Athena’s gaze at Eloise remained utterly unmoved. Seeing the tears on her face, Athena’s eyes only grew colder. She knew that Eloise’s fake tears and feigned weakness were all for Nicolas. Eloise didn’t come in regret, but in the realization that the duke’s estate was collapsing.
Tears streaked down Eloise’s face as she slowly approached Athena, the hem of her dress trailing along the bluestone floor and leaving a serpentine trail of dampness behind her. “Athena, I beg you, please,” she sobbed.
Just as her trembling fingers were about to touch Athena’s hand, Athena flicked them away with barely concealed disdain. With barely a touch, Eloise staggered back as if she’d been violently shoved, collapsing to the ground in a heap.
She turned back, looking at Athena in utter disbelief and anguish, “Athena, I’m your mother…” she cried, her voice thick with grievance. Her theatrical display was so full of exaggerated misery that even bystanders would have pitied Eloise.
However, no one was there to pity Athena in the past. After three years of grueling military service, Athena was expelled from the duke’s estate and left an orphan. No one had pitied her back then.
Athena’s eyes glinted with icy disdain. “Drop the act, Lady Eloise. You’re only here to plead for Nicolas’s release. I’ve severed all ties with the duke’s estate–by blood and by law. We have nothing to do with each other, yet you keep harassing me. If you don’t stop, I'll report you to the authorities.”
With each word, Athena advanced a step. Finally, she stopped three paces away, towering over Eloise, her gaze murderous.
“No need to be so anxious, Lady Eloise. After all, you’ll be reunited with Lord Nicolas soon enough,” Athena said coldly.
Eloise stared at Athena, trembling with fear, her heart pounding, “What are you plotting!”
“Back then, my grandfather was falsely accused and his entire family was exiled. Lady Eloise, you were the only exception. It was only because of your so-called 'meritorious' report that the Emperor showed you mercy and spared you from exile. All these years, you’ve lived in luxury, adorned in gold and jewels, and feasting on delicacies. Did you ever once think about how my grandfather managed to survive?”
Each word twisted Athena’s heart in agony. When Athena learned it was Eloise who had betrayed Kurtis, she wanted nothing more than to run her through with a sword. He gave Eloise everything, yet she repaid his kindness with betrayal. She is worse than an animal, Athena thought bitterly. After all, she was Eloise’s father.
Eloise’s eyes bulged with terror. “How did you find out??” Suddenly, she thought, "It must have been Leonard. He betrayed me!”
She shook her head frantically while stammering in panic, “No, it’s not what you think. Athena, listen to your mother–”
In her desperation, Eloise grabbed for Athena’s robe, but Athena kicked her away violently, looking at her as if she were nothing but filth.
Athena hissed through clenched teeth, each word laced with icy venom, “You are not my mother. You are not worthy. When my grandfather’s name is finally cleared, that will be your downfall. I’ll send you to prison. Only then will my hatred be satisfied.”
Henry bellowed, “Athena, have you lost your mind? She’s the woman who gave birth to you–”
Athena’s voice rose sharply, “Shut your mouth! This duke’s estate owes its very existence to my grandfather. If it weren’t for the substantial wedding gifts he provided when my mother married you, your family would have crumbled long ago. You owe every shred of your prestige to him. I will make you return everything you’ve devoured from my grandfather. Nicolas will never get out, and Eloise will be thrown into the dungeons as well. The duke’s estate is finished.”
Athena’s words sent shivers down Henry’s spine. Her words echoed in his mind as he thought, 'The duke’s estate is finished.' If Nicolas was convicted and Kurtis’s case was overturned, Eloise would undoubtedly be thrown into prison. Matthew Monson and Joseph Monson were both good-for-nothing. The duke’s estate simply had almost no hope of recovery.
Henry thought, “A century-old legacy is going to be ruined in my hands. How could I ever accept this?” Henry cried out frantically, “No. There has to be a way. There just has to be!”
Suddenly, an idea struck Henry. He rushed into the courtyard while shouting at the top of his lungs, “Mother, Please, come out and save your son. Save the duke’s estate, Mother…”
Eloise collapsed to the ground in a daze, her mind reeling. “No, this is absolutely impossible. I’m the Duchess. How can someone of my status go to jail? Athena, you are my daughter. If you send your mother to prison, you’ll become a laughingstock in this world.”
Athena looked at her with undisguised loathing and let out a mirthless laugh. “Let them laugh. This is exactly what you deserve.”
Ever since Athena was cast out of the duke’s estate, all she wanted was to stay as far away from them as possible and never see them again. But when she learned it was Eloise who destroyed Kurtis, Athena was consumed by hatred. She longed to tear Eloise apart.
She thought, 'How dare Eloise claim to be my mother? She has even less right to call General Perkins Father.'
“Jessa, throw them out,” Athena ordered coldly. She couldn’t stand Henry and Eloise’s hypocrisy any longer. She certainly didn’t want them disturbing Margaret Monson’s peace.
Jessa immediately stepped forward, blocking Henry’s path. “The Viscountess has asked you to leave, Your Grace. Please don’t make a scene.”
“Get out!” Henry roared, his face turning livid with rage. He thought, 'I am the Duke. How dare a servant talk to me this way?'
He completely ignored Jessa’s obstruction and continued to advance. Jessa’s eyes flashed coldly. With a swift kick, she sent Henry sprawling across the floor. With a heavy thud, he crashed to the ground, unable to rise for a long while.
Eloise scrambled over in a panic, her eyes full of worry, “Your Grace, are you all right?”
Henry’s head was spinning from the fall. As his vision slowly cleared, he pointed a trembling finger at Athena. “You ungrateful child! How dare you lay hands on your father?”
Athena let out a cold laugh. “You’d better enjoy this moment while you can, Your Grace. The duke’s estate doesn’t have much time left.” Her expression hardened. “Well, are you still not leaving?”
Henry’s attendants were about to charge forward when Jessa stepped up, her eyes blazing with lethal intent. “Take one more step and you die,” she warned coldly. She couldn’t hurt Henry, but these underlings were child’s play for her.
The attendants exchanged terrified glances; not one dared move. After all, Athena had just struck her parents; killing them would be quite easy.
“Your Grace, let’s go…” Eloise said, knowing that pleading any further was pointless. Athena would never change her mind.
'She hates us to the core,' Eloise thought bitterly. Only now did Fiona’s words ring true; instead of begging Athena, it was better to find another way.
Henry slowly rose to his feet, his chest tight with pain. Teeth clenched, he fixed Athena with a venomous glare and spat out, “You’ll regret this.”
“My only regret is learning the truth so late. Had I known sooner, none of you would be alive today. Every last person who harmed my grandfather will pay. You’d better pray for him to be alive and well. If anything happens to him, I'll bury everyone from the Monson family with him.”