The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 123

“Given your current circumstances, which noble house do you think would ever want you?”

Athena’s eyes widened in mock agreement as she nodded repeatedly. “Wow, Lord Nicolas, you really have everything planned out, don’t you? So, which one of your children are you planning to hand over for me to raise?”

Seeing that she seemed to have come around, Nicolas’s expression softened slightly. He said, “Of course, it would be my own son. This will strengthen the bond between our families.”

He already has a son, but for Athena’s sake, he would have Fiona bear another.

If Fiona couldn’t conceive, there were always concubines to turn to.

One way or another, a male heir would surely be born.

Then he could simply have the boy adopted by Athena.

Athena let out a bitter laugh, her face twisted into a mocking smile. She shot back, “Does your wife even know about this brilliant plan of yours?”

“Her consent means nothing,” Nicolas said coldly, his expression turning icy, “In this house, my word is law.”

Nicolas ruled the household with an iron fist. Though Fiona held the title of lady of the house, her opinions carried no weight whatsoever.

To put it bluntly, she was little more than a childbearing tool, expected to obey her husband’s every command, forbidden from having thoughts of her own.

Athena looked at Nicolas with utter contempt. She thought, “I truly feel sorry for Fiona, what a misfortune to be saddled with someone so selfish.”

Just then, Fiona was standing outside the door and happened to overhear these words. Her usually gentle eyes instantly widened in disbelief as she stared fixedly at Nicolas inside the room, a chill running up from her feet.

She thought, ‘For the sake of so–called benefits, he is actually planning to give away his own flesh and blood.’

Fiona stood rooted outside the door, her eyes brimming with tears. Torn between stepping in or turning away, she was overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness and injustice.

A flicker of surprise crossed Nicolas’s face at Fiona’s unexpected appearance, but his composure returned almost instantly.

Nicolas thought to himself, ‘Everything I’ve done is for the Monson family.

‘Fiona has always been gentle and virtuous, she’ll understand.’

Her sudden appearance annoyed Nicolas. He felt that this was no place for his wife, especially not a lady of the household.

Nicolas frowned, his voice low and cold as he asked, “What are you doing here?”

Fiona forced back the tears in her eyes and replied in a soft, trembling voice, “Cedric isn’t feeling well. I was hoping you could come back and check on him.”

Nicolas never really cared about his children, but since this was his first–born, he paid a bit more attention.

He grunted in acknowledgment and stood up. Before leaving, he turned back to Athena and added coldly, “Think carefully

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Nicolas followed Fiona out.

Athena felt waves of nausea churning in her gut, acid rising sour in her throat.

She thought, ‘Where do they get this delusional confidence? Do they really think I’ll just obediently accept everything they’ve arranged for me, like some puppet on a string?

‘Strengthen family ties through marriage between the two families?

‘What a well–calculated scheme!

‘Once Ferris is gone, I’ll just be their puppet mistress, and the entire Mcgee family will fall right into their hands.

“They keep claiming it’s all for my benefit, but every word reeks of calculation. Now it’s crystal clear who the real heartless

monsters are.‘

At this thought, Athena could no longer contain herself and burst into laughter, at first, just soft, bitter chuckles, but soon her laughter grew louder and wilder until tears streamed down her face.

Matthew watched her in disgust. He said, “She’s gone mad, completely mad… Don’t think acting crazy will get you out of this. Father, lock her up in the woodshed, now!”