The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 106

Chapter 106

The moment she received the news, Athena hurried toward Starling House, anxiety gnawing at her.

By the time she arrived, she saw Starling House already packed, layer upon layer with people.

Eloise and Willow stood side by side, their eyes swollen and red from crying as they kept dabbing at the tears streaming down their cheeks with handkerchiefs.

Inside, Henry paced anxiously back and forth, his face etched with worry.

The three brothers, usually so relaxed, now wore grim expressions. Even Joseph, who was always the wild one, had shed his usual nonchalance and was huddled in the corner, as timid as a mouse.

The room was heavy with silence, every face shadowed by worry.

Athena’s heart clenched at the sight. She quickened her pace and hurried inside.

Seeing Athena arrive, Gwen Denison hurried forward and called out in a trembling voice, “Miss Monson…”

But just as the words left her lips, the rest caught in Gwen’s throat as if something had lodged there, leaving her unable to say another word.

“What’s going on?” Athena demanded, forcing herself to sound steady despite the panic rising inside her, her heart hammering wildly in her chest.

Upon closer inspection, one could see Athena’s hands trembling slightly.

Athena thought anxiously, ‘Just yesterday, Grandmother was lively and chatting with me about household matters. How could she have suddenly collapsed today?‘

Gwen finally managed to steady herself and, sobbing, said, “Lucky is missing… I searched the whole mansion but couldn’t find him. I meant to keep it from Mrs. Monson, but she seemed to sense something was wrong… She just asked where Lucky was, and when I realized I couldn’t hide it anymore, I stayed silent… Then she suddenly fainted…”

“Lucky is Grandmother’s darling, she cradles him in her arms every day and even has Yvette specially look after him. How could such a little dog just vanish?” Athena’s tone turned cold and sharp as her anxiety made her harsher with Gwen.

Gwen, tears streaming down her face, choked out, “It’s all this old servant’s fault. This morning, I had Yvette take Lucky for a walk in the garden, but somehow he suddenly vanished. We’ve searched everywhere, but he’s nowhere to be found.”

Athena took a deep breath, silently telling herself, ‘Stay calm, stay calm.

‘Grandmother fainted from distress. The immediate priority is to find Lucky. Once we do, she’ll recover on her own.

“Where’s Yvette?” Athena demanded anxiously.

Yvette Andrus, with red–rimmed eyes, hurried forward and said respectfully, “Yes, Miss.”

Athena stepped closer and demanded, “Where exactly did Lucky go missing, and who first noticed his disappearance?”

Yvette, her round face pale with fright, was trembling uncontrollably as she stammered, “It was by the rock garden in the backyard where Lucky went missing. Lady Willow was there too. When she heard me calling for Lucky, she helped me look

for him.”

Athena shot Willow a frosty glare. Though she didn’t want to assume the worst of her, Athena couldn’t help but think,

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‘Willow’s reputation in my mind is already beyond redemption. I couldn’t help but think the worst of Willow.

Athena’s piercing gaze made Willow flinch, her whole body trembling as she stammered, her voice choked with fear and grievance. “Athena, why are you looking at me like that? I was just as worried when Lucky went missing, I even sent people to help look for him…”

Her voice was thin and fragile, as if she had suffered some grave injustice.

Willow’s words caught in her throat as tears cascaded down her cheeks, falling like unstrung pearls.

Eloise instinctively shielded Willow behind her, shooting Athena a displeased look. “Athena,” she said firmly, “I can vouch for her, Willow did help with the search.”

Athena couldn’t be bothered with the two of them. Finding Lucky was all that mattered.

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