The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 248

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Chapter 248

Athena, however, merely flashed a faint smile, kicked off her shoes, and was about to step onto the shards.

“Atheny, no!” Ferris rushed to stop her, his eyes brimming with anguish.

‘If Athena steps on those shards, her feet will be ruined,’ Ferris thought.

But Athena remained composed as she looked at Ferris and said, “If I don’t do it now, I’ll never be free from their grasp for the rest of my life. Let me do this, Ferris. It is the path I’ve chosen.”

Staring into her stubborn gaze, Ferris reluctantly loosened his grip, but he felt like a thousand needles were piercing his

heart.

At that moment, Ferris felt so powerless.

‘I can’t even protect the woman I love,‘ he thought. ‘I’ve failed Athena.‘

After a long silence, Ferris finally relented. “Alright. I’ll wait for you right here.”

Athena smiled, cast a contemptuous glance at Nicolas, then strode toward the shards without hesitation.

The razor–sharp shards glinted menacingly, some as fine as nails, others as sharp as steel needles.

These were all punishments designed for traitors. No prisoner had ever made it through them all.

It was just ten feet, close enough to taste freedom, yet forever out of reach.

This torture would break any man, yet Athena stepped forward without a flinch.

The razor–sharp blade pierced her flesh, and the pain was excruciatingly vivid.

With every step Athena took, the shards drove deeper into her flesh.

Every step sent bone–searing pain shooting through her.

Blood streamed from the soles of Athena’s feet, her flesh torn to shreds, painting the ground crimson.

The faint–hearted couldn’t even bear to watch.

Ferris clenched his fists tightly as he glared at Nicolas through gritted teeth. In a voice like frozen steel, he declared, “From this day forth, the Mcgee family and the Monson family are irreconcilable enemies.”

Nicolas felt as if a heavy weight had slammed into his chest.

‘I never meant to push Athena this far,‘ he thought. ‘All I wanted was for her to yield and apologize. Why does she have to be so damn stubborn?‘

Eloise and Willow’s wails echoed through the hall, their dramatic sobs making it seem as if they, not Athena, were the ones suffering.

“Athena…” Eloise and Willow wailed as they clung together in dramatic sobs, while Henry stood frozen in silence.

As for Margaret, she had already fainted when Athena left.

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The distance of ten feet seemed deceptively short, yet for Athena, each step stretched into eternity.

She gritted her teeth, desperately trying to ignore the bone–deep agony.

But the agony was so intense that waves of darkness crept across her vision.

Her body swayed unsteadily, and in the end, Athena couldn’t hold back any longer. A cry of pain escaped her lips.

“Atheny…” Ferris cried out, his voice trembling with worry. “Stop! Just stop!”

Ferris rushed to Athena, reaching to lift her down, but she blocked him with a firm gesture.

Athena’s face was deathly pale, her disheveled hair clinging to her cheeks.

The way she looked at Ferris was very determined. “I’ve come this far,” Athena said, “so how could I stop now?”

Tears welled up in Ferris’s eyes as he looked at Athena, his heart aching for her.

In the end, Ferris had no choice but to yield.

He stepped aside, no longer having the courage to look at Athena.

All Ferris could do was pray silently in his heart, ‘Hold on, Atheny. Just hold on!’

Then, a sudden thunder of galloping hooves shattered the tense silence.

Athena looked up to see a man in dark robes charging toward her on horseback at the far end of the street.

With one hand on the reins, he rode with effortless grace.

The golden pendant at his waist danced in the breeze, while his gold belt outlined his trim, powerful waist, every inch exuding strength.

In the blink of an eye, he was upon Athena.

The obsidian–and–gold sleeves flashed before Athena’s eyes. Before she could react, strong arms had already swept her into an embrace.

The sudden turn of events left everyone at the scene wide–eyed in shock.

“P–Prince Xander!” a voice gasped from the crowd.

The terrified crowd immediately bent down, not daring to raise their heads.

Xander’s icy gaze raked over Athena’s feet, murderous intent flashing in his eyes.