The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 114

Chapter 114

“I deserve death! I only meant to take Lucky to play on the rockery, but he fell into a crevice. Afraid of punishment, I dared not tell the truth.” Danielle finished speaking, cowering slightly as she turned to look at Willow.

Her voice trembling with desperation, Danielle pleaded, “Miss Monson, please don’t abandon me…”

The cup slipped from Willow’s grasp, shattering into pieces as it hit the floor.

The color drained from Willow’s face, leaving it ghostly pale. Her eyes widened in utter disbelief as her body trembled slightly.

“No, I didn’t…” Pearls of tears streamed down Willow’s face as she panicked, desperately clutching at Eloise’s sleeve. “Mother, you must believe me! I truly didn’t know. Danielle is framing me!”

With that, Willow broke down in loud, uncontrollable sobs, her cries trembling with anguish and fear.

But before her sobs could continue, Athena’s furious shout cut through. “Shut up!”

Terrified, Willow looked up to see Athena glaring at her, eyes blazing with fury. Athena snapped, “The proof and witnesses are all here. How dare you keep lying?”

With that, a heavy bundle was slammed down at Willow’s feet.

Willow let out a terrified shriek and darted behind Eloise like a startled rabbit.

Eloise was just about to comfort her when her gaze was abruptly drawn to the bundle on the floor, her words dying on her lips.

When she opened it, she saw nothing but loose silver coins and jewelry inside.

Among them, a vibrant green emerald bracelet stood out, it was the very one Eloise had given to Willow.

Eloise’s face instantly turned ashen, her voice quivering as she demanded, “What is the meaning of this?”

Nicolas froze momentarily, his expression conflicted as he looked at Willow.

The pile of jewelry also included the hairpin he had given to Willow.

But Matthew blindly jumped to Willow’s defense. “What’s there to explain? Obviously, Danielle must have stolen Willow’s things and tried to flee under the cover of night. As for Lucky, that has even less to do with Willow. She’s so kind–hearted, she wouldn’t even harm a fly, let alone hurt Lucky.”

Athena sneered. “Exactly. I can’t figure it out. Lucky’s just a little dog. Why on earth would she want to hurt it?”

This was exactly what puzzled Athena.

Athena gave Danielle a sharp kick and demanded, “Speak up!”

Danielle trembled as she stammered, “Because… this puppy was originally meant by Lord Osborne to be a gift for you.”

With that, she lowered her head, not daring to meet anyone’s gaze.

Danielle, her voice trembling, said, “When Lord Osborne brought Lucky over, I happened to hear him say the puppy was meant for Lady Athena. But for some reason unknown to me, it ended up being given to Mrs. Margaret instead.”

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Chapter 114

The others didn’t know, but Eloise did.

Since childhood, Athena had always loved cats and dogs. On her twelfth birthday, Michael gave her a snow–white

But somehow, the puppy died in the pond.

Athena wept for days over this. From that moment on, she never went near cats or dogs again.

Over the years, everyone else had long forgotten about it.

But Eloise remembered, even now, she could still vividly recall how Athena had wept.

Her little face was streaked with tears, making her look heartbreakingly pitiful as she cried.

puppy.

Eloise and Nicolas cast doubtful glances at Willow, yet neither could bring themselves to voice the questions weighing on their minds.

Eloise and Nicolas simply couldn’t believe Willow would do such a thing.

Willow was sobbing uncontrollably, shaking her head in denial. “No, it’s not like that!” she wailed. “I never meant to rival Athena…”

Her excuses were so flimsy that they carried no weight at all.

Athena remembered that day at Starling House, how Lucky had barked wildly at her.