Chapter 44

Matthew paused for a moment, then quickly shook his head. No. He would never treat Willow that way.

Willow was sweet and obedient. He barely had enough time to dote on her. He wondered how anyone could… if anyone was to blame, it was Athena. She was too petty, too stubborn. If she were more like Willow—knew when to yield, when to stay quiet—things wouldn’t be so tense between her and the rest of the family.

Still, with the Monson family needing her now, Matthew didn’t want to make things worse. He let out a cold snort and left it at that.

Athena had long stopped expecting anything from him, so she didn’t even bother responding.

What did surprise her, though, was Nicolas’s sudden change in tone.

“I spoke out of turn earlier,” he said, voice softened. “Don’t take it to heart, Athena.”

Athena was taken aback, but when she caught the faint smile he sent in Nelson’s direction, she immediately understood.

It was all for show. A performance meant for Xander’s people. After all, with Xander now relying on her, Nicolas’s sudden… it wasn’t about love. It was about politics.

“Atheny…” The soft call sent a tremor through Athena’s heart.

Atheny—her childhood nickname. No one had called her that in years.

Nicolas’s expression shifted slightly, too. He had been the one who gave her that name.

When they first brought her back home, she was thin, quiet, and full of fear. He had said gently, “We’ll call you Atheny.”

Back then, she’d loved that name. She used to follow him around, tugging at his sleeves, asking, “Nicolas, do you like Atheny?”

“Of course,” he’d smile. “Atheny is so sweet—how could I not?”

Just those few words had been enough for her to give him everything—her loyalty, her trust, her whole heart.

She had believed, naively, that sincerity could earn sincerity in return. But all she got in the end was betrayal.

She turned toward the voice that had called her. Ray stood beneath the parasol tree, tall and radiant, sunlight casting a golden halo around him. He looked as if he’d stepped straight out of a painting.

For a brief moment, Athena felt disoriented. The scene was so familiar that she couldn’t quite tell if it was Ray standing there… or Michael.

But as he came closer, she saw Michael following behind him—face dark as thunderclouds.

He glared at her as if she owed him something monumental, his cold gaze practically grinding her into dust.

Athena found it amusing. She wondered, "What right does he have to be angry? I owe him nothing."

She gave Ray a graceful curtsy. “Your Highness. Lord Osborne.”

Her eyes never strayed from Ray. The “Lord Osborne” was just a formality—an afterthought. And that made Michael’s scowl deepen.

Ray, on the other hand, looked perfectly pleased. A faint smile played on his lips, and there was something almost dreamy in the way he looked at her. “What did Xander say to you?”

“He asked me to help train the palace seamstresses,” Athena replied plainly.

“Ah,” Ray nodded in understanding, then turned to her and said, "I have something to take care of, your brother will escort you back."

Athena didn’t want to return with Nicolas, but she didn’t have much choice. She gave a small nod.

Ray smiled again, then turned and walked away without another word.

Matthew sneered. “So much for being in Ray’s favor. Doesn’t seem like you mean much to him. What exactly are you so smug about?”

Athena didn’t even glance at him. She walked straight past him without a word, eyes forward.

The smugness on Matthew’s face faltered. “What’s her problem? Is she looking down on me?”

Nicolas shot him a glare. “Why do you keep picking fights with her for no reason?”

“She’s the one always going against us,” Matthew grumbled, still fuming. But even so, he turned to follow after Athena.

Outside the gates, Athena was already waiting beside the carriage. Just as she was about to board, Matthew strode over and climbed in ahead of her. Without so much as a glance her way, he ordered the coachman, “Go. Back to the manor.”

The driver hesitated, instinctively looking to Athena—Lady Athena hadn’t gotten in yet.

Matthew gave a smug smile. “Lady Athena is far too important now. No doubt she’d turn her nose up at our carriage.”

Then, flashing her a mocking grin, he added, “Right, future Princess of Ray?”

Athena almost laughed from sheer disbelief. She thought, ‘How do I never realize just how ridiculous he is?’

The carriage rolled forward, brushing close enough to ruffle her skirts. Athena watched it disappear down the road, her expression cold and unreadable, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

She had stopped expecting anything from Matthew long ago. At this point, he could drive a knife into her chest, and she would accept it with calm indifference. He’d already done worse.

When Nicolas and Michael exited the estate a few minutes later, they saw Athena standing alone by the roadside, composed as ever.

The carriage—and Matthew—were long gone.

Nicolas immediately understood what had happened. Matthew had taken the carriage just to put her in her place.

Feeling embarrassed on Matthew’s behalf, Nicolas approached with a hint of guilt in his expression. “That carriage wasn’t very comfortable anyway. Come ride with me.”

Michael followed a step behind, his gaze locked on Athena. There was a glimmer of hope in his eyes—as if he were waiting for her to ask for his help. If she did, he’d escort her home in a heartbeat.

But Athena didn’t want help from either of them.

“That won’t be necessary,” she said coolly.

“I’ll walk.”

Nicolas frowned. Even by carriage, it took nearly 45 minutes to get from Xander’s residence back to the duke’s. ‘Walk?’

“Are you trying to destroy your legs?” he snapped, glancing down at her knees. “They haven’t fully healed, have they?”

His tone softened, almost pleading now.

But Athena remained unmoved. If anything, the faint smile on her lips grew colder. She stood silently, the embodiment of quiet resistance.

That smile—so polite, yet so distant—stabbed Nicolas in the chest.

Nicolas thought, ‘Why is she so stubborn? Is she really willing to walk all the way back just to avoid riding with me? Or does she think that with Xander behind her, she no longer has to take me seriously?’

His patience finally wore thin.

“I’m giving you one last chance,” he said, voice sharp. “If you don’t want to cripple yourself for life, get in the carriage. My patience is limited.”

Athena gave him one cool, dispassionate glance—then turned and walked away.

Nicolas’s face went rigid, his expression darkening to an ugly shade. He stared after her retreating figure, fury simmering beneath the surface. “How dare she…”

“Athena.” Michael caught up to her in three long strides, stepping in front of her and blocking her path. “Let me take you back.”

Nicolas immediately tensed. He thought, ‘What the hell is he doing? If anyone saw them returning together, the rumors would be endless.’

But before he could interject, Athena had already responded.

“That wouldn’t be appropriate, Lord Osborne,” she said without hesitation.

Michael’s expression darkened further. His jaw clenched, and his voice was tight with frustration. “What’s inappropriate about it? I used to walk you home all the time.”

“Yes. When we were children,” Athena replied evenly. “We’re grown now. Some lines shouldn’t be crossed.”

She didn’t even know how to describe the feeling in her chest. There was a time when she had longed to be near Michael, had clung to every chance just to walk beside him.

But that time was over. She didn’t need him anymore. And now, ironically, he was the one chasing after her.

Michael opened his mouth to argue, but before he could speak, a calm voice rang out behind them. “Wait.” It was Nelson.