. “This should help with swelling. Take it.”

Nona accepted it. Though resentment simmered within her, she forced a smile. “Thank you, my lady. I’m fine. But does your hand hurt? Let me blow on it for you.”

She started blowing on Willow’s hand, all the while scheming inside.

She thought, ‘Give her a little power, and her true colors show.’

Nona knew exactly what she wanted. She still had to rely on Willow and butter her up–after all, if she played her cards right, maybe one day Willow would help her become Michael’s concubine.

‘A few slaps from Willow are a small price to pay for what I’ll gain later,’ she thought.