Chapter 52

Michael’s eyes were bloodshot with rage, burning with the desire to slaughter them all, every last one who had humiliated and abused Athena. And that was exactly what he did.

Jed felt his blood run cold as Michael advanced toward him, longsword in hand.

“General, please, you mustn’t!” Jed cried urgently. “If you execute these men who’ve fought and bled with you through thick and thin, it will shatter the army’s morale. They’re just a few women, why go to such lengths for people who have nothing to do with you?”

Jed couldn’t fathom why Michael, always the epitome of composure, had completely lost control today. This was so out of character for Michael.

Michael’s dark eyes burned with fury. He sneered inwardly, his contempt palpable. “Just a few women? How could she be just an ordinary woman! She is the most important person in my life!”

“But what exactly did those damned bastards do to her?"

“They trampled her underfoot, reducing her to nothing, utterly at their mercy, forced to endure every humiliation. When they were in a good mood, they’d toss her a scrap of food; when they weren’t, she’d suffer endless torment.”

Just picturing Athena on her knees, desperately begging those bastards, made Michael feel as if a knife were twisting in his heart. He couldn’t bear to think if Athena had also suffered at their hands.

With a sudden, guttural roar, Michael erupted in fury, swinging his longsword and cutting down two men in one swift motion. Blood sprayed violently, splattering across Michael’s face. At this moment, he was like a demon unleashed, his eyes blazing with nothing but frenzied bloodlust.

In the blink of an eye, Michael slaughtered three men in rapid succession. Jed snapped back to reality and rushed forward, desperately grabbing Michael around the waist in an attempt to bring him back to his senses. “General, please! Don’t lose yourself!” Jed pleaded, his voice trembling.

But Michael was like a man possessed, deaf to all reason. He was completely out of his mind, wishing he could kill every last one of them.

Just as the situation spiraled out of control, Michael’s head suddenly slumped to one side. Jed looked up in terror, only to see Nicolas standing there with a deep frown. His hand was still poised from the blow that had just knocked him out.

“Lord Monson,” Jed’s voice choked up, as if seeing a savior. “General Michael, he–”

Nicolas silenced him with a sharp gesture, his piercing gaze sweeping the area to ensure no one was listening. In a low, commanding voice, he said, “Not a word of this leaves here.”

Then, Nicolas made a swift slashing motion with his hand across his throat, thinking coldly, “Dead men tell no tales.”

Jed’s eyes widened abruptly as Nicolas fixed him with a steely, unblinking gaze and said in a grave voice, “What’s done is done. Do you really want Michael to face the Emperor’s wrath? They’re just a few soldiers; their deaths mean nothing, but if this isn’t handled properly, your general will pay the price.”

Most of the women sent to the military camp for forced labor perished there. If Athena’s case hadn’t been exposed, this whole scandal might never have come to light. Over the years, no fewer than a dozen women have perished in that military camp.

Those at court who’d been watching Michael like hawks would surely seize this opportunity to exploit the incident to their advantage. They might even seize upon this incident to make Michael the scapegoat, or worse, have him thrown into prison.

After a brief moment of thought, Jed’s eyes took on a resolute expression. He declared firmly, “This was all my doing. General Michael had nothing to do with it.”

Nicolas gave him a respectful nod, his eyes filled with admiration.

Jed said firmly, “The General saved my life. I’d walk through hell for him without a second thought.”

With that, Jed gripped his sword and marched toward the remaining men.

Nicolas turned away, unwilling to watch any longer. He heard only a few dull thuds as bodies hit the ground. Then, all was silent.

Jed acted with swift precision, ordering his men to dispose of the bodies in the remote mountains without a trace. Then, to cover up the truth, Jed officially announced that several soldiers had deserted from the army. Every detail was handled flawlessly, leaving no trace behind.

However, eventually, whispers of the incident reached the Emperor’s ears. Michael and Nicolas were summoned to the palace, where they knelt in punishment before the Heaven Hall.

