The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 164

hapter 164

Margaret thought, ‘Willow is the root of all evil. As long as she’s around, Eloise won’t ever turn her heart back to Athena. Everyone in the mansion is fawning over Willow, so what about my Athena?‘

Her words left everyone in the room stunned.

Eloise stood there like a statue, her eyes wide with horror as she gazed at Margaret. “Mother, even if Willow doesn’t share the Monson bloodline, she’s called you ‘Grandmother‘ for over a decade. We raised her as our own child. How could you say such cruel words?”

Margaret snorted coldly, her wrinkles deepening with anger. She said, “Back then, I only let her stay because I pitied her. She was all alone, with such a tragic background.

“But look at you now! Every one of you seems bewitched, running around her as if she’s the center of your world.

“Don’t mistake my mercy for weakness. Since you all have no regard for dignity, don’t blame me for tearing off all pretense today!”

Margaret’s face was set with iron resolve, her tone leaving no room for debate. “Today, you have but two choices. either I go on a hunger strike and die, or you banish Willow from this house and cut off all ties with her from now on.”

Eloise’s face finally showed panic as she pleaded urgently, “Mother, this is all my fault. Willow has nothing to do with it. Please, if you must blame someone, blame me for not being thorough enough.”

As she spoke, her eyes reddened and tears streamed down her cheeks until she burst into tears. “Willow knows nothing about this! How can you blame her? She’s always shown you the utmost respect and has been nothing but kind to Athena. She’s truly innocent!”

The maids and elderly servants in the room all dropped to their knees as well. However, unlike pleading for Willow’s sake, they were begging Margaret to calm her anger.

At that moment, Nicolas entered with Fiona in tow.

As soon as he stepped inside, Nicolas dropped to his knees with a sweep of his robe, and Fiona immediately followed suit beside him.

In unison, they pleaded, “Grandma, please calm down.”

Nicolas’s face was filled with anxiety as he pleaded, “Grandma, you cannot do this! Our marriage alliance with the Osbornes is imminent. This concerns the honor of both great houses. Willow is to be their future daughter–in–law. If we banish her from our household now, what will the ton think of us? And what about the Osbornes? We’d become the laughingstock of the entire city!”

Margaret looked up, her gaze landing on the baby cradled in Fiona’s arms. For a brief moment, her stern expression softened, a fleeting gentleness flickering in her eyes.

Yet, unlike before, she didn’t invite Fiona to rise or take a seat.

The sharp–eyed Margaret saw through Fiona’s ploy. Bringing the child here now was clearly just a plea for Willow.

Margaret let out a heavy sigh and said to Fiona, “Take Cedric back to your room.

“He’s only three months old and still recovering from a cold. Did you really think bringing him here would soften my

heart?”

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Margaret’s gaze darkened as she looked at Nicolas. She thought, ‘Eloise is muddle–headed enough, but now even my own grandson is following suit!

‘As Deputy Minister of the Justice Ministry, how could you fail to distinguish right from wrong?‘

She said, “Enough talk. My decision is final. From this day forth, I will refuse all sustenance, not a single bite nor sip, until Willow is cast out from the Monson family.”

Athena looked at Margaret in panic, tears streaming down her face. “Grandmother, why must you go to such extremes? I don’t want anything anymore, none of it matters, just promise me you’ll stay safe.”

Everyone in the room prostrated themselves on the floor, pleading in unison, “Please calm down, Lady Monson!”

Yet they had all underestimated just how much Athena meant to Margaret.

No matter how desperately Eloise pleaded for forgiveness, Margaret refused to relent.

She was dead set on banishing Willow from the Monson estate.

Hearing the news, Willow rushed over, her face as pale as a sheet as she knelt in the courtyard. She never imagined the backlash would fall on her.

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