Chapter 56

Athena blinked, her long lashes fluttering slightly with each blink.

Athena gave a faint, apologetic smile and said, "Lord McGee, you've misunderstood. It's not that I'm unwilling, I simply don't know what to say."

McGee was momentarily stunned. He stared at Athena as a disbelieving smile spread across her face.

He thought, "Athena actually said she didn’t know what to say? When she was a kid, Athena could talk non-stop about everything: street snacks, the clouds above, even the birds in the trees."

"Back then, even the tiniest ant could keep Athena chattering for hours."

"Now Athena claims she doesn't know what to say? Isn't that ridiculous?"

Ferris’s eyes turned cold. “So it’s me you don’t know what to say to, is that it?”

Ferris had always known about Athena and Michael. He fully expected Athena would marry Michael, but to his surprise, it was Willow who ended up becoming Michael's bride.

Ferris fixed Athena with a mocking glint in his eyes. "Since you've agreed to marry me, you mustn't harbor feelings for any other man."

"You've misunderstood, Lord McGee." Athena took a deep breath. "During my three years in the military camp, I was buried under endless duties and had no one to talk to. Gradually, I just stopped speaking; it was never about you. Besides, I've long severed all ties with Michael."

Ferris eyed Athena skeptically, weighing the truth in her words.

The carriage came to a halt. Ferris stepped out first, and Athena followed closely behind.

The street was lined with decorations stretching endlessly as far as the eye could see, immersing everyone in a veritable sea of glowing lights.

Ferris's mood shifted unpredictably. Just moments ago, his face had been dark with anger, but now he was smiling, looking at Athena with unmistakable affection. "Athena, remember you've always loved lantern decorations, haven't you?"

Athena couldn't help but give Ferris a second look, unsettled by his erratic mood.

Just those two glances made Ferris's expression darken again. "What's that supposed to mean? Why are you looking at me with such pity?"

Athena couldn't help but pity him. She had no idea that ever since Ferris fell ill, he had grown unusually sensitive.

She was a bit baffled by his sudden questioning, not quite sure what he meant.

Athena had no desire to engage in such meaningless bickering. She said flatly, "You must be mistaken."

She started to walk away, only for Ferris’s hand to clamp down hard on her wrist.

Almost instantly, searing pain shot through her fingertips, radiating outward.

Athena let out a pained gasp as pain exploded in her injured hand. Ferris had grabbed her right where she was hurt.

Ferris ignored her, scoffing. "Stop playing the victim. I wasn't even holding tight."

"Lord McGee, let go." Athena pleaded, her face contorted in pain as she winced.

Given his frail condition, doctors had even predicted he wouldn't live long. He didn’t think merely gripping her wrist could cause Athena such excruciating pain.

But Athena’s face twisted in growing pain, her complexion draining to a ghostly pallor.

Just as Ferris was puzzling over this, a sharp pain shot through his shoulder, forcing him to let go of Athena’s wrist.

Before anyone could react, Michael was already standing right in front of them.

Michael swiftly steadied Athena by the arm, concern filling his eyes. "Are you alright?"

Athena never expected to run into Michael here, let alone Nicolas and Willow.

With Michael supporting her arm, Willow stared at them both in shock, her eyes red-rimmed. Her expression was just like that of a wife catching her husband cheating.

Large teardrops rolled down Willow’s cheeks as her choked sobs pierced through everyone’s hearts.

Nicolas’s chest heaved with suppressed anger, but to preserve the family’s dignity, he urgently motioned for Athena to leave. "Weren't you supposed to be viewing the decorations with Ferris? Why are you still here!"

Athena wanted nothing to do with Michael.

Gritting her teeth against the pain, she wrenched her arm free and stepped back in front of Ferris. Before he could fly into a rage, she quickly said, "Let's go."

Ferris’s anger hadn’t subsided, but it didn’t escalate either. He simply fixed Michael with an icy glare.

Then, as if struck by a thought, a sneering smile spread across his face.

"Just a few days ago, I got a dog," Ferris said with a mocking smile. "But instead of guarding the house, it keeps chasing after mice. Tell me, Michael, why do you think that is?"

He was mocking Michael for sticking his nose where it didn’t belong.

Michael’s eyes were fixed on Athena. The moment he heard Ferris’s reply, his expression instantly darkened.

Michael’s icy gaze lingered on Ferris’s face. He said coldly, "Her hand is injured. Didn’t you notice?"

Hearing this, Ferris’s smile froze. He scrutinized Athena’s hand but found nothing amiss.

Willow’s voice, laced with feigned grievance, drifted over. "It's all my fault; I couldn't protect my sister. Just a few days ago, she was reprimanded by Her Majesty and subjected to finger punishment. You couldn’t have known, so it’s understandable…"

Her voice was so soft and faint that, unless one listened closely, they’d never catch the subtle trace of gloating beneath.

After being reprimanded by Her Majesty, she felt that Athena could not possibly have any dignity in front of Ferris.

Ferris’s brow furrowed deeply. He gently lifted Athena’s fingers, and only then did he notice the faint, tiny streaks of blood beneath her nails, barely visible unless examined closely.

Realizing what he had just done to Athena, a flicker of guilt crossed Ferris’s eyes. "That was thoughtless of me," he admitted.

Willow was taken aback by Ferris's reaction. "He's actually standing up for Athena?" she thought in disbelief.

Back when he was a kid, he looked down on everyone.

Even Willow had never received so much as a kind look from Ferris.

Yet, despite Athena’s disgrace, Ferris was being unexpectedly gentle.

Michael shot Willow an odd look and cut her off. “Nothing’s settled yet.”

He showed Willow no mercy, and once again, her eyes filled with tears.

Forcing a smile to ease the tensions, Nicolas gave Michael a disapproving look. “As you know, the marriage between our families is already settled; all that’s left is to set a date. And after all, wasn’t this Athena’s own choice?"

He was reminding Michael that Athena had already chosen Ferris and urging him to adjust his attitude.

Michael scoffed coldly at their claims, offering no response.

But Willow’s remark visibly brightened Ferris’s mood.

Ferris took hold of Athena’s uninjured hand, a deliberate show for Michael’s benefit, and said smugly, "As long as Athena agrees, we can set the wedding date anytime."

With a triumphant smile, Ferris turned to Athena and asked, "What do you say, my dear?"

The tension between them weighed heavily on Athena, leaving her utterly weary, yet she had no choice but to face it.

Not only was Ferris watching Athena intently, but Michael and Willow were also watching for her reaction.

Athena nodded, following his lead. "As you wish. Anything will do."

As soon as Athena finished speaking, Willow and Nicolas visibly relaxed, but Michael’s expression darkened even further.

Michael shot Athena a cold, disappointed look.

Willow stepped forward and gently tugged at Michael’s sleeve, speaking in a soft, pleading voice, "Michael, look, they’re selling festival decorations over there. Could you buy one for me?"

As Willow tugged at his sleeve, Michael found his gaze drawn to the roadside decorations.

The street was lined with a dazzling array of decorations in all shapes and sizes.

His gaze lingered on a delicate rabbit-shaped lantern. Turning to Athena, he asked gently, "I remember you used to love rabbit-shaped decorations the most, didn't you?"

Michael was actually asking Athena for her opinion. Willow’s smile froze instantly on her face.