The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 240

With a crash, the cup hit the floor and shattered into pieces.

The sharp sound startled everyone in the house, their faces paling with shock.

They thought, ‘Athena is burning all bridges with the Monson family:

“Athena, what the hell are you doing?” Nicolas finally lost his temper and slammed the table hard.

Pointing at Athena’s face, Nicolas scolded, “You’re utterly shameless! Smashing things in front of your parents, who exactly are you trying to intimidate?”

Athena scoffed disdainfully. “Rather than wasting your time scolding me, perhaps you should help Matthew clean up his mess. After all, Aliza can’t keep her mouth shut. By now, everyone in Pidence City must know about his scandalous deeds.”

Matthew looked stunned and at a loss when the butler rushed in.

With a frantic expression, the butler exclaimed, “Bad news! Aliza has run out into the streets, shouting everywhere that Lord Matthew forced her to get pregnant and now wants to kill her.

“A huge crowd has gathered, and the scandal spread like wildfire across the city. What should we do?”

Matthew instantly panicked. He glared furiously at Athena. “You let Aliza escape, didn’t you?”

Athena replied with just one nonchalant word, “Yes.”

“You… You shameless wench!” Matthew was about to lunge at Athena when Nicolas barked, “Are you trying to embarrass yourself even more? Go retrieve Aliza immediately!”

Clenching his jaw in fury, Matthew flung his sleeve and stormed out.

Nicolas heaved a heavy sigh and fixed Athena with a glare. “You’re nothing but trouble. We shouldn’t have brought you back.”

“Well, it’s too late for regrets now,” Athena shot back coldly, making Nicolas choke on his fury.

With everyone glaring at her, Athena slowly turned to Henry and Eloise. “You keep claiming to care about me. Now, I’ll give you a chance. Meet just one condition, and I’ll let bygones be bygones.”

A glimmer of hope flashed in Eloise’s eyes as she was about to ask what condition Athena had in mind.

But seeing the hidden menace in Athena’s smiling eyes, she didn’t dare ask further.

‘Athena had never intended to forgive us, let alone call me “Mother.” Her condition is bound to be extremely difficult for us to meet, Eloise thought.

Henry’s eyes darkened as he asked in a measured tone, “What is your condition?”

He held no real expectations for Athena. He just wanted to see what she was after.

“Kick Willow out and cut all ties with her,” Athena enunciated each word.

As soon as Athena finished speaking, Henry scoffed. “Out of the question.”

Eloise looked troubled, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief. “Athena, why must you be so harsh? She’s also your sister…”

1/2

Chapter 240

“Since when is she my sister? Did you give birth to her or something?” Athena asked.

Her voice suddenly sharpened, her eyes filled with disappointment as she looked at Eloise. “She faked poisoning to frame me, made me suffer for three years, and didn’t even spare my maids.

“Thalia died a tragic death. Willow also cut Macy’s tongue out and killed her. Yet you still treasure such a vicious creature? Will you only wake up after she destroys the duke’s estate?”

Willow’s eyes suddenly widened, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

She dropped to her knees, shaking her head frantically in denial. “No! I didn’t do it. None of these is true.”

Eloise rushed to support Willow, anxiously defending her. “Athena, it’s not what you think. Those two maids got expelled from the estate for stealing. They exploited your innocence and lied to you. We’re your family. Don’t let them mislead you.”

Willow was in floods of tears, her face streaked with sorrow as she pleaded, “Mother, just let me go. Pretend you never raised

me…”

Eloise clung to her tightly, fearing Willow might do something drastic or run away from home again.

At the same time, her gaze at Athena turned resentful, as if she were silently questioning, “How could you be so cruel? Must you drive Willow to her death?”

This scenario was exactly what Athena had expected all along.

So she was utterly unmoved.

If anything, the glacial coldness in her eyes only deepened.

“The duke’s estate is finished,’ she thought.

2/2