The Monson family was frantic with worry. Henry spent a fortune and pulled every string he could, but still came up empty-handed. Left with no other choice, Eloise could only take Willow to the palace to plead with the Empress for help.

In the distance, Eloise and Willow saw Michael and Nicolas kneeling before the Heaven Hall. Tears streamed down Eloise’s face, her heart aching, but she didn’t dare to look back. She quickly pulled Willow along toward the Empress’s Phoenix Hall.

After two long days, the Emperor finally released Michael and Nicolas from the palace.

On the way back to the estate, Nicolas’s heart felt heavy. He wondered, “Was I wrong?”

After everything Athena went through in that hellhole, it’s a miracle she kept her sanity. And yet, I actually dared to hope she’d still treat me as she once did. Athena must utterly despise me.

Nicolas couldn’t deny it; he was the one who had agreed to send Athena to the military camp all those years ago.

Nicolas thought bitterly, if only I’d spoken up for Athena, even just once, she wouldn’t have had to endure those three hellish years. But even as he thought this, Nicolas couldn’t help feeling angry.

Nicolas thought bitterly, “What’s done is done, why can’t she just let it go?”

Mother has already arranged a decent marriage for Athena. With her tarnished reputation, what aristocratic house would ever want her? Though Ferris is terminally ill, it’s still not a bad arrangement for Athena. If she were to become a widow, the Monson family would adopt a child for her to raise as her own, so she wouldn’t have to be alone.

After all, she still has to rely on the Monson family.

Mother and I have already mapped out her entire future. All she has to do is follow our arrangements, and she’ll never have to worry about a thing for the rest of her life.

Why must she cling so desperately to Michael?

If Athena hadn’t said something to Michael, he wouldn’t have lost his mind and stormed into the military camp, and I wouldn’t have been reprimanded by the Emperor either.

Why is Athena so unreasonable?

With a deep frown, Nicolas entered the estate. Eloise and Henry had long been waiting in the main hall, with Willow standing anxiously by her mother’s side.

As they caught sight of him, Eloise hurried forward, her eyes brimming with tears. “Nicolas, my poor boy…”

Nicolas limped into the estate, his steps unsteady. He had knelt before the palace for two days, his legs so agonized he could barely stand. Seeing this, Eloise’s heart broke. She rushed forward, embraced him tightly, and wept uncontrollably.

Nicolas scanned the hall, his eyes darkening with disappointment. He thought bitterly, Athena isn’t here. With everything that’s happened, she couldn’t even be bothered to show up? Nicolas seethed inwardly.

“Nicolas…” Willow’s voice was so choked with sobs she could barely speak. Tears streamed down her face as she looked at his injured leg. “Does it hurt terribly?”

Willow carefully supported Nicolas as she sat down, then immediately turned to the servants and ordered urgently, “Go fetch the family physician at once!”

Nicolas’s eyes softened with a hint of comfort as he reassured Willow, “Don’t worry about me.”

Then, his expression darkened. Nicolas demanded, “Where is Athena?”

“Athena must have been held up by something,” Willow said hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. “She knows you stood up for her. I’m sure she’ll come.” Willow’s feeble attempt to cover for Athena only made Nicolas’s anger flare.

Nicolas thought bitterly, how can two sisters be so completely different? One sister is running around tirelessly for me, while the other acts as if she doesn’t even notice.

Henry’s face darkened with anger as he snorted contemptuously. “If she truly cared, she would have shown up by now.”

Henry thought, I know Athena holds resentment, but she should know when and to whom to direct it.

Nicolas’s punishment this time was entirely because of her. No matter what, she should have at least come to pay a visit. Even if she didn’t want to, couldn’t she at least put on a show!

She couldn’t even be bothered to put on an act. How utterly disappointing.

Eloise dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief and forced a strained smile. “Thank goodness you’re safe.”

Before Eloise could finish speaking, Henry bellowed, “Go summon Athena at once!”

Since Athena’s return, the Monson family hadn’t known a moment’s peace.

It was a summons, not an invitation.

The butler’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly led the servants out to carry out the order.