The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she bit her lip hard, refusing to let them fall. Forcing a shaky smile, she turned to Matthew and said, “It’s alright… I just lost my balance. It had nothing to do with Athena.”

The maid behind them turned pale with shock and rushed forward to help. Willow managed to stand with her support, only to lose her balance again and fall back to the ground.

The tear that had been clinging to her lashes finally fell–plop–hitting the floor like a pin drop in a tense room.

And right onto Matthew’s nerves. He noticed immediately–she was holding her ankle, her face paper–white with pain, yet still trying to smile at him through it.

He thought, ‘She must’ve twisted it.‘

His fury, already boiling, finally exploded. With no hesitation, Matthew stepped forward and kicked Athena square in the chest, roaring, “Wretched woman! I actually felt sorry for you for a second. Three years, and you still haven’t learned a thing. Still this cruel?”

“If I hadn’t seen it myself, I wouldn’t believe it. Willow came over to help you, and you shoved her away? You’re heartless, Athena truly heartless.” Joseph, long simmering with frustration, finally found a target and let loose with satisfaction.

Matthew practiced martial arts, and the force behind his kick was no joke. It hit her like a boulder.

Athena felt like her insides had been turned upside down. A wave of blood rushed up her throat, bitter and metallic. No matter how hard she tried to swallow it down, it burst from her lips in a hot, red spray.

Matthew was taken aback. He hadn’t thought he kicked her that hard. He remembered her being tough as nails back in the day–never got sick, barely caught a cold.

He thought of those freezing winters. While Willow bundled up in thick fox–fur cloaks, Athena would be out in just a thin

cotton coat.

He’d once asked her if she was cold. Her cheeks had been pink from the chill, but she’d grinned at him and said, “Nope.”

“You’re pulling this old trick again?” Joseph sneered. “You used to hold orange juice in your mouth to fake vomiting blood and scare me and Joseph. Still using the same tired routine after all these years?”

Athena’s vision was spinning, dark spots creeping in at the edges, but she held herself upright through sheer will.

She wiped the blood from her mouth, her eyes defiant as she glared at him. “That trick you’re talking about? You were the one who told me to use it. You’d ditch class, get caught, and drag me down with you.

“You told me to pretend to cough up blood so people would pity us. Now you want to act like it was all me?”

Joseph’s expression twisted. “Can’t believe you’re still holding onto stuff from that long ago. You really are petty.”

“Oh, and you’re any better?” Athena snorted. “Don’t flatter yourself, you idiot.”

Joseph gave an angry grunt and shut his mouth.

In the background, Willow’s soft sobs continued, getting under Athena’s skin. Athena pointed toward the door. “Get out. All of you.”

Matthew looked like he wanted to argue, but Willow tugged at his sleeve, her voice tearful and trembling. “Joseph, don’t hit Athena again… I am scared.”

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She curled into herself like a frightened kitten, trembling as if the world had just collapsed around her.

That helpless act tugged hard at Matthew’s heart. Both girls were his sisters–but the way they treated him couldn’t have been more different.

Humiliation flared in his chest. His eyes fell on the table behind Athena.

She saw the shift in his gaze and moved to stop him, but it was too late.

With a thunderous crack, the table shattered into splinters. Jars and bottles crashed to the ground, their contents spilling everywhere–completely ruined.

Athena stared at the mess, her heart crumbling along with it.

Those had been the medicine pills she’d painstakingly prepared for Margaret. So even while she was away, Margaret would still have enough. Just seven more days‘ worth, and the treatment would’ve been complete.

She never let anyone near that table. And now, it was all gone–destroyed by Matthew in a fit of ra