The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 165

Chapter 165

‘It’s just a wedding gift! How could Grandma be so heartless as to cast me out?‘ she thought, despair washing over her.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as her heart shattered into a thousand pieces.

Before Athena had returned to the estate, Willow had been the apple of Margaret’s eye.

Whenever there were delicacies or amusements, Margaret would always think of Willow first.

Yet, ever since Athena returned, everything changed.

Margaret gradually grew cold toward Willow, and no matter how hard Willow tried to win her favor, Margaret remained unmoved.

The icy, unyielding ground scraped against Willow’s knees, sending waves of bone–chilling pain through her.

With her forehead pressed to the floor, she sobbed toward the room, her voice trembling. “Grandmother, I’m your granddaughter too, how can you be so heartless…”

Before she could finish, her words dissolved into choked sobs.

Each desperate cry tore from her throat, raw and anguished, breaking the hearts of all who heard.

Eloise felt as if a thousand needles were piercing her heart, the pain was suffocating.

She thought, ‘My Willow, my daughter…

Crawling forward on her knees, Eloise knelt before Margaret and pleaded, her voice breaking, “Mother, please show mercy! I beg you, reconsider your decision, this is all my fault. If you must punish someone, let it be me.”

Nicolas’s eyes were also red, his voice thick with emotion as he pleaded, “Grandmother, for the sake of all those mornings Willow rose early to collect dew for you, I beg you, please reconsider your decision.”

Hearing this, Margaret’s fingers gave an involuntary tremble.

Margaret had always cherished coffee, believing only morning dew could properly bring out its delicate flavor.

When Willow learned this, she began rising at dawn each day to gather the glistening droplets for her.

Yet her well–intentioned gesture ended up causing harm.

Young and naive, Willow didn’t realize Margaret was allergic to redbud blossoms.

The coffee she brewed with dew she’d collected triggered a severe asthma attack that nearly cost Margaret her life.

Gwen hesitated, then finally spoke up, “Lord Nicholas, why bring up old wounds? If it weren’t for that dew, Lady Monson wouldn’t have had that asthma attack.”

Nicolas’s face darkened. He lowered his head and fell silent.

Outside, Willow’s broken sobs could be heard between fits of coughing, her distress palpable in the courtyard air.

Margaret’s brows furrowed as she listened. She thought, ‘If only Willow didn’t have such ambition to overstep her station, I might have truly liked this child. But perhaps she’s forgotten, she’s merely the adopted daughter of the Monson family. Now that she dares to usurp Athena’s place, I will not tolerate her

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Chapter 165

“All of you, leave,” Margaret commanded with finality. Eloise and Nicolas opened their mouths to protest, but one look at her ashen face silenced them completely.

Athena’s heart ached with a bittersweet mix of gratitude and guilt. Margaret had defied the entire household for her sake.

‘How could I ever repay Grandmother for such devotion?‘ she wondered.

Eloise led everyone out of the chamber, only to kneel in silent protest just beyond the threshold.

Gwen frowned disapprovingly. “Lady Eloise, why must you harass Lady Margaret like this?

“You’ve already driven her to a hunger strike, what more do you people want from her?”

Eloise’s face was etched with sorrow as she stared into the chamber, refusing to even look at Gwen. “Mother,” she pleaded with quiet determination, “unless you revoke your decision, I shall remain kneeling here without rising.”

At her side, Willow wept uncontrollably, her voice lost to heart–wrenching sobs.

Nicolas also kept his head bowed in silence.

Fiona stood beside them, her brow deeply furrowed. She thought, ‘Adults can endure this, but how could a child possibly bear it?‘

The biting wind cut to the bone. Cedric was still sweating. If the wind hit him now, it would only worsen his condition.

Fiona had no desire to get involved in Willow’s affairs, but with Nicolas remaining silent, she didn’t dare leave with Cedric

Monson.

Just then, Athena parted the curtains and stepped out. Turning to Fiona, she said firmly, “Fiona, Grandma commands you to take Cedric back to your chambers at once.”

Fiona looked at Athena in surprise, her eyes lit up with barely concealed relief. Still, she cast a cautious glance at Nicolas, whose face remained dark and unyielding.

It was clear he had no intention of letting her leave.

Athena added firmly, “This is Grandma’s command.”

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