The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 283

Chapter 283

Athena’s icy voice cut through the air right by Nicolas’s ear. “If someone put you up to this, you’re just an accomplice. But if you acted alone… you’re in for a world of pain.”

Without another word, Athena sheathed her sword and commanded icily, “Take these men to the authorities.”

Blake screamed hysterically, “Athena, you can’t do this to me! I’m your big brother!”

Athena, already turning to leave, shot him a frosty smile over her shoulder. “I don’t have a brother like that.”

From inside the house came Athena’s languid yet commanding voice. “Make it clear to the authorities, these thieves dared to rob the Viscountess’s residence. The Viscountess is deeply displeased.”

Blake’s eyes bulged in shock. “The Viscountess?”

He thought, ‘Willow never told me Athena was the Viscountess!‘

The penalty for stealing from nobility was one degree harsher.

Blake tried to plead for mercy one last time, but Athena’s guards swiftly cut him short.

Without another word, Athena’s guards bound their hands with ropes, gagged them, and dragged all four men away.

Meanwhile, at the Xander Manor.

Xander learned from his shadow guards that Athena had tied up the thieves and sent them to the authorities.

He instantly grasped her scheme.

She was using Blake as a pawn to lure out Willow.

A look of approval crossed Xander’s face. “What a clever woman!”

mentor Nelson stood respectfully aside and inquired, “Your Highness, shall we intervene to assist Miss Monson?”

Xander nodded, his long, slender fingers drumming rhythmically on the table.

His piercing gaze held an almost imperceptible tenderness as he emphasized, “She’s already cast the bait, how could I not give her a hand? Send word to the police station. Tell them to conduct a thorough interrogation. An exceptionally thorough one.”

He put deliberate weight on those final words, his voice ringing with authority.

Nelson instantly grasped his lord’s intent.

If they wanted Nicolas to spill the truth, they would have to rough him up a bit first.

“At your command, my lord,” Nelson replied respectfully, then instructed his most trusted aide to deliver the message.

After the heavy snowfall, the entire capital was blanketed in pristine white.

From the crack of dawn, Ivory Grove was already a hive of activity.

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Several young maids were busily attending to Willow as they helped her dress and do her hair. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror, a demure smile playing on her lips, though her eyes betrayed a hint of smug satisfaction.

“Miss Monson, when Lord Osborne sees you, he’ll be utterly spellbound,” Nona gushed with an ingratiating smile.

Ever since Athena left, Willow felt she could finally hold her head high.

Now all the servants naturally treated her as the legitimate daughter of the house.

Willow held up the hairpin to her hair, a smug smile playing in her eyes.

Willow thought smugly, ‘Why didn’t Athena leave sooner?

Why would she even dare to compete with me?

‘Now Athena’s ended up in this miserable state. Well, that’s just her own damn fault for being born unlucky!‘

Willow studied her reflection in the mirror, then deliberately wiped the lip color from her lips with a handkerchief.

Her delicately made–up face instantly took on a sickly pallor.

Nona asked in dismay, “Miss Monson, why wipe it off? We worked so hard on your makeup!”

Willow smiled, a knowing look in her eyes. “You wouldn’t understand.”

‘Michael must be coming to see me today,’ Willow thought to herself, a hint of confidence in her eyes.

Ever since the engagement fell through, they hadn’t seen each other for a long time.

She couldn’t possibly appear before him looking all rosy–cheeked and radiant.

‘Only this sickly, pale face of mine could make Michael pity me, and feel guilty,‘ Willow thought to herself.

Clueless about Willow’s intentions, Nona followed her to the front courtyard.

The moment Willow appeared, Eloise immediately noticed her pallid complexion.

Eloise frowned and quickly pulled Willow close, asking with concern, “What’s wrong, Willow? You look so pale, are you feeling unwell again?”

Willow pressed a handkerchief to her lips, coughing delicately as she murmured in a feebly sweet voice, “Mother… I’m quite alright.”

Eloise looked at her. Willow clearly didn’t look fine at all.

Eloise’s heart ached at the sight. She murmured, “My poor darling, don’t worry about your marriage. I’ll do everything I can to secure it for you.”

She knew she had no say in Willow’s status, but at the very least, she could still secure her daughter the authority to run the Osborne family.

That was precisely why she.invited the Osbornes over today to discuss the marriage arrangements.

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