The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 340

Chapter 340

Perfect. This plays right into my hands,‘ Willow inwardly rejoiced, even as she maintained her tearful facade.

Willow’s face was the picture of heartbreak, playing the part to perfection. But inwardly, she was gloating with the smug satisfaction of a scheme coming to fruition.

Tears streaming down her face, Willow made a show of being utterly devastated before Athena. “If it will ease your anger, I’m willing to…” she sobbed dramatically, leaving her words hanging for maximum effect.

But before Willow could finish her little performance, Marquita stepped forward. “Lady Willow, if you were truly sincere, you wouldn’t have come here with Lady Eloise to make trouble in front of Lady Athena. When someone is truly repentant, they don’t put on such a theatrical display.”

Marquita sneered, “I may be just a lowly old servant, but even I know what decency means. If you really went and bashed your head and died at my lady’s doorstep, how is Lady Willow supposed to face society after that? Wouldn’t it be better for you to find a time and discreetly end your life somewhere else?”

Willow’s face turned deathly pale in an instant, her eyes wide with terror as they locked onto Marquita.

Fury and humiliation burned through Willow. ‘How dare a lowly servant woman like Marquita point her finger at me and lecture me to my face!‘ she fumed inwardly.

With that, Willow no longer dared to continue her play of throwing herself against the pillar.

Eloise immediately helped Willow to her feet and shielded her behind herself.

Eloise glared furiously at Marquita and roared, “How dare you! A mere servant, making veiled accusations against a young lady of the Monson family. Is this how Athena has taught you?”

“Lady Eloise, there’s no need for anger. Marquita speaks for me,” Athena said coolly, stepping forward to shield the older woman behind her. “If you take issue with her words, then address them to me directly.”

Marquita’s blunt words may have been cutting, but they voiced precisely what Athena wanted to say.

Athena said, “If you can’t stomach my words, then don’t come begging for humiliation. I’ve always been a brute. Who knows when I might snap and say something unforgivable?”

Eloise gasped, tears spilling down her cheeks in an instant.

She couldn’t believe that her daughter could be so heartless to her.

“Do you truly despise me this much?” Eloise demanded, her voice trembling with barely suppressed bitterness.

Athena nodded slowly. “I do.”

“Is that it? Just because I dote on Willow a bit more, you hate me this much?” All her pent–up bitterness finally erupted as Eloise suddenly roared.

Eloise pounded her chest, her face twisted in anguish. “I carried you for nine months! Even if I’ve wronged you, you have no right to hate me. We share the same blood!

“I meant no harm coming here today. I only want you to plead with Prince Xander to release your brother so our family can be reunited. Tell me, as a mother, what have I done wrong?”

Eloise suddenly exploded in fury, making Trina and Marquita shoot anxious glances at Athena, fearing she might buckle

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Chapter 340

under the onslaught.

Athena remained far calmer than they had anticipated. Step by deliberate step, she advanced, meeting Eloise’s murderous glare head–on.

She eventually stopped just three feet away from Eloise, her gaze unwavering.

Her eyes, brighter than the stars and sharp as daggers, locked onto Eloise. Athena snapped, “What gives you the right to demand this of me? Why should I help reunite your family?

“You want your family to be happy, but what about my grandfather? He still endures hardships at the borderlands, even today, on his birthday. Have you ever spared him even a single thought?”

Athena pointed at the crumbling manor, its once–vermilion gates sealed shut.

The gates were thick with dust and cobwebs.

Eloise looked jolted, as if she had only just realized where she was.

Eloise stared at Athena helplessly, her lips parting as if to explain, but the words caught in her throat and simply wouldn’t

come.

“Athena, I… I…” Eloise stammered.

“Trying to make excuses again, are you?” Athena sneered coldly, her eyes full of pity as she looked at Eloise. “You’ve probably long forgotten your maiden name. Ashamed of being a Perkins, aren’t you? Out there, you always introduce yourself as Mrs. Monson, don’t you?”