Chapter 487

Caught off guard, Athena’s nose bumped into his cold chest, making her let out a muffled groan from the pain.

Just as she was about to struggle, a hand clamped over her mouth.

A deep voice came from her ear. “Don’t make a sound. It’s me.”

Hearing the voice, Athena lowered her guard.

In the moonlight, she saw Xander’s stunning face.

He looked at her intently, his eyes full of joy.

“Why are you here?” Athena asked him.

The light in Xander’s eyes dimmed slightly as he reached out and gently pinched her nose.

He replied, “You came into Curtis’s manor by yourself. How could I rest easy? Of course I had to sneak in too, to stay with you.”

As he said this, the tenderness in his eyes seemed almost to spill over.

Behind Xander was a wall, and all around them were dense shrubs, sealing them off from the world.

Athena was held tightly in his arms, and in this small space, there was a strange sense of excitement.

She asked, “Didn’t I tell the guards to tell you that I’d be fine?”

Perhaps because she hadn’t seen Xander for many days, Athena’s eyes glowed as she looked at him.

Her hands refused to stay still, wrapping tightly around his waist.

She had seen many handsome men, but none had a face like Xander’s, nor his commanding presence.

Even dressed in a shadow guard’s uniform, his charisma could not be concealed.

Athena felt delighted. Her husband was the best in the world. Xander enjoyed the time he spent alone with Athena.

Especially now, as the two embraced tightly. It was as if they were the only two people left in the world.

He could feel Athena’s affection for him, burning like oil on a raging fire, scorching his blood and making him feverish.

“Wherever you are, I will be there. I can’t bear to leave you alone in this place. I had to come.” Xander’s deep voice rumbled in his chest, and Athena, pressed against him, listened to his heartbeat, smiling with joy.

She looked up at him. “How did you sneak in?”

Xander looked at her calmly, “Curtis hired a highly skilled shadow guard. I killed him.”

His expression carried a faint trace of disdain, as if her question insulted his ability.

Athena had just opened her mouth when the sound of approaching footsteps came from not far away.

She quickly fell silent, clutching Xander and even slowing her breath.

Xander looked at her nervous appearance and smiled. He didn’t seem to care at all, and could even laugh at such a tense time.

It wasn’t until the sound of footsteps faded away that Athena punched him. “Alright, I have to leave.”

The longer she stayed here with him, the more dangerous it would be for both of them.

Xander reluctantly hooked his fingers around hers. “Tomorrow. Let’s meet here again.”

Athena was a little speechless. They were here to bring down Curtis, not to play house.

“Can you be serious for once?” She cleared her throat and gave him a reproachful look. “I’m leaving.”

This time, Xander didn’t stop her. He watched Athena walk away before emerging from the bushes.

When Athena returned to the house, she noticed something was off. In the darkness, someone was standing in the house.

Athena shouted coldly, “Who’s there?”

The person took two steps forward, revealing a bright and captivating face. “Lord Elijah, I’m here to serve you.”

The woman walked up to Athena and reached out to touch her clothes, but Athena slapped her hand away.

She looked at the woman with a cold face. “Get out.”

The woman looked up, tears streaming down her face. “If you don’t take me in, I’ll have no way to survive.”

Saying this, she began to undo her clothing.

Athena closed her eyes, wondering who was testing her again.

She turned around and ignored the voice behind her, saying, “I said, get out.”

“I’m begging you. Please take me in.” The woman knelt behind her, crying pitifully.

Athena couldn’t bear it any longer, grabbed the woman, and pushed her out of the house.

Then, to the woman’s horrified look, she threw her clothes out as well.

With a bang, the door slammed shut, ignoring the woman completely.

The woman outside the door stared blankly at the closed door.

It seemed incomprehensible that a young, vigorous man could be indifferent to such beauty.

She paused for a moment before hurriedly putting her clothes on and turning to leave.

“What, he threw you out?” Frieda looked surprised upon hearing this.

She rested her chin in her hand, pondering, “I didn’t expect Elijah to be such a gentleman.”

As she spoke, her face turned red.

The maid said in her ear, “My lady, although he is a gentleman, his status is humble and unworthy of you.”

Frieda waved her hand dismissively. “Status is not a problem. As long as I like him, what does it matter if he’s a beggar from the streets?”

Then, with a trace of self-pity, she muttered, “Rather than be given to that Prince Regent by my father, I’d rather give myself to Elijah.”

The maid’s eyes showed sympathy. “If you do this, His Highness will be angry.”

“So what if he’s angry? I refuse to be a puppet.” Frieda snorted coldly and waved for the maid to withdraw.

But when she lay down in bed, she could not sleep. Athena’s handsome figure kept appearing in her mind. The more she thought about her, the more she liked her.

The next day, the Blumenfeld family hosted a party. The whole household was busy preparing food.

As a newly appointed adviser, Athena was not needed in the front hall, so she stayed in the back courtyard.

At that moment, Frieda came over.

Athena was crouched under the veranda, changing the soil in a pot of white-throated orchids. Hearing footsteps, she looked up.

Frieda wore a moon-white soft satin dress today, with small silver-threaded crabapples embroidered on the skirt.

Her black hair was loosely tied up with a single pearl hairpin, and she stopped when she saw Athena looking.

Frieda asked, “Elijah, you seem to be in a good mood.”

Frieda walked to the flower stand, her gaze landing on the orchid pot, her fingers lightly brushing the leaves. “This variety is so delicate. You take very good care of it.”

Athena set down the small trowel, stood up, and gave her a slight bow. “You overpraise me, my lady. I’m just killing time when I have nothing to do.”

Today, Athena wore a stone-blue scholar’s robe, the collar and sleeves embroidered with subtle patterns in matching silk, making her already refined features appear even gentler.

Frieda noticed the fine sweat at Athena’s temples and drew out a silk handkerchief embroidered with orchids, handing it over.

She said, “Wipe it off, be careful not to get heatstroke.”

Athena was stunned for a moment, then reached out to take it.

Frieda searched for something to say. “There will be quite a lively party today.”

“I heard it’s to welcome the Prince Regent?” Athena’s voice was calm and even.

But in her heart, she was secretly thinking that if Xander was already in the manor, who was posing as him?

Frieda’s back stiffened slightly, her eyes shining as she looked at Athena. “Elijah, do you know my father intends to marry me to Prince Regent?”

Athena hadn’t known before, but now she did.

Seeing Athena silent, Frieda stepped closer. “But I do not want to marry him.”

Frieda took Athena’s hand and coquettishly said, “Can you take me away?”