Chapter 80

The look of pity in Athena’s eyes made Ferris bristle with indignation.

He shoved Athena away, his voice icy cold. “Who do you think you are? Just because you know some medicine, what makes you think I’d ever make a deal with you?”

No one truly wanted to die. Even after three years of torment, Athena never once gave up on herself.

But Ferris’s eyes were completely devoid of any desire to live.

Athena’s eyes were full of confusion. “Ferris, what’s wrong?” she asked softly.

Hearing that, Ferris froze.

That long-lost term of endearment—he never expected to hear it again, yet there was Athena calling him by it once more.

Ferris’s eyes shone like stars as he gazed at Athena, but that light quickly faded.

He suppressed the emotions in his eyes and gave a bitter, self-deprecating smile. “Stop talking to me like that.”

He felt that someone like him was just a joke in this world.

But in the very next moment, Athena gently took his hand.

The warmth and softness of her palm seared through him, sending a tremor straight to his core.

Slowly raising his head, he saw Athena’s eyes curve in a smile as she gazed at him. “Why not?” she said softly.

Ferris’s lips parted slightly as if to speak, then he coldly withdrew his hand.

He avoided Athena’s gaze, looking flustered and uneasy. His voice was barely above a whisper. “Get out.”

“Whether you help me or not, I’m determined to cure your illness,” Athena said firmly, looking at Ferris. She didn’t know what had turned Ferris into this state, but she always kept her word. “I’ll come by every few days to treat you. Take this medicine on time; you know how precious the snow pills are. Don’t let my efforts go to waste.”

“Athena, who asked you to mind my business?” Ferris glared at her angrily.

However, Athena showed not a trace of fear. “You saved my life, so I’ll save yours. I never leave debts unpaid,” she said firmly.

Ferris was about to say something more, but his emotions overwhelmed him and he began to cough violently.

Seeing him in this state, Athena decided not to provoke him further. She turned and walked away.

Compounded from countless rare medicinal herbs, a single snow pill was priceless beyond measure, a treasure money couldn’t buy.

It could even bring the dying back from death’s door.

People would kill for just one of these pills.

Athena actually gave Ferris an entire bottle. Even with a heart as cold and hard as steel, he couldn’t help but be moved by her sincerity.

Slowly extending his hand, he clasped the snow pill in his palm.

The faint herbal aroma lingered in the air. Ferris called out hoarsely, “Neil, go tell Athena… I accept.”

Neil Ward acknowledged respectfully and hurried out after her.

Back inside the room, Ferris stared at the snow pill in his hand, lost in deep contemplation.

After a long silence, his lips curled into a bitter, self-mocking smile. He thought, ‘Someone like me doesn’t deserve medicine this precious. I don’t deserve to live.’

‘If Athena just asked, I’d help her without a second thought. Why does she have to go to all this trouble for me?’

He tucked the pill carefully against his chest, keeping it close to his heart. Then, with slow, deliberate movements, he painfully rose to his feet and headed out.

The maid hurried forward to support his arm. As she did, her sleeve slipped down, unintentionally revealing a patch of fire-scarred skin.

His skin was crisscrossed with scars, like gnarled tree roots sprawling across his body, a twisted web of scars, pulling his skin taut.

At a single glance, terror flashed across the maid’s eyes.

Her hand jerked back as if scalded.

Realizing her mistake, she instantly dropped to her knees and prostrated herself, banging her head on the ground as she pleaded in desperation, “Spare my life, Your Highness! Spare my life!”

Ferris looked at her with icy indifference and gave a slight, dismissive wave. “Take her away.”

Two guards stepped forward and dragged the maid away. Moments later, a piercing scream echoed from outside.

Immediately, two more maids stepped forward, their faces carefully blank, not daring to show even a flicker of emotion.

Step by agonizing step, Ferris dragged himself toward Gale’s quarters.

By the time he arrived, his face was deathly pale, his forehead glistening with cold sweat.

Seeing him in such a state, Gale felt her heart wrench, tears threatening to spill from her eyes.

She hurried out and helped him sit down. “My dear, if you needed anything, you could have just sent for me. Why trouble yourself to come all this way when you’re so gravely ill?”

With those words, tears spilled down her cheeks.

Ferris’s eyes remained utterly impassive. After two weak, rasping coughs, he said in a hoarse whisper, “Arrange the engagement as soon as possible.”

His days were numbered. This was the last thing he could do for Athena.

‘Once I’m gone, the McGee family will belong to Athena. At least her future will be secure,’ Ferris thought.

Gale’s eyes widened abruptly in realization. As Ferris’s meaning dawned on her, her tears streamed down even harder.

He wanted to marry Athena and bring her home while he still could.

She just didn’t understand why Ferris insisted on her.

With the power and status of the McGee family, he could have any girl he wanted.

Gale sniffled, her eyes brimming with sorrow. “Alright, I’ll speak to them tomorrow.”

Ferris’s body trembled slightly, but his voice was unusually firm. “We must move faster than the Osborne family. The wedding has to happen before theirs.”

Gale paused briefly, then gave a slight nod. “Very well,” she said quietly.

She thought, ‘Oh, my poor, foolish son….’

‘He’s making all these arrangements for that Monson girl, without a single thought for himself.’

“Once she marries in, let Athena handle everything in the household…” With each word, Ferris gasped for air, struggling to speak.

Gale, her heart aching, gently handed him a cup of tea and pleaded, “Let’s talk about this later, my dear. There’s no need to rush yourself like this.”

Ferris shook his head weakly. In a faltering voice, he pleaded, “If… if she ever wants to leave this family in the future, Mother… please, don’t try to stop her…”

At these words, Gale’s beautiful eyes instantly widened in shock.

The way she looked at Ferris had completely changed; her eyes now held nothing but heartache for him.

She thought bitterly, ‘All this he’s done for Athena… does she even know?’

Tears streaming down her face, Gale asked bitterly, “You’ve planned out her future, but what about me?”

He was her only son.

But in Ferris’s heart, there was only room for Athena; not even his own mother mattered anymore.

Ferris looked at Gale, a fleeting trace of guilt flashing in his eyes. “I’ve failed in my duties to you,” he said hoarsely.

Actually, he had already thought it all through.

‘Even if Athena leaves the estate, the family fortune will be more than enough for you to live comfortably, Mother,’ Ferris thought.

So, he wasn’t worried.

He thought, ‘Besides, she’s still relatively healthy. She could always have another child for the McGee family.’

Having given his final instructions, Ferris struggled to his feet and withdrew, leaning heavily on the maids for support.

Gale collapsed into uncontrollable sobs the moment Ferris left.

After crying for what felt like an eternity, something seemed to dawn on her. Eyes swollen and red, she turned to an elderly maidservant beside her and ordered, “Go and prepare the coffin. Even if it’s just to ward off misfortune with this wedding, it’s better than nothing.”

With Ferris’s condition this critical, it was uncertain whether he’d even survive until the wedding.

The elderly maidservant, her eyes red-rimmed, nodded respectfully. Then Gale added, her voice heavy with sorrow, “Make sure it’s the very best. Spare no expense.”

Thinking of all the suffering Ferris had endured in his life, Gale felt her heart wrench in agony.

A flash of hatred flickered in her eyes. “If it hadn’t been for that incident, my son wouldn’t have ended up like this.”