The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 163

Chapter 163

Fiona stole a nervous glance at Nicolas, gently biting her lip. Then, summoning her courage, she said to Eloise, “Cedric just fell asleep after taking his medicine. He’s still perspiring a little.”

Hearing this, Nicolas shot her a stern look and snapped, “It’s just a common cold, why are you being so delicate? Did you really have to tattle to Mother about it?”

Fiona recoiled at his sharp tone and fell silent.

Eloise shot Nicolas a stern look. “Children are delicate at this age. You’ve never raised one, so you wouldn’t understand the risks. Your wife’s concern is completely justified.”

With a gentle pat on Fiona’s hand, Eloise said kindly, “Take Cedric home first, dear. Pay no mind to Nicolas.”

Fiona stole a glance at Nicolas’s dark expression but couldn’t bring herself to leave.

Fiona instinctively tightened her hold on the sleeping child, drawing him closer in a protective embrace.

“Alright, Mother, you go in first. If we go together, Grandmother will only get angrier,” Nicolas urged.

Eloise considered this reasonable and took the lead in departing.

Nicolas and Fiona stood still. As a gust of wind swept .by, Cedric whimpered twice. Fiona quickly wrapped her cloak tighter around him.

At Starling House, it was so quiet one could hear a pin drop.

The maids and servants in the courtyard stood frozen, holding their breath without daring to make a sound, their eyes filled with fear and apprehension.

Margaret sat rigidly upright in her carved sandalwood chair, her posture erect, her entire being radiating icy displeasure.

Eloise gathered her skirts as she entered, then stepped forward and bowed to Margaret. “Greetings, mother,” she said respectfully.

“Get on your knees!” Margaret commanded, her voice laced with fury as she fixed Eloise with an icy glare.

Eloise’s body stiffened abruptly, her smile freezing instantly on her face.

Margaret had always been gentle and kind. In all the years since Eloise married into the family, she could count on one hand the times she’d been made to kneel.

Margaret was absolutely livid over today’s events.

Eloise’s face paled visibly. Reluctantly, she gathered her skirts and slowly sank to her knees on the freezing stone floor.

Eloise forced an awkward smile. “Mother, what could have upset you so much?”

Margaret’s face darkened with fury, her chest heaving violently. “Who gave you permission to touch Athena’s wedding gift? Those were treasures I painstakingly gathered for my granddaughter!”

At this, Margaret abruptly pulled Athena to her side, her voice trembling with outrage. “Athena is your own flesh and blood! I could tolerate you favoring that outsider, but how dare you scheme against your own daughter?”

Eloise felt wronged by Margaret’s accusations.

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She thought, ‘Everything I’ve done has been for the good of the Monson family!”

Eloise looked up at Margaret, her eyes rimmed with red and her face full of grievance. “Mother, they’re both my daughters, I care for Athena just as much. I never wanted her to suffer, but with the estate in such financial difficulties, what else could I

do?”

At this, Eloise covered her mouth and began to sob dramatically.

“So now that you’re desperate, you’d stoop to stealing Athena’s wedding gift?” Margaret’s voice cut sharply through the air, full of scorn. “You say you’re the one who’s wronged, what about her? First, her marriage was snatched away, and now even her wedding gift is being taken!”

Margaret slammed the table, her voice trembling with fury. “How can I tolerate this? You’ve gone too far!”

Secing Margaret’s face go pale and her lips turn blue, Athena rushed forward and quickly slipped a pill into her mouth. “Grandmother!”

Gwen quickly handed Margaret some drink and helped her take a few sips. She gently patted Margaret’s back and soothed her breathing until her complexion improved.

Athena’s eyes brimmed with anxious tears as she pleaded, “Please don’t upset yourself, Grandmother. I’ll take care of my own affairs.”

She thought, ‘If Grandmother’s condition worsens because of me, I’d never forgive myself!

Margaret shook her head slowly, her breath uneven and fingers trembling as she pointed at Eloise. In a voice that brooked no argument, she declared, “As long as I draw breath, not a single item of Athena’s wedding gift shall be touched!”

Still seething with rage, Margaret raised her voice and shouted, “We’ve raised that girl in this estate for so many years, not so she could steal my granddaughter’s rightful place! She wants everything without knowing her proper station. If that’s how she is, we might as well just throw her out!”

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