Chapter 60
“Willow!” Nicolas rushed to the riverbank. His heart clenched as he saw Willow falling into the icy water, his eyes reddening with distress.
Nicolas quickly scanned the three faces before his gaze settled on Michael. “Michael, go save her!” After all, Michael was Willow’s fiancé; of course, it made sense for him to be the one to save her.
But Michael hesitated. Instead of rushing to save Willow, he turned to Athena, his gaze brimming with torment and inner conflict.
“Michael, what are you doing? Willow will drown if you don’t save her now!” Nicolas’s face contorted with frantic urgency. Michael took a steadying breath before finally tearing his gaze away from her.
He finally walked over to the riverbank, glanced at Willow struggling in the water, and, without another moment’s hesitation, dove in after her.
The river wasn’t deep. Willow had been falling for a while but still hadn’t sunk.
Michael swam to Willow’s side and wrapped his arm around her waist, only to discover she had already lost consciousness.
With no other choice, Michael hauled Willow onto the shore.
Upon surfacing, Willow’s soaked clothes clung to her body. Ferris had already turned away discreetly. Nicolas hastily removed his jacket and draped it over Willow’s shivering form.
After pulling Willow to safety, Nicolas turned to glare at Athena and snapped, “If anything happens to Willow, I won’t let you off the hook!” His tone was as harsh as ever, laced with threat.
Athena gave a nonchalant smile. “Whatever,” she said.
Everyone present could clearly see that Athena hadn’t pushed Willow. She had fallen into the river by herself. It was far-fetched for Nicolas to pick on her.
Ferris shot Nicolas a disapproving look. “You know perfectly well how Willow ended up in the river. Why are you picking on Athena? She’s your sister, too. You can’t play favorites.”
Nicolas pressed his lips together and fell silent, though his gaze at Athena remained full of displeasure.
“I’ll take Willow back first,” Michael declared, scooping her up in his arms and heading toward the carriage.
With so many people around, gossip was bound to spread.
Nicolas stopped pressing Athena and hurried after them.
Once the two left, Ferris looked at Athena with concern. “You’re bound to face trouble when you return. Should I escort you back?”
Athena shook her head. “No need.”
She thought, ‘If I let Ferris get caught up in the muddy waters of the Monson family again, there’s no telling what could happen.’
Ferris felt a surge of frustration; he had kindly offered to help Athena, but she just brushed him off.
“Fine, you’re on your own,” Ferris said coldly, turning away.
With that, Ferris turned and strode off without a backward glance.
Athena wasn’t the least bit upset by Ferris’s coldness. ‘I’m no damsel in distress who needs someone to protect her all the time,’ she thought, her resolve as unshakable as ever.
Three years of hard labor had already tempered her spirit, forging an unbreakable resilience.
She had always been on her own. This wasn’t the first time she’d faced something like this.
Athena turned and made her way back to the estate, completely unaware that Ferris was discreetly watching her.
“My Lord, please hurry back to the estate!” the attendant urged anxiously.
Ferris was barely able to stand, his body swaying and on the verge of collapse. His attendant quickly moved to steady him, worry etched all over his face.
His face was deathly pale, a searing pain tearing through his chest as if it would explode.
Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as he swayed unsteadily, on the verge of collapse. It was clear that he was having an attack.
Ferris had been holding on with all his might, but he had finally reached his breaking point.
With a weak nod, he finally let the attendant help him away.
Athena’s carriage waited in a side alley, still some distance away that she needed to cover on foot.
Just as Athena was about to board her carriage, a sudden commotion reached her.
Suddenly, a disheveled woman with wild hair and torn clothes came running, several hulking brutes in hot pursuit just behind her.
With no one else around, the disheveled woman desperately reached out toward Athena and let out a piercing scream.
But before a sound could escape her lips, someone clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her back.
Athena’s heart lurched in shock, but she remained largely unmoved.
She thought, “Women from poor families are often destined to suffer. This must be some unfortunate girl sold into servitude. Even if I wanted to help her, there was nothing I could do!
