Chapter 377

The brocade quilt on the carved pearwood bed was violently flung aside as Michael propped himself up on trembling arms, struggling to roll toward the edge.

A sharp pain shot through his right calf, forcing a muffled groan from Michael. At the same time, the arrow wound on his arm throbbed and went numb.

His vision blurred in and out as cold sweat streamed from his temple, tracing a path down his jawline and staining his moon-white undershirt.

“No, Mr. Osborne,” the maid outside gasped, lunging forward, only to be shoved away by his forceful backhand.

The movement tugged at his wounds, and fresh blood immediately seeped from the bandages, blossoming into a horrifying crimson on the pristine fabric.

“Move aside,” Michael growled darkly at the maid, his face clouded with anger.

When Michael realized he was in the Xander Manor, his face flushed with shame. Michael thought to himself, “I shouldn’t even be alive—let alone here in Athena’s manor."

The maid anxiously blocked his way, pleading, “Mr. Osborne, Her Highness told me to take good care of you. If you leave, she’ll hold me responsible.”

“Her Highness?” Michael’s expression froze momentarily before comprehension dawned.

“Oh, right,” Michael thought bitterly. “Athena is now Xander’s wife.”

He recalled seeing Athena and Xander, their fingers tightly intertwined, as they went together to the Cavendish Family Cemetery to pay their respects.

The joy on Athena’s face was unmistakable–she was truly happy then.

A surge of bittersweet joy welled up in Michael’s heart. He murmured to himself, “She’s doing well now. I shouldn’t intrude on her life anymore.”

With that, Michael struggled to his feet, determined to leave.

Seeing his wound reopen, the maid cried out anxiously, “Mr. Osborne, please stop moving around. Your wound has reopened—it’s bleeding again.”

“Get out of my way,” Michael snapped, his patience wearing thin at the maid’s obstruction. “I can’t stay here.”

Michael anxiously looked toward the door, but froze mid-movement as Athena strode in briskly, a medicine chest in hand.

Athena strode forward and firmly grasped his flailing arm. Her brows knitted together as her fingertips brushed against his wound. “What on earth are you doing?

“We just applied wound-healing powder to that arrow wound. If you keep moving like this, you might end up crippling this leg for good.”

Athena gently lifted a corner of the bandage. Upon seeing the fresh gauze pad already soaked through with blood, her brows knitted even tighter in concern.

The moment Michael saw Athena, he froze as if rooted to the spot, not daring to move a muscle.

He feebly shrank away from Athena’s touch, his voice hoarse as he said, “I’ll remember your kindness, but I can’t stay here.”

“You’re not leaving the Xander Manor until you’re fully healed,” Athena said firmly, withdrawing her hand and slamming the medicine chest onto the bedside table, the porcelain bottles inside clinking sharply. “You took that ambush arrow for me.

“This debt of gratitude isn’t just Xander Manor’s; it’s mine personally. Even if you want to leave, you’re not going anywhere until I’ve fully healed that injured leg of yours."

Sunlight slanted in through the window lattice, casting a soft glow across Michael’s pale profile.

Michael stared at the tassels hanging from the canopy, his Adam’s apple bobbing a few times. He said hoarsely, “If I stay here, I’ll only bring trouble to you. I’m a man in disgrace now.”

After Athena finished re-bandaging his wound, she said calmly, “Xander has already reported your situation to His Majesty. You’ve rendered great service, and I believe you’ll soon be reinstated to your former position.”

At those words, Michael turned to Athena, a hint of surprise in his eyes. Michael’s eyes welled up with warmth as he asked, his voice trembling, “Do you not hate me?”

Athena’s hand paused as she met Michael’s gaze. “Hate? I used to. But since...”

Athena’s eyes lit up at the mention of Xander.

"...marrying Xander, I don’t anymore.”

Michael’s heart swelled with warmth, only to be immediately engulfed by boundless desolation. He was the fool who let it slip away.

