The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 342

Chapter 342

Fixing her with a grave look, he said, “Kurtis’s case isn’t as simple as you think. There are too many powerful players involved. Don’t throw yourself against impossible odds.”

“Are you implying my Grandfather was framed?” Athena arched an eyebrow.

Michael felt a lump in his throat and sighed helplessly. “I never said that. I’m just trying to warn you, don’t play with fire.”

Michael took two steps forward, reaching out to touch Athena’s cheek.

Disgust flashed across Athena’s eyes as she stepped back.

She recoiled from Michael’s touch, her whole posture radiating rejection.

Michael’s hand hung frozen in midair. He gave a bitter, self–deprecating laugh. “Do you see me as a monster now? Am I really that repulsive to you?” he asked Athena.

As he spoke, he strode forward, closing the distance between them.

He reached out and removed a dead twig from Athena’s hair.

“When did things between us turn out like this?” Michael’s voice trembled slightly with emotion, his gaze full of longing as he looked at her.

Michael thought bitterly, ‘How ironic. Athena used to cling to me, and I’d brushed her off without a second thought.’

Now, it was his turn.

Only now did he realize how cruel he’d been back then.

She must have felt the same heart–wrenching pain he was feeling now.

Yet, just like him, she just couldn’t bring herself to let go.

Athena flashed a mirthless smile at him. “Lord Osborne, whatever bond we once had, it’s long gone.”

All the passion between them had been eroded by repeated hurts and endless tests.

Now, the best thing was for them to stay out of each other’s way.

She thought, ‘Too bad, Lord Osborne still doesn’t get it.’

Athena turned and walked back into the house without another word. Marquita and Trina slammed the heavy gate shut behind her.

With a resounding metallic clank, they locked it from the inside.

Michael stood at the doorway, looking as forlorn as a stray orphan left out in the cold.

After a long while, he slowly bent down and, with a heavy heart, set the two jars of wine on the steps.

Fireworks burst overhead, lighting up the night sky as bright as day.

Children’s laughter echoed all around, while savory aromas drifted from nearby homes.

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He used to be surrounded by laughter and joy, but now he stood utterly alone.

Snow suddenly cascaded from the branches, causing Michael to freeze in his tracks.

A sudden chill brushed the back of his neck, sending a sharp ache straight to his heart.

Unbidden, memories from the past began to play before his eyes.

“Michael, be careful!” Athena used to call out, always holding an umbrella over his head to shield him from the falling snow.

Back then, he would always brush Athena off impatiently. “Athena, don’t you have anything better to do than follow me around all day?”

Athena’s lips would quiver with hurt, but the very next moment she’d stubbornly chase after him, insisting, “Of course I do. My job is to protect you!”

“Since when do I need your protection?” Michael’s face would darken as he left Athena standing there alone in the snow.

Now with no one to hold an umbrella for him, Michael truly felt how bitterly cold the falling snow was.

The chill seeped into his very bones, aching through every joint.

Though he was bundled in thick layers, the icy air still pierced through relentlessly.

His teeth chattered uncontrollably from the biting cold.

Hunched into himself, he rubbed his hands together desperately for warmth.

But it was futile, the cold was so intense that he staggered with each step.

“Lord Osborne!” A guard nearby noticed something was wrong and rushed over to steady him.

Michael looked exhausted, as if he’d been walking for hours. His legs gave way, and he nearly collapsed.

Only then did the guard realize his face was abnormally flushed. When he touched Michael’s forehead, it was burning hot.

“Quick, back to the Osborne estate! Lord Osborne has a high fever!” the guard shouted.