Chapter 7
“You think you can just switch brides like that? Don’t be ridiculous!” Michael snapped, his jaw clenched tight, eyes burning into Athena like he meant to reduce her to ash.
He thought, “The engagement has been set in stone—what gives her the right to say it is over?”
But it was her earlier words—"I stopped caring about him a long time ago"—that hit him the hardest, like a weight pressing down on his chest, leaving him breathless.
Athena yanked her hand free with effort. “Lord Osborne, please show some respect.”
As she met the sharp accusation in his gaze, something clicked in Athena’s mind.
She thought, “So… he doesn’t even know about the arranged bride swap. Then who made the first move?”
When her eyes, distant and detached, met his again, Michael flinched.
Before, no matter how cold he was, she would chase after him with unwavering devotion. But now…
He thought, “Why? She was the one who said she’d never let me go. How can she suddenly decide she is done?”
Just then, footsteps echoed at the far end of the corridor.
Eloise and Willow arrived in a hurry. Willow’s gaze immediately fell on Athena’s wrist—still in Michael’s grasp. Her nose reddened, and tears welled in her eyes. She looked at Michael, pitiful and silent, like she wanted to speak but didn’t dare.
The icy tension around him loosened just slightly, and Athena used the moment to pull her hand back.
He gave Eloise a formal bow. “Lady Eloise.”
She nodded, her expression calm and unreadable, pretending as if she hadn’t seen a thing. She slipped her arm through Athena’s with false warmth. “Athena, I need a word with you.”
Then she turned to Willow. “Take Lord Osborne to the main hall for some coffee.”
A flicker of joy crossed Willow’s face. Her voice turned soft and sweet. “Michael, Father just got some famous coffee. Would you like to try some?”
Michael’s eyes stayed locked on Athena for a moment before he gave a faint nod. “Alright.”
With Eloise pulling her gently along, Athena walked away without another word.
Back in the corridor, Willow stepped forward, blocking his view. Her face lit up with a pure, innocent smile. “Michael, did you come to see me?”
Michael tightened his grip around the small vial of wound medicine. He’d originally come to give it to Athena. But her coldness had left him bitter and stifled.
Without another word, he pressed the vial into Willow’s hand. “I heard you were injured. I came to check on you.”
Willow’s eyes brightened. She smiled sweetly, like a well-behaved child. “Thank you, Michael. Just seeing you makes me feel so much better.”
Then, as if hesitating, she said softly, “Please don’t blame my sister. She said today that she doesn’t care about you anymore. Maybe… maybe she’s just hoping Grandmother will arrange a better match for her. After all, three years can really change a person….”
Michael’s face darkened. His voice turned cold. “Who in Pidence City would still want her?”
Willow lowered her head, looking delicate and obedient. “B–but… she still wants to get married…”
Michael’s chest tightened. He thought, “Athena wants to marry?” Then, a cold laugh escaped his lips. “No—she doesn’t want marriage. She wants to climb the social ladder."
Inside the courtyard, behind closed doors, Eloise’s face was full of guilt. “Athena, there’s something I want to ask of you.”
Athena looked at her calmly, her eyes icy and piercing, as if she could see straight through her. “You want me to be the one to break it off and give the engagement to Willow, don’t you?”
Her gaze was so sharp that Eloise couldn’t bring herself to meet it.
But for the sake of her beloved foster daughter Willow, she forced herself to speak, “Athena, I know I’ve let you down. But could you bear this just once more? Life is long. I swear I’ll make it up to you.”
As she lowered her head, her voice trembled as she choked back tears. “Athena, Willow isn’t like you. Her reputation is spotless—she can’t afford even the slightest stain. This whole business of switching brides… it has to come from you.”
The sarcasm in Athena’s eyes sharpened. Willow’s reputation was spotless, while hers was already ruined.
She was already considered “tainted”—what did it matter if she got dragged through the mud a little more? And Eloise’s promise of compensation? That was the funniest part of all.
“Oh?” Athena said coolly. “And what exactly are you offering in return?”
Eloise froze, caught off guard, as if she hadn’t quite processed what Athena meant.
Athena stood and walked over to a potted plant. She plucked a leaf from its branch, her tone light but piercing. “Didn’t you say you’d make it up to me? Then tell me—what’s your idea of ‘compensation’?”
Realization dawned on Eloise’s face, and she stared at Athena in disbelief, as though she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She thought, “Isn’t the engagement switch already for Athena’s sake?”
But Athena’s expression turned cold and sharp. “How about this—bring my grandfather’s family back. Let’s start there.”
“You… You know they were exiled for embezzlement,” Eloise stammered, panic rising in her voice. “It was His Majesty’s own judgment—I… I couldn’t do anything…”
“Nothing you could do?” Athena repeated, her voice trembling with rage. The moment she mentioned her grandfather Kurtis Perkins, her composure nearly cracked. “You could’ve helped. You just stood by and watched him be condemned.”
Eloise clutched at her chest, struggling for breath, her voice tight with panic. “I–I truly couldn’t. When the king passes judgment, what power do I have? I’m just a woman. There was nothing I could do…”
Athena’s voice was raw now. “He loved you more than anything. And you—you just let it happen? You didn’t even try?”
The pain welled up in her chest, sharp and familiar.
Kurtis had nearly emptied his savings to provide Eloise with a generous wedding gift, just so she could enter the duke’s estate with dignity. And yet, when disaster struck, Eloise didn’t even show her face.
Athena didn’t believe for a second that, with the duke’s estate’s power, they couldn’t have spoken up for justice. The real betrayal hadn’t come from strangers—it had come from Eloise.
Tears slid down Eloise’s face as she sobbed softly, her voice choked. “Please, Athena—stop. Every word is like a knife to my heart.”
Athena didn’t flinch. Her voice remained cold. “Save your tears. Don’t tell me that, as a titled lady of the court, you couldn’t fight for even a sliver of justice.
“The truth is, you cared more about your status and comfort than you ever did about him.”
Eloise shrank back, her guilt nearly unbearable. It was shameful—laughable, even. She knew she’d been selfish. But back then, she had no other choice.
If she’d tried to intervene, she would’ve risked dragging the duke’s estate down with her—and they were barely surviving as it was.
Athena stared at her, eyes calm, almost emotionless. And that calm cut deeper than any accusation.
The longer she stayed silent, the worse Eloise felt. In the end, Eloise couldn’t bear it anymore. She turned away and left, her face pale with shame.
Athena sat there, still and quiet. A moment later, Siena approached cautiously. “My lady…”
Athena stirred, slowly coming back to herself. She glanced at the maid, “You can go.”
But Siena didn’t move. Her face was conflicted, as if she had something to say but wasn’t sure how.
Athena looked up again. “What is it?”
Siena hesitated, then pointed outside. “Lord Osborne… he’s still out there.”
Athena looked through the window—and sure enough, Michael’s tall figure was still standing in the courtyard. He hadn’t left.
She knew his temperament. He wouldn’t go until he got the answer he came for.
She was tired of protecting the pretense of this household. So she raised her voice and said clearly, “I only just found out about the engagement switch. If you want answers, don’t come to me. Ask your dear mother—or my good little sister.”
Michael met her icy gaze, and a chill crept down his spine.
He thought, “What is she trying to say? Stirring up trouble? Is she really this desperate to win favor?”
His expression darkened. “There’s no need to try and sow discord. Willow isn’t the kind of person you’re making her out to be.”