When Athena said she didn’t hate him, Michael felt a peculiar, indescribable pang in his chest. That ardent passion had once been exclusively his. But now...

Michael would rather Athena still hated him–at least it showed he still had a place in her heart. But she no longer harbored any hatred—and with that, even the last sliver of space Michael held in her heart had vanished.

“People have to look forward,” Athena said. “Once things here are settled, Xander and I will leave for our territory. After that, we’ll go our separate ways. It’s likely we may never cross paths again in this lifetime.”

Truth be told, Athena was surprised by how that torrent of hatred had once consumed her, tormenting her day after day.

With the hatred gone, Athena was surprised by how unexpectedly light she felt, as if a weight had been lifted from her heart.

Michael looked at her with red-rimmed eyes, his voice thick with emotion. “He’s someone you can truly trust your life with. You’re bound to find happiness with him in this lifetime.”

Athena smiled, tilting her chin as she looked at him. “What about you, Michael? What are your plans for the future?”

They had finally made peace, yet Michael found no joy in it.

Michael was silent for a moment, then finally said, “I–I don’t know.”

Too many upheavals struck at once, leaving Michael reeling.

The Osborne family was finished. He was the last one left, with nothing left to plan for.

Athena then said gently, “Life can be hard when you’re on your own. If you meet someone suitable, you should settle down and start a family.”

“Start a family?” Michael murmured, shaking his head. “That’s not something I’m considering right now.”

Athena didn’t press him further. Letting out a soft chuckle, she said, “Thank you, Michael.”

Michael glanced at her, a trace of unease in his eyes. “You really don’t have to thank me.”

“If it weren’t for you, Xander and I might not have made it out of the Cavendish Family Cemetery alive. But what puzzles me is–why did you send him the warning?” she was curious.

At the mention of this, Michael looked down, his voice thick with remorse. “I’m in your debt. I had hurt you too deeply in the past. All I want now is for you to be safe.”

Athena looked at him in surprise, as if she hadn’t expected his motivation to be this simple. She’d assumed he was merely trying to win back the King’s favor. “I was overthinking it,” Athena wondered.

After a brief pause, Athena added softly, “It must’ve been incredibly difficult for you, biding your time for so long.”

He said, “Back when I was trapped in the bandit stronghold, I went in fully prepared to die. But after seeing the true situation inside, I changed my mind.

“Especially when Nicolas and Willow spoke of marching on Pidence City, that only strengthened my resolve.

“I couldn’t let them hurt you, so I pretended to comply. That was the only way I could secretly get word to His Highness.”

After Nicolas’s death, Loretta and her gang fled in panic, only to be completely wiped out by Xander and his men.

The bandit stronghold was also set ablaze and reduced to ashes.

Xander eradicated the last remaining scourge for Arthur, earning him undeniable merit.

The captured bandits also confessed to Nicolas’s plot to attack Pidence City, revealing specific details.

Among these confessions, it was also revealed that Michael, trapped in the bandit stronghold, had intended to take them all down with him.

Athena let out a sigh. “Knowing Michael, that’s exactly what he’d do.” He would rather die on his feet than live on his knees.

“Get some rest.” Athena rose and left. Michael watched her retreating figure, his eyes brimming with desolation.

Athena returned to her courtyard, but Xander was nowhere to be found.

Athena turned to Trina and asked, “Where’s Xander?”

Trina jerked her chin toward the room and said, “He’s sulking.”

“Huh?” Athena looked genuinely surprised. “Xander gets angry?”

It was no wonder Athena was surprised–ever since she had been with Xander, she had never seen him lose his temper.

Trina shrugged helplessly and said, “I think His Highness got upset because you wouldn’t let him go in with you. When he came back, he even kicked the door in frustration.”

Athena was stunned for a moment, wondering, “Is he really that petty? He actually kicked the door? I kept Xander out to avoid making Michael uncomfortable—and to sidestep any jealousy. Looks like he got jealous after all."