Chapter 277

Michael was inside the room, close enough to hear every word Willow uttered. He sat behind his desk, his expression growing noticeably darker. For the very first time, he began to truly doubt Willow’s moral character. In his memory, Willow had always been kind-hearted and delicate. Yet now that she had married him and gotten everything she wanted, she still stooped to slandering Athena behind her back. He couldn’t understand what she hoped to gain from it. Michael’s brows knitted tightly; his deep disappointment in Willow was plain to see.

The servant entered cautiously, casting a hesitant glance at Michael as he debated whether to relay Willow’s words. However, Michael simply waved his hand wearily and said, “You may leave.”

Seeing this, the servant had no choice but to withdraw. Seated at his desk, Michael held the book for ages without turning a page. Athena’s image kept flashing before his eyes: her smile, her wounded look, every facet of her being. It suddenly struck him—it had been ages since Athena had truly smiled, at the very least, not so brightly in front of him. Whenever Athena saw him, she was cold, even resentful. The one thing she never did was smile at him.

“When exactly did I wound her so deeply?” he asked himself.

Then Michael stepped outside, aimless as a lost soul, and somehow ended up in front of Athena’s place. The house, with its red walls and green tiles, stood quietly before him; Athena was just inside. He yearned to push open the door and see her, but his legs felt like lead. He couldn’t take a single step.

“Even if I see her,” he thought bitterly, “how can I face her? How can I possibly ask for her forgiveness?”

After gazing at the house for a long time, Michael sighed and turned away.

In the days that followed, Michael was nowhere to be found. Willow, who had started out brimming with confidence, ended up utterly dejected. A full seven days passed with Michael avoiding her, refusing to see her even once. Willow was so furious that she smashed everything in sight in her room. Fortunately, Eloise sent someone to fetch her, saying she was needed back at the Morsen estate to tend to a sick family member. Willow seized the opportunity and returned to her family home, her cheeks wet with tears and her eyes red and puffy.

Willow rushed to Eloise, breaking down as she poured out everything she’d been holding in. It took a while, but Eloise eventually managed to calm her.

As Willow stepped out of Eloise’s courtyard, she bumped into Nicolas. Since Willow got married, Nicolas had rarely seen his little sister. The moment he noticed her tears, concern clouded his expression. Guiding her gently toward the gazebo, he asked, “Did Michael upset you?”

At his words, the tears she had fought to hold back finally spilled out. Nona immediately stepped forward. “From the day Lady Willow joined the Osborne family, Lord Michael has treated her with coldness and distance. Out of respect for the family, she chose not to speak of her troubles so soon after the wedding. Their bond had only just begun to mend when malicious rumors reached Lord Michael’s ears. He now wrongly believes that Lady Willow slandered Viscountess and blamed her for the rift between you and your wife. I swear on my life, she said no such thing!”

Nicolas’s brows furrowed deeply as he listened. “What does what happens between me and Fiona have to do with you, or with Athena?” he snapped.

Still seething, he slammed his fist on the table and roared, “That bastard Michael! How dare he treat you like this? I’ll make him pay!”

Nicolas shot to his feet, furious and about to storm off to confront Michael, but Willow quickly intervened, stopping him. “Nicolas, please don’t. If you confront him like this, it’ll only strain our marriage even more.” As she pleaded, her red-rimmed eyes were filled with worry.

“Even now, you’re still defending him?” Nicolas fumed, though beneath his anger was only helplessness and heartache. Willow was head-over-heels in love with Michael, always putting him first, yet he never cherished her.

“Stay at the family estate for a while longer and let him know I’m one he’ll come to his senses,” Willow said.

With no better option at the moment, Nicolas let out a cold snort. “Just stay here and don’t worry. No one would dare gossip about you.”

Willow, looking deeply touched, nodded gently. “Thank you, Nicolas.”

Perhaps from a recent chill, Willow was suddenly wracked by a harsh fit of coughing. Seeing her in such a pitiful state, Nicolas quickly unfastened his cloak and draped it over her shoulders. He even meticulously fastened the straps for her.

Both were grown adults, and such intimate gestures should have been tempered with discretion, yet Willow and Nicolas saw no impropriety and felt perfectly at ease. They were siblings, after all. There was no need for anyone to overthink it.

Willow threw herself into Nicolas’s arms, nuzzling him affectionately. “It’s so good to be home, with my big brother protecting me.”

Meanwhile, Nicolas held her in a gentle embrace, his expression soft with fondness. “Still the same as ever, always clinging to me.”

Suddenly, Willow drew back. Not far off, Fiona appeared in the garden, carrying Cedric. Through the flowering hedge, she watched as Willow and Nicolas stood locked in an embrace.

Chapter 277

In the past, she would have been consumed by jealousy and utter shock, but at the moment, she merely cast them a brief, indifferent glance before looking away. Fiona’s whole world was Cedric now. Cradling her child, she turned to leave and cooed, “My sweet Cedric, are you warm enough today? Some steamed egg custard later, okay?”

Cedric’s little face was rosy, and he was already babbling. He waved his tiny, chubby hands as if answering in his own language. Fiona kissed his soft cheek, her face glowing with contentment.

Willow hastily pulled away from Nicolas’s embrace, looking up at him with feigned innocence. “Oh no, Nicolas, what should I do? Fiona must have misunderstood me. Let me go explain it to her.”

As she spoke, she started after Fiona, but Nicolas grabbed her arm and yanked her back. His face was stony, unconcerned with Fiona’s feelings. “Why bother? You did nothing wrong.” Fiona had been giving him cold looks these days, and Nicolas was thoroughly sick of her attitude. If it weren’t for the child, would I ever have made a woman like her the future Lady Moon? She’s just a merchant’s daughter, and now she gives me attitude? What a joke, Nicolas thought with disdain.

Willow tilted her head, pretending to be innocent. “Oh, Nicolas,” she said with a soft sigh, “you’ve been through a lot. Fiona used to be so different. It really breaks my heart to see you two drifting apart.”

“Used to be…” Nicolas mused.

He remembered that back when Athena wasn’t around, he and Fiona actually got along well, but ever since Athena returned to the estate, Fiona gradually changed. She no longer centered her life around him, first giving Nicolas the cold shoulder, then openly confronting him. Now, they were like sworn enemies.

Willow’s words made it clear to Nicolas that Athena was the source of all these problems. He clenched his fists, a dark resolve settling in. It was time he taught Athena a lesson.

“Willow, go back and rest,” Nicolas said gently.

“Okay,” Willow replied softly, her obedient tone bringing a satisfied smile to Nicolas’s face. To him, this was how a younger sister should be, not like Athena, who was nothing but a constant source of trouble.

Nicolas pondered. Alexandra’s birthday was just days away. She was sure to host a lavish party, and Athena would undoubtedly attend. Nicolas summoned his right-hand man and ordered coldly, “Spread the word: Athena is cheating.”

Even if he couldn’t deal with Athena himself, there were always others who could put her in her place. For example, Alexandra, who prized reputation above all else, would never tolerate such rumors.

Chapter 278