Chapter 353
Kurtis let out a long, deliberate sigh, shaking his head with a wry smile. "You’re not even married yet and already taking the outsider's side—what, afraid we’ll eat your beloved fiancé alive?"
"Grandpa," Athena said, blushing as she walked in with a tray of coffee. She poured a cup and pushed it into his hand, teasing sweetly, "Have some coffee."
Her embarrassed expression amused her three uncles, who all burst out laughing.
"You see what I mean? She won’t even let me talk now, trying to shut me up with coffee." Kurtis chuckled as he took the cup, sipped it, and said, "This is bland and flavorless. Bet the drinks at your wedding will taste better."
Athena’s face turned scarlet. As composed as she normally was, she couldn’t handle her grandfather’s teasing.
Letting out a flustered little cry, she fled the room.
The laughter of her three uncles followed her, unrestrained. Only Xander smiled softly, his eyes full of affection.
Xander stood and addressed Kurtis. "Once I’ve chosen a nice date, I’ll come to formally marry Athena."
Kurtis and the three uncles walked him to the gate.
Just before getting into the carriage, Xander saw Athena standing in the courtyard watching him. He smiled at her and mouthed silently, "Wait for me."
Soon, his carriage arrived at the gates of Xander Manor.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he was met by Alexandra, her face full of rage. "You! You’ve gone mad! Giving up your military command for a woman? Do you even understand how dangerous that is for you?"
What angered her even more was that Xander had gone to propose marriage without her consent. He even brought gifts to Athena’s place, completely disregarding her.
Xander halted, his gaze icy as he looked at Alexandra. "Isn’t this exactly what you’ve been wanting to see? Now that I’ve fulfilled your wishes, why are you so furious instead?"
Alexandra’s face went ashen. She looked momentarily stunned. "What do you mean by that?"
Xander paused again, his eyes cold as he looked directly at her. "You know exactly what I mean. If you hadn’t ordered Kendra, would she have gone so far as to slit her wrists? You wanted to use that to force my hand, but you’ve miscalculated."
He continued, "I have never yielded to coercion, not even from you, Mother. This time, I gave up my military power. If you push me again, I’ll give up my title as prince."
Alexandra hadn’t expected him to be so perceptive. He had figured out she was behind Kendra’s actions.
Still, she didn’t want to admit it. Holding onto a sliver of hope, she said, "How could you think that way about your own mother? In your eyes, am I really such a person? Everything I’ve done is for your sake?"
Xander replied, "I appreciate your kindness, but you shouldn’t impose your ambitions on me. You know better than anyone what you’ve been plotting all these years. Stop before it’s too late. If you don’t, don’t blame me for being heartless."
Xander’s words chilled Alexandra to the bone. She looked at him in disbelief, her face twisted in pain.
In her mind, her son was exceptionally gifted. It pained her that he had to live under someone else’s shadow.
She truly believed that if he sat on the throne, he would outshine Arthur by far.
Chapter 353
Overwhelmed by anger and frustration, she snapped, "No, I absolutely will not allow you to marry Athena. I won’t…"
Xander said, "She doesn’t need your approval. She’s the mistress of Xander Manor. If you can’t stand her, I suggest you move to the client suburbs. Athena and I will visit you during the holidays. No need to live in mutual resentment."
His tone was ice cold. His expression was as if he were looking at a stranger.
Alexandra couldn’t bear hearing him talk to her like this. Tears rolled down her face. "You’re kicking your own mother out?"
Xander replied, "I’m not kicking you out. It’s you who can’t recognize your place. You want everything. You want to control everything. I can’t tolerate your overbearing nature, and neither can Athena. If that’s the case, then…"
He paused and looked her in the eyes. "Have you considered the consequences if this ever comes to light? Secretly stockpiling troops, that’s treason, punishable by extermination of nine generations."
Alexandra staggered back in shock. She stared at him, panic overtaking her voice. "You! You’re talking nonsense!"
Xander said, "As long as I’m here, I decide what happens in this manor. And don’t worry, I’ve already taken your hidden troops and turned them over to the King."
His words hit her like a bolt of lightning.
She had spent years plotting, secretly gathering ten thousand elite soldiers.
She had guarded against every possible threat, except her very own son.
Xander had quietly handed over all the troops to the King without saying a word.
Consumed by fury, she slapped him hard. "You wretch! I shouldn’t have birthed you! I did everything to protect your future. When you’re useful, you’re the King’s trusted uncle. When you’re not, you’re less than a commoner. If the King ever turns on you, how will you protect yourself? Have you even thought about that?"
Every word she spat carried her burning fury.
Alexandra forced the words out through gritted teeth, every syllable laced with burning rage.
Xander didn’t dodge. He took the slap head-on.
Red marks quickly bloomed across his face, but he laughed coldly. "If I weren’t sure, would I dare give up my command? Did you think I hadn’t prepared a fallback?"
She wanted to ask more, but Xander didn’t want to speak on the matter any further. He said, "You have two options. Either you joyfully accept Athena as your daughter-in-law and promise never to give her trouble again, or I’ll send you to the mountain villa for rest and recovery. Choose."
Alexandra slumped. She laughed at herself. "Now you even get to decide your mother’s fate. Why bother asking what I think? For a woman, you’d even turn your back on your own mother."
Xander said, "There’s no need for sarcasm, Mother. Even without Athena, I would still have made this decision. I won’t let you destroy Xander Manor."
With that, Xander gave a cold order. "Men, escort my mother back to her courtyard. Without my permission, she can’t leave the estate."
"You! You ungrateful wretch!" Alexandra shrieked, her face contorted in rage. She finally understood Xander was utterly immovable.
Whether she played the victim or invoked their bond as mother and son, it made no difference.
Xander remained stone-cold, utterly unmoved.
Under his orders, she was escorted back to her quarters.
Chapter 353
She screamed angrily, "Someone! Anyone!"
But no one outside answered. Panic spread across her face. "Where is everyone? Where are my people?"
Her confidante leaned in and whispered, "Your Grace, it was Prince Xander. He dismissed all your attendants. Your guards have also been disbanded and reassigned."
Alexandra’s vision went dark, and she nearly fainted.