Willow’s request gave Michael pause, but recalling it was for his mother, he nodded in agreement.

With her goal achieved, Willow flashed a satisfied smile at Michael.

“Not a chance I’m letting those two rekindle their old flame,” Wilton vowed to himself.

Kelsey was gravely ill, so Michael and Willow rushed out immediately.

In no time, they arrived at Athena’s manor.

The attendant stepped forward and knocked. After a long wait, the door finally creaked open, and Lance’s head peeked out cautiously.

“Lord Osborne and Lady Willow request to see Viscountess Athena,” the attendant announced with forced politeness.

The entire household knew about Athena’s plight.

They all knew Michael had betrayed her.

The Osborne family went back on their word and shamelessly married Willow instead.

Though Athena never uttered a complaint, the household had already branded the Osbornes as enemies.

‘What on earth are Michael and Willow doing here together?’ Lance couldn’t help but wonder, his resentment simmering.

‘Are they here to flaunt their happiness, or just to spite her?’

Lance’s resentment reached its boiling point, but his lowly status as a servant kept him from acting out.

With a perfunctory smile that held no real respect, he said, “Viscountess Athena isn’t at home.”

Then he immediately moved to shut the door.

Michael’s attendant frowned. He blocked the door with his arm, urgency in his voice as he said, “This is a matter of life and death. We’d appreciate your cooperation.”

The Osborne family’s power meant even their servants acted superior.

Their tone was devoid of courtesy.

The door was forced open. Lance scowled and snapped, “I already told you—Viscountess Athena isn’t home. Are you seriously trying to barge in?”

Lance seethed with resentment. “If Jessa were here," he thought, "these guys wouldn’t be worth a damn.”

The attendant was about to speak when Michael cut in, “Mind your manners.”

He alighted from the carriage and approached Lance. “I have urgent business with Viscountess Athena. Kindly inform her of my visit.”

As he spoke, he offered a piece of gold, equivalent to half a year’s wages for an ordinary servant.

This generous gesture made it clear just how lavish Michael could be.

However, Lance didn’t even spare the gold a glance, utterly unfazed. He stated firmly, “Viscountess Athena truly isn’t home today.”

A piece of gold might be a fortune to others, but to me, it pales in comparison to Viscountess Athena’s generosity, Lance thought.

Athena paid them double what other families did, and even bought land so they could grow vegetables, raise fish, and keep poultry.

Aside from what the manor needed, the rest of the money was theirs to keep and use as they pleased.

Lance thought, ‘With a lady this good, I wouldn’t betray her for all the gold in the world. To think a piece of gold could buy me off?’

Michael’s brows furrowed slightly as he was about to speak, but the door slammed shut before he could utter a word.

“How insolent! A mere gatekeeper dares disrespect Lord Osborne!” The attendant bristled, raising his foot to kick the door, but Michael snapped sharply, “Back off.”

The attendant looked at Michael, bewildered. “My Lord, this is utterly outrageous. Viscountess Athena is clearly at home, yet they deliberately claim not. Are they just trying to make a fool of you?”

Michael admitted that Athena was indeed at home.

“But what good would that do?” he thought. “If she doesn’t want to see me, even if I force my way in, I still won’t be able to get her medicine.”

He stood at the door, his voice low and resolute. “If Viscountess Athena refuses to see me, then I will wait right here.”

Michael stood before Athena’s door, his expression one of profound earnestness.

Willow sat in the carriage, seething with rage. “What kind of farce is this?” she thought. “He’s the Marquess of Somers—my husband! If anyone saw him standing outside Athena’s door like some lovesick fool, they’d think he’s just begging for humiliation!”

Willow gritted her teeth in frustration, stepped out of the carriage, and approached Michael. Suppressing her anger, she urged, “Michael, if Athena refuses to see you, why must you degrade yourself like this?”

“Only Athena can cure Mother’s illness. What does it matter if I wait a little longer?” Michael said, his voice calm and steady, without a trace of impatience.

His eyes were gentle, radiating quiet determination and showing he was utterly willing.

Willow was fuming. “He’s already this besotted just by looking at Athena’s manor," she thought bitterly. "If he actually saw her, she’d have him wrapped around her finger in no time.”

“Michael,” Willow said earnestly, “Athena is now Mrs. Cavendish. Your standing here will only invite gossip. No one will care that you’re here to seek medicine for your mother. They’ll only say you’re coveting Mrs. Cavendish.”

Michael’s expression wavered, his jaw clenched in conflict. “But Mother’s illness won’t wait,”

Torn between troubling Athena and saving Kelsey, he stood paralyzed by the dilemma.

Seeing he was convinced, Willow eagerly volunteered, “Michael, let me do this for you. After all, Athena and I are sisters—if anyone sees me, it won’t raise eyebrows. At worst, I might have to endure a few snide remarks.”

“Willow,” Michael said, his expression softening with emotion. “Wouldn’t that be asking too much of you?”

Willow met his gaze, her voice steady. “If it means saving my mother-in-law, I’m willing to endure any hardship.”

Willow’s answer tugged at Michael’s heartstrings, making him wonder if he’d been too harsh on her lately.

Just then, a mounted attendant galloped over, his face full of urgency. Reining in his horse, he called out breathlessly to Michael “My Lord, His Majesty has summoned you to the palace at once!”

At the words “to the palace,” Michael’s stomach clenched with dread.

Before, every trip to the palace meant rewards and honors, but now it was nothing but reprimands and punishment.

Michael thought to himself, “Being called in at a time like this? That can’t mean anything good.”

Could it be about those rumors?

Michael didn’t dare delay. He briefly instructed Willow, “Athena is still mad, so it’s understandable she doesn’t want to see me. Willow, I’m sorry you have to endure this slight. Please wait here a bit longer. We’ll decide what to do after I return from the palace.”

Willow nodded obediently. “Don’t worry, darling. I know what to do.”

Seeing how readily Willow agreed, Michael felt relieved and strode off without a backward glance.

Willow felt a quiet delight—Michael’s demeanor toward her had softened considerably, almost as if they’d returned to their old dynamic.

Nona complained indignantly, “Lady Willow, are you truly going to let that bitch humiliate you? You’re the Marchioness of Somers, yet that mere Viscountess Athena dares to make you wait here! And Lord Osborne—he’s far too protective of her.”

Ever since Willow married into the Osborne family, Nona had automatically assigned her the role of Michael’s junior wife.

Whenever Nona looked at Michael, it was with the possessive gaze of a wife toward her own husband.

The tenderness in Michael’s eyes just now made Nona’s heart burn with jealousy.

“Who does Athena think she is? She’s not even worthy of competing with me for Michael’s affection," Nona scoffed inwardly.

Willow knew perfectly well that Michael still carried a torch for Athena. Playing the humble wife, she hoped to win back his heart.

Being overshadowed by Athena was the last thing Willow wanted, but there was nothing she could do.

She waited there listlessly, her voice heavy with resentment as she murmured, “What else could I do? Even if she were dead, Athena would still hold a special place in Michael’s heart.”

Such venomous words—had Nona not known Willow’s true nature, she would never have believed they came from her lips.

Nona, sensing the frustration in Willow’s voice, stepped closer and whispered, “My lady, let me shoulder this burden for you. You’re the Marchioness—far too noble for this indignity. My life is worthless by comparison. Let me kneel here and beg Viscountess Athena to see us.”

‘Even though I’m just a maid, I represent the Osborne family. Even if Athena is dead set against seeing us, once I kneel publicly here, she’ll have no choice but to receive us. The world doesn’t care about the truth. They always side with whoever appears more pitiful,’ Nona thought slyly.