Chapter 88

Michael’s words hit like a bombshell, shattering the calm.

Henry and Eloise stood stunned, at a loss for words. They exchanged bewildered glances, first confusion, then utter shock. They thought, "He is marrying two wives as equals!"

A collective gasp filled the air. Henry winced as if suffering a toothache. Eloise, usually the epitome of grace, stood frozen like a statue, fighting the urge to curse out loud. Both managed to restrain themselves, though inside, it felt as if they’d just swallowed a fly.

Henry thought bitterly, "No wonder Lord Osborne kept Willow away. This proposal is downright revolting."

The silence was so profound one could hear a pin drop. The atmosphere felt downright bizarre. Michael’s once-confident demeanor began to falter. He’d spent days racking his brain for this idea and saw nothing wrong with it. But seeing the looks on Henry and Eloise’s faces, he couldn’t help but wonder, "What do those expressions mean?"

Michael stared at Athena, his eyes widening slightly in shock. Athena was smiling, but it was a mocking smile, not a genuine one. She was struggling to hold back her laughter, and only when she noticed Michael looking at her did she finally look up at him and sneer, "Are you out of your mind?"

Athena’s words dripped with sarcasm from the very first syllable. Michael felt his dignity crumbling to dust. Looking at Athena with a pained expression, he said, "I’m making this concession entirely for your sake. Or do you really want to marry into the McGee family and become a widow?"

He knew this would surely draw public criticism, but for Athena, he was willing to bear the disgrace. 'Instead of showing gratitude, she actually insulted me?' he thought bitterly, his heart aching at the injustice.

"Michael, you’re utterly shameless," Athena scoffed. "Where do you get the confidence to think I’d ever marry you, let alone as your so-called ‘second wife’? You’re vastly overestimating yourself."

Athena rose abruptly, unable to stomach another word. The whole thing made her sick to her stomach. Seeing her about to leave, Michael quickly closed the distance between them and blurted out, "With your reputation in tatters, what better options could you possibly have?"

Seeing Athena stop in her tracks, he assumed she was listening and continued, "Look, even as equal wives, there’d be no hierarchy between you two. You and Willow are sisters, surely you’d get along better than with other women. What’s not to like?"

Athena clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. All of a sudden, she swung and slapped Michael hard across the face. "Get out of here!" she spat.

Michael, caught completely off guard, took the full force of the blow. Almost instantly, five angry red finger marks bloomed across his pale cheek. Henry and Eloise both sprang to their feet, their faces tense with shock.

"Athena, how dare you!" Henry bellowed, his face flushed with rage.

Eloise shot Athena a disapproving look and softly chided, "Words are one thing, but violence is quite another. Apologize to Lord Osborne at once."

Athena stood her ground, unmoved. Eloise stole nervous glances at Michael as she tried to tug Athena’s sleeve, only to be violently shaken off.

Fixing Michael with an icy stare, Athena slowly enunciated each word. "I’d rather marry a homeless man than ever marry you."

Everyone expected Michael to explode with anger, but to their surprise, he accepted the slap with complete calm. As if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders, relief washed over his face. He said, "Athena has every right to hit me."

'If this helps Athena vent her anger, I’d gladly take a few more slaps. As long as she doesn’t marry Ferris just to spite me, I can take anything,' he thought.

Michael looked at Athena, his eyes full of silent pleading, hoping she might change her mind. But all he saw in Athena’s eyes was cold indifference and biting sarcasm. She looked at him as if he were nothing more than a pathetic clown. 'How could Athena look at me like that?' Michael felt a dull ache in his chest.

Just then, a startled cry came from outside. "My Lady! What’s wrong, My Lady…"

Everyone looked out in surprise, only to see Willow clutching her chest, looking on the verge of collapse.

"Willow!" Michael rushed forward in a single stride and gathered her into his arms. Tears streamed down Willow’s pale cheeks as she looked up at him, her voice barely audible, as if she might stop breathing at any moment. "Michael, how could you…" she whispered.

Before she could finish, a violent fit of coughing seized her. Almost immediately, her face flushed crimson, and tiny beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose.

Michael’s face showed a hint of remorse, but his voice stayed resolute. "Willow, this is something I’ve thought long and hard about. If you and Athena move in together and manage my family side by side, wouldn’t that be best for everyone?"

Willow clung tightly to Michael’s clothes, her voice quivering with tears as she pleaded, "Michael, aren’t you afraid the McGee family will blame you for this? My sister’s marriage is finalized, and now you say you want to take her as your second wife—isn’t this just snatching?"

Her voice was soft yet urgent, and with just these few words, Henry and Eloise snapped back to their senses.

They thought, 'That’s right, Athena has already been chosen by Gale. Though the proposal hasn’t been completed, the matter is as good as settled. If Michael were to marry Athena now, the McGee family would surely hunt him down for this affront.'

Henry quickly chimed in, his tone grave. "Lord Osborne, don’t let a moment’s impulse ruin everything you’ve worked for. Please, think twice."

"Yes," Eloise added anxiously, "The McGee family would never accept such an explanation."

"Did you really think I’d back down?" Michael scoffed. "That dying man dares to take a wife? If they think they can drag Athena into hell with them, they’ll have to get through me first. If the McGee family wants to make a scene, I am ready for them. No matter how powerful the McGee family is, can they truly defy imperial authority?"

Willow was frightened by Michael’s crazed demeanor. She stared at him in disbelief, tears streaming down her face. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Michael, what… what are you going to do?"

Henry and Eloise exchanged uneasy glances. A flicker of unease crossed their minds as they watched Michael intently.

Not a trace of fear showed on Michael’s face. His gaze burned with wild, feverish intensity as he locked eyes with Athena. "If I dared to say this today, it means I already have a solution," he declared, voice full of conviction. "Athena, this time I swear I won’t fail you again."

With that, he gently pushed Willow away and strode out resolutely.

"Michael!" Willow cried out in despair, but he didn’t so much as glance back. Willow collapsed into Eloise’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably until she could barely breathe. Eloise could only murmur soft words of comfort.

Athena lowered her head in thought. Suddenly, her eyes widened.

She thought, 'Michael is the Emperor’s favored rising star. If he were to petition for an imperial marriage decree based on his military merits, no one could overturn it.'

Realizing what Michael intended to do, Athena felt a chill run down her spine. 'No… he wouldn’t dare!' she thought, panic rising within her.

She rushed out after him in a frenzy, only to see he had already mounted his steed and was galloping out of the alley. He was heading straight for the Imperial Palace.