The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24

“Now, here’s what I want to know: that day you came to my room to deliver medicine, and Lord Osborne was there too. Afterward, it was you who followed him out, and then you left the manor. Tell me, what does that have to do with me?”

Willow’s eyes were filled with panic and confusion. As Athena’s relentless questioning continued, tears poured down her face.

Eloise, heart aching for her daughter, gently tried to calm Athena. “Whatever the issue is, there’s no need for violence. Let go of Willow.”

Willow suddenly broke into a violent coughing fit, her frail body looking as though it could give way at any moment.

Athena finally released her grip, but her eyes grew even colder. “I didn’t realize oleander was so potent. Three years have passed, and the poison still hasn’t cleared…”

Eloise, full of concern, began patting Willow’s back and gently coaxing her. “She’s always been frail, and ever since that incident, her health has only gotten worse. Athena, why must you be so harsh? Willow has never held anything against you. If anything, it’s you who…”

She quickly stopped herself, realizing she had spoken too much. Some thoughts, when bottled up for so long, just slip out before she could stop them.

Although Athena was her biological daughter, she hadn’t grown up by her side, and having been raised in such a harsh environment, some of her bad habits couldn’t be changed overnight.

Still, Eloise couldn’t help but feel wronged. She had tried so hard to be fair to both of them. She wondered, ‘Why can’t they just get along?”

Athena had long become immune to Eloise’s words. She never expected anything from Eloise, so there was no disappointment to feel.

Moreover, from examining Willow’s pulse, Athena could tell that she didn’t look like someone who had been bedridden for long. The recurring illness seemed strange.

But now wasn’t the time to focus on that. Athena turned the conversation back to the matter at hand. “Willow, don’t you think you owe me an explanation? After all, I didn’t deserve to be punished for nothing.”

Willow looked utterly surprised. “Why would you be punished?”

Then, as if belatedly realizing something, she continued, “Mother, is it because I left home that Athena was

punished?”

Eloise, feeling a bit embarrassed, turned her face away and nodded. “Nicolas thought it was she who drove you away, so he punished her by making her bow in the rain all night. Her old illness flared up again.”

Inside the room, Willow’s sobs grew louder and more desperate. Her cries soon drew the attention of Nicolas and Henry, who hurried inside.

Both men looked alarmed when they saw Willow’s condition, their brows furrowing with concern.

Nicolas glared at Athena, displeased. “We agreed that Mother would handle this. What have you done?”

Henry, clearly angered, added, “Willow is in this state because of you. You’re to blame.”

Athena had long since grown immune to their favoritism. She ignored their anger and focused on Willow instead. “So now everyone’s on your side. Are you happy? How long do you plan to keep crying before you tell the truth?”

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Chapter 24

Willow broke into another violent coughing fit before finally managing to say, “I didn’t mean for things to turn out this way. I didn’t know Athena would be punished. My leaving had nothing to do with her.”

She then collapsed onto the bed, crying out to Athena, “Athena, if you’re angry or upset, take it out on me. It’s only because Nicolas cares so much for me that he lost control.”

But her words didn’t ease Nicolas’s suspicions. If anything, they only strengthened his belief that Athena was the one who had driven Willow away.

Willow’s desperate plea only seemed like an attempt to shift the blame.

Just as everyone was focused on blaming Athena, they heard Gwen’s voice from outside the door. “If it’s clear that Lady Athena was wronged, then you should speak the truth, not cry and confuse the situation.”

Everyone turned in surprise as Gwen entered, followed by Siena.

Siena, clearly unaware of what had happened, was so startled that she immediately bowed upon entering.

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