These brothels had influential officials behind them; their connections were daunting.
I’m just a disowned daughter of the Monson family, barely able to keep my own head above water. How could I possibly meddle in others’ affairs?” Athena thought.
Athena let out a quiet sigh, lifted the curtain, and slipped inside the carriage.
The whole way back, Athena remained unsettled.
Athena couldn’t shake the image of that woman’s desperate sobs from her mind.
“It was just like those grueling days I endured in the military camp,” Athena thought.
When Athena arrived at the Monson family estate, she found Henry already seated in the great hall, waiting for her.
Eloise sat beside him, her expression grim and her eyes puffy and red, clear signs she’d been weeping.
Nicolas’s face darkened with fury. When he saw Athena return, he snorted in contempt.
Unfazed by the scene, Athena turned on her heel and headed straight for her quarters.
Chapter 60
Behind her, Henry bellowed angrily, “Stop right there!”
Servants immediately blocked Athena’s way.
Athena had no choice but to stop. She turned to face Henry, her gaze steady and unflinching, showing not a trace of fear.
Seeing her unrepentant demeanor, Henry’s anger flared even hotter. He glared at Athena and thundered, “You pushed Willow into the river and nearly drowned her. Do you feel no remorse at all?”
Henry felt utterly heartbroken. ‘How could I have raised such a callous daughter?’ he thought.
Henry had hoped that three years of military service would reform Athena’s wicked nature.
To his dismay, after three years away, Athena remained exactly as she was before.
She was even more vicious than before.
Her animosity wasn’t just for Willow. It extended to every member of the family.
Henry glared at Athena, feeling utterly heartbroken.
With red-rimmed eyes, Eloise looked pleadingly at Athena and said, “Athena, no matter what, Willow is still your sister. How could you be so cruel as to push her into the river? The physician said she’s had a relapse. If she doesn’t get proper care, she might develop a chronic condition that could plague her for life.”
Looking at this so-called “family” of hers, Athena couldn’t help but think, ‘The more I see, the more absurd it all becomes. I did nothing, yet I’m the villain here!’
Athena had initially intended to ignore them, but she abruptly turned on her heel and strode into the great hall.
Athena fixed her gaze on Lady Eloise and demanded, “Tell me, Lady Eloise, did you personally witness me pushing Willow into the river?”
Eloise was taken aback for a moment and then shook her head.
Athena then turned to Henry and challenged, “Your Grace, did you see it with your own eyes?”
Henry shot Athena an irritated glare and snapped, “No.”
“If neither of you saw it with your own eyes, why are you so sure I pushed Willow?” Athena demanded, her head held high in righteous defiance, making Nicolas’s face turn livid with rage.
Nicolas growled in a low voice, “Athena! I was right there! How dare you still have the nerve to deny it?”
Athena raised her voice. “You know damn well what happened back then!” Her words cut through Nicolas’s shout, her tone even louder and her presence utterly overpowering his.
She had always been indifferent to everything, but never before had she faced them with such unshakable confidence.
Nicolas’s stunned expression was plain to see, but Athena pressed on firmly, “Everyone present saw it clearly: Willow reached for my hand. When I withdrew it, she lost her balance and fell backward on her own. I even tried to catch her because I was afraid she’d fall into the river, but I couldn’t grab her in time.”
She took in the stunned expressions in the room, her gaze sweeping across each face. “Accusing me of pushing her into the river? Isn’t that absurd? If I really wanted to hurt her, would I have done it right under your noses?”
Eloise snapped out of her shock, her expression wavering as she had to admit Athena had a point.
Eloise shot a pleading look at Henry for support, but his face hardened with disbelief. “If you weren’t guilty, would Nicolas really make false accusations against you?”
“Hasn’t he wronged me enough times already?” Athena scoffed coldly, her eyes filled with disdain.
Athena thought bitterly. ‘It’s ridiculous that this family treats their own flesh and blood as an enemy. If they ever realize their mistake, will they even regret what they’ve done today?’