Chapter 236
The room was adorned with elegant white florals and soft candlelight, filled with the warmth of a wedding celebration. Dressed in a classic very gown, Willow sat on the edge of her seat, quietly weeping, her face streaked with tears.
Eloise rushed in from outside. Upon seeing Willow in tears, she quickly went to comfort her and gently remarked, “My dear, why are you crying on your wedding day?”
Willow had been getting ready before sunrise. But with the wedding procession nearly at the door, she suddenly broke down in tears at the worst possible moment. Eloise, understandably, was beside herself with worry.
Willow wiped her tears with a handkerchief, too overcome with emotion to speak. Nona felt compelled to intervene: “Lady Suffield, you really can not hold Milady responsible. We graciously invited Lady Margaret, yet they not only prevented her from attending but even claimed she was unwell isn’t this just ruining Milady’s special day?”
No one wanted to hear news like that on their wedding day–it was bad luck for the bride, casting a shadow over the occasion.
Eloise furrowed her brow at the news. “How utterly disgraceful! How could they lower themselves to such behavior?” No bride wanted to be branded as a bad buck.
Nona dropped to her knees, pleading, “Please, Lady Suffield, have mercy on Milady. Just this once, could you let Lady Margaret and Athena come back to see her?”
Rumors had long circulated in the capital that Willow was the reason the Duke of Suffield’s family had severed all ties with Athena. If neither Athena nor Margaret attended the wedding, it would only serve to confirm those whispers.
Eloise recognized this as well. Noticing that there was still time before the wedding, she made a resolute decision. Gently, she said, “My dear, please wait here for a moment. I will go and resolve this for you.”
“Mother…” Willow sobbed softly, nearly collapsing to her knees. Eloise quickly supported her, saying gently, “No more tears on your wedding day, my
dear. Just take a moment to breathe and wait.”
‘If dropping to my knees is what it takes to bring Mother back, then that’s exactly what I would do. With my status as the Duchess,‘ Eloise thought confidently, ‘there’s no way she could bear to keep me kneeling for long.‘
Eloise hurried out with her attendants, while Willow cast a sly glance at her departing figure, a triumphant smile spreading across her face. ‘I knew it,‘ Willow thought smugly. “Mother always has a soft spot for me.”
Willow turned to Nona with appreciative eyes. “Nona, please don’t do that again–it complicates things for Mother.”
Nona saw the concern in Willow’s eyes and said firmly, “I can’t stand to see you mistreated, Milady. You’re too kind–if you won’t speak out, then I must.”
“Oh, you…” Willow sighed, then handed a stack of money to Nona. “Once we enter the Osborne household, you need to be more careful, understood?”
Willow was sincere in her words; the Osborne family enforced stricter rules than the duke’s estate. As a new bride, she had to navigate everything with
caution.
However, Nona completely misunderstood; she believed Willow was encouraging her. Nona accepted the gift with gratitude and responded, “Yes,
Milady.”
Meanwhile, Eloise hurried to Athena’s residence with her attendants. Upon arriving at the tightly closed gates of the manor, a wave of frustration washed
over her.
‘While Mother may have her affection for Athena, there is a time and place for everything. How could she possibly allow Athena to hide away and refuse to show her face when the duke’s estate is preparing to marry off their daughter, such a significant family event? If news of this got out, our family would become a laughingstock!‘ she thought.
Eloise, her expression icy, ordered the servant beside her, “Please go and knock on the door.”
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Chapter 236
The servant approached and knocked on the door, announcing, “Lady Eloise requests a meeting with Lady Margaret.”
Athena strode to the door and swung it open, only to find Eloise on her knees at the entrance, hands clasped in mock prayer.
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