Chapter 84

Athena stood above him in a blue dress, her face cold and expressionless as she looked down at him. Her frosty eyes, devoid of any warmth, landed on Matthew, making his scalp crawl.

For a moment, Matthew wondered, "Did Athena deliberately lie in wait for me at the door?"

But when Matthew saw the package in Trina’s hands, his posture immediately straightened, confidence surging back. Seeing her all dressed up and carrying that package out so early in the morning, Matthew wondered, "What is she up to?"

Just as Athena was about to walk past him, Matthew barked, "Wait!"

Athena paid him no mind, not even sparing him a glance.

Matthew’s anger flared. He growled, his voice harsher. "I said stop!"

With a single swift stride, he lunged forward, blocking Athena’s path and made a grab for the package in Trina’s hands.

The package contained Athena’s efforts from the entire night. If Matthew snatched it away, all her efforts would be in vain. Trina clung desperately to the package, refusing to let go. This only strengthened Matthew’s conviction that it must contain something valuable.

Seeing Trina wouldn’t let go, Matthew slapped her across the face. "Let go!" he snarled.

Athena’s expression turned icy. She suddenly kicked Matthew in the back of the knee, and his leg gave out, forcing him to kneel.

Seizing the moment, Athena snatched back the package and shielded Trina behind her. Without missing a beat, she landed a stinging slap across Matthew’s face in return.

Matthew sobered up a bit and slowly looked up, meeting Athena’s mocking gaze. Athena sneered, "What an impressive morning show, Mr. Monson. You go ahead and keep practicing; we won’t be sticking around to watch."

Matthew’s face flushed crimson with rage. He tried to get up but found his body so weak that he couldn’t muster the slightest bit of strength. Matthew could do nothing but watch helplessly as Athena led Trina away, powerless to stop them. Matthew tried to stand up but realized he couldn’t feel his legs at all.

A flicker of panic flashed in his eyes, but overwhelming him was sheer humiliation. He thought, "If someone caught me kneeling here, how could I ever show my face again? I’d better get the hell out of here."

Not far away, Athena watched as Matthew crawled forward on all fours like a wounded animal. A derisive laugh escaped her lips.

Trina couldn’t help but laugh, her eyes shining with admiration as she looked at her. "Miss, you’re amazing!"

Trina thought to herself, "I always knew Miss Monson was skilled in medicine, but I never imagined she could take down a man so easily."

Athena looked at Trina’s slightly red and swollen cheek, took out some ointment, and gently applied it to her face. She said, "The kneecap is one of the most vulnerable parts of the body. Next time you’re in danger, aim for their kneecap, especially if they’re much stronger than you. Kick and run, got it?"

"Got it, Miss!" Trina nodded vigorously.

Trina thought to herself, "Miss Monson is so wonderful; not only did she avenge me, but she even taught me self-defense techniques."

But little did she know, these were all hard-earned skills Athena had acquired by enduring countless beatings. Athena veiled the pain in her gaze, determined never to revisit those dark memories.

At the McGee family estate:

"Get out! All of you!" A man’s hoarse shout came from inside the room, but his voice was alarmingly weak, broken by violent coughing.

A group of doctors, carrying their medical kits, stumbled out of the room in panic. They dropped to their knees at the feet of Gale, pleading desperately, "Your Highness, please spare us! We are truly helpless. His Lordship refuses to cooperate and even threw us out!"

Gale looked utterly haggard, her eyes red and swollen from crying as she gazed toward the room, her face etched with profound sorrow.

Ferris’s condition had worsened considerably. He used to take his medicine without protest, but lately, he even refuses to take his medicine. Not only that, but he’s forcibly thrown out every single physician who came to treat him. This was already the fifth group of physicians they had summoned, and not a single one who entered his chamber escaped unscathed; every last one was beaten bloody.

After a moment, Gale sniffled, waved her hand weakly, and said, "You may leave."

The doctors, visibly relieved, wasted no time grabbing their medical kits and hurrying out.

"Athena at your service, Your Highness." The voice from behind instantly brightened Gale’s weary eyes.

Gale gazed at Athena as if she were her last hope, her voice trembling with emotion. "You’re finally here," she said.

Only Athena in this world could save Ferris.

But then, a worried frown creased Gale’s brow. She sniffled, her voice thick with emotion. "Ferris refuses to take his medicine. What good is even the best miracle cure if he won’t take it?"

"Let me try," Athena said to Gale.

Athena thought to herself, "Everyone wants to live, and Ferris is the crown prince with such a promising future. After just a few years of suffering, why would he even consider giving up?"

Gale gave a weary nod. Athena picked up her medical kit and stepped inside.

As soon as Athena stepped inside, chaos assaulted her eyes. Shattered tiles and overturned furniture littered the floor.

"Get out!" A furious shout, accompanied by a muffled cough, echoed from inside. Instead of stopping, Athena walked right in.

Ferris sat slumped on the daybed, his disheveled hair falling over his face, hiding it from view. He hunched over, the open collar of his robe revealing a chest marred with scars.

When Ferris realized the intruder wasn’t leaving but coming in instead, his fury intensified. He snarled, "Get out!" He choked back the rest of his words.

Seeing Athena so close, he hastily pulled his robe closed, avoiding her gaze. "Who let you in? Get lost!"

The last word was hissed through clenched teeth, laced with venom.

Athena set the medical kit down on the table, unfazed by Ferris’s furious outburst.

"What are you so angry about?" Athena asked, her voice flat and emotionless. She studied Ferris with genuine confusion, then continued, "Is it really just because of those scars?"

Ferris whirled around, fixing her with bloodshot eyes. "Whether I live or die, what’s it to you?"

Yet, the next instant, his eyes flew wide with horror.

Athena slowly rolled up her sleeve, revealing an arm marred by scars that twisted around it like a hideous centipede. Burns, whip marks—too many to count. In fact, far worse than the scars marring his own body.

Ferris’s pupils dilated in shock. He stammered, "You… how did you get hurt so badly?"

Athena let her sleeve fall and chuckled lightly. "The body is just a shell. I’m a woman, and I don’t care, but you act like your world is ending. Ferris, I truly despise you. You weren’t this cowardly before."

Yet Ferris couldn’t tear his eyes away from her arm, the raw agony in his gaze threatening to swallow him whole. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined Athena could be so severely scarred. What shocked him even more was Athena’s utterly indifferent attitude.

Ferris wondered, "What the hell did Athena go through in the military camp?"

Athena sat down before him and said calmly, "You always think of yourself as a crippled eagle, but what makes you think I’m any different? In this world, I’m just a lump of mud to be trampled upon.

"Neither of us is any better than the other. Back in the military camp, I ate spoiled food, was forced to kneel and grovel, and got trampled like dirt. But even at my lowest, I never once considered giving up on life."

Athena lifted her chin slightly, a flash of steely resolve in her eyes. She spoke each word deliberately. "Only by staying alive is there any hope for revenge." Athena leaned in abruptly, her sharp gaze piercing into Ferris as she demanded, "Don’t you want to slit your enemy’s throat with your own hands?"