Chapter 338

A fleeting glimmer of delight flashed in Nicolas’s eyes. Maintaining his composure, he offered Willow a gentle smile.

“There’s no hurry. Just focus on recovering first,” Nicolas said gently.

Hearing Nicolas’s words, Willow’s heart swelled with even deeper gratitude.

She thought, “No one in this world could ever treat me better than Nicolas. I’ll share everything I know about the secret weapon. Once he’s built up his forces and storms Pidence City, that will be Athena’s ultimate demise.”

From not far away, two figures came running toward Willow.

“Willow! It’s really Willow! Nicolas brought her back!” Their voices carried over before they even got close.

Matthew and Joseph’s faces were alight with excitement.

They rushed forward and pulled Willow into a tight embrace. “Willow! Thank goodness you’re safe!”

Joseph said with tears welling up in his eyes, “I thought I’d never see you again.” Through gritted teeth, he added, “It’s all that bitch Athena’s doing. If not for her, the duke’s estate wouldn’t have ended up like this.”

“Mother was murdered by Athena. I swear to avenge her,” Matthew said.

Matthew and Joseph’s eyes were red-rimmed with fury, their hatred for Athena burning like poison in their veins.

Willow looked at the two of them, tears silently streaming down her face. “I never thought I’d live to see you both again, Joseph, Matthew,” she murmured.

“Let’s continue this inside,” Nicolas said decisively.

The group entered the house. Though the stronghold was nothing like the lavish duke’s estate, it had all the necessities.

In fact, to welcome Willow back, they had even prepared a cozy private courtyard just for her, complete with two maids to attend to her every need.

Henry was dressed in coarse garments, looking utterly dejected.

But when he saw Willow, a glimmer of hope lit up his eyes. “It’s good you’re back.”

Surrounded by her family, Willow once again felt the warmth of being favored.

As she recounted the hardships she had endured along the way, her brothers listened with tears streaming down their faces.

Only after Willow had finished pouring out her sorrows did Nicolas finally ask about the weapon she had mentioned.

Willow looked at them and declared, “If we can actually build this thing, it’ll be truly unstoppable. It’s capable of leveling an entire city with ease. Its power is unmatched!”

“Willow, is this for real?” Matthew asked excitedly.

“Absolutely true. I call it a ‘cannon’,” Willow said firmly. “But building something like this requires massive amounts of charcoal, sulfur, and saltpeter.” She paused, then added gravely, “Without sufficient funds, I’m afraid it would be impossible to complete.”

Nicolas and Henry exchanged a glance, both falling into heavy silence.

What they desperately needed now was money.

At that moment, Joseph suggested, “I’ve got a way to get rich quick. It’s a bit risky, but if we pull it off, we’ll be swimming in money.”

“Oh? What is it?” Henry asked eagerly.

“Gold mine,” Joseph murmured darkly.

At this, everyone frowned.

Nicolas sighed. “We’ve been searching for that gold mine all along, but so far there’s been no news. Finding a gold mine is easier said than done.”

Just then, one of Nicolas’s confidants slipped in and leaned in to whisper, “We’ve got a lead on the gold mine.”

“Where did this lead come from?” Nicolas asked, his eyes widening in surprise.

The servant said, “Athena discovered a gold mine while relocating her mother’s grave and reported it to the King. Overjoyed, he granted her the title of Duchess. I have also learned that General Perkins has safely arrived in Pidence City and has formally reunited with Athena.”

Willow’s face twisted with rage when she heard the news. “A Duchess? She actually became a Duchess? That bitch deserves to die more than anyone!”

Just thinking about all the suffering she’d endured made her feel like her lungs would explode with fury.

While she was being whipped, Athena was toasting to her victories…

While she was being humiliated, Athena was being honored and rewarded. Willow didn’t think that was fair.

Willow burst into angry tears. Matthew and Joseph gritted their teeth and clenched their fists in rage.

Willow cried out, “Nicolas, you must kill her. Otherwise, I’ll never rest in peace even if I die.”

Nicolas lowered his eyelids and sighed. “Rest assured, sister. I won’t let you suffer in vain. I’ll personally see that Athena pays for everything she’s done to you.”

Just as Willow was about to speak, an attendant hurried in and reported, “Lord Nicolas, Lady Fiona has been weeping incessantly and refusing food for days. Should we summon a physician to examine her?”

Nicolas’s brows knitted into a tight knot. “What does she take herself for? If it weren’t for Cedric, she’d have been a corpse long ago. If she refuses to eat, then let her starve. Let’s see who’s tougher.”

Hearing that Fiona and Cedric were also present, Willow snorted in annoyance. “Nicolas, why are you dragging this dead weight along? If you ask me, you might as well just kill her and spare yourself the irritation.”

Before, she could still keep up the act, but now that she’d fallen so low, Willow no longer cared about appearances. Her true colors started showing.

Matthew hesitated, his voice tinged with reluctance. “After all, she’s still Cedric’s mother. If you kill her and Cedric finds out when he grows up, wouldn’t he end up resenting Nicolas?”

“It’s true. Cedric needs her right now,” Joseph said with resignation.

Willow snapped, “But as long as you keep her around, she’s just going to be a distraction every single day. What if she escapes one day? Who can guarantee she won’t run straight to Athena and spell us out? We’re in real danger here. We have to be extra careful with every move we make. How can we risk everything for someone who doesn’t even matter?”

Willow’s words made Nicolas hesitate. He said softly, “Rest assured, I’ve kept her under very strict watch. Within the stronghold, she couldn’t escape even if she grew wings. If she ever harbors such thoughts, I certainly wouldn’t spare her.”

Now that he was the boss here, whatever he said was the law. No one dared to question him.

Willow stopped arguing. All she could do now was stay in Nicolas’s good graces.

If he ever grew tired of her, Willow knew that she would be cast aside without hesitation.

“Nicolas, I’m so tired. I wanna go rest,” Willow said softly.

“Alright, I’ll walk you there,” Nicolas said softly.

Nicolas led Willow to the courtyard, while Matthew and Joseph exchanged a bewildered glance.

After a long pause, Joseph finally croaked out, “Hey, do you think Nicolas has feelings for Willow?”

“Drink your coffee and stay out of it,” Matthew said while pouring Joseph a cup. “So what if he likes her? Nicolas isn’t even our real brother. We’re backed into a corner. Sticking with him is the only way we’ll survive. When he raises an army and storms Pidence City, you think we won’t get our share of titles and riches?”

Joseph’s eyes lit up and he nodded repeatedly. “You really do have a point, Matthew!”

The two brothers happily sipped their coffee, completely oblivious to Henry’s stony expression.

Henry thought bitterly, “If it weren’t for the threats from Nicolas and the forces behind him, I wouldn’t have ended up in such a dire predicament.”

With a heavy heart, Henry stepped outside.

He had barely taken a few steps when an elegant woman suddenly appeared before him. “Mr. Monson, where are you going?”