The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 366

Chapter 366

Clutching the pastry box, Fiona summoned for a nurse to carry Cedric, and together they departed the estate.

As soon as Fiona stepped into the front courtyard, Nicolas and Willow appeared before her as they walked side by side.

From a distance, Fiona could see Nicolas and Willow laughing and chatting intimately, showing not the slightest hint of discretion. Nicolas even reached out to adjust Willow’s cloak more snugly around her shoulders–a gesture so tender it stabbed at Fiona’s heart.

‘Nicolas had never once looked at me with such tender eyes, Fiona thought bitterly, her heart clenching with each step.

‘My heart hurts so much I can hardly breathe,‘ she thought desperately.

As soon as she saw Fiona, Willow greeted her warmly, “Willow, are you heading out?”

Fiona merely fixed her gaze on Nicolas and let out a deliberate, measured huff of disapproval.

Fiona’s accusatory, resentful gaze made Nicolas shift uncomfortably.

Noticing the swollen redness on the back of her hand, Nicolas belatedly recalled her injury and asked perfunctorily, “How’s your wound?”

Fiona’s heart shattered into a million pieces in that instant as she thought, ‘If we hadn’t run into each other in the courtyard, he wouldn’t even remember I was hurt.

‘All he ever sees is Willow.‘

Jealousy and resentment surged in Fiona’s heart as she dropped all pretense of politeness for the first time. Fixing Nicolas with a cold, distant look, she said icily, “Thank you for your concern, Lord Nicolas. It’s perfectly fine now.”

“Lord Nicolas?” Nicolas frowned in displeasure.

It was then that Nicolas saw the icy detachment in Fiona’s eyes, it was the same look Athena had worn when she first returned to the estate.

‘I’d figured with Athena gone, the estate would finally settle down.

‘But, even Fiona is starting to act up now,‘ he thought with annoyance.

Feeling that his masculine pride had been thoroughly provoked, Nicolas fixed an even icier glare at Fiona. He snapped with disdain, “If you’re well enough to be out and about, then clearly your injury isn’t serious. And from now on, don’t have your maids running to report such trifles to me.”

With that, Nicolas strode away without a backward glance.

“Nicolas?” Willow asked, utterly bewildered. She couldn’t understand how things between them had suddenly turned so

tense.

Willow flashed Fiona a quick smile before hurrying after Nicolas.

On the other hand, Fiona stood frozen in place before a sharp pain shot through her palm. Only then did she realize her nails had dug deep into her flesh.

She thought bitterly, ‘So this is how awful it feels to be disregarded.

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Chapter 366

Just a little of Nicolas’s coldness, and I’m already on the verge of breaking down.

Then, how did Athena feel?

‘Everyone in the estate treated her with nothing but hostility, deceit, and exploitation at every turn. How on earth did she

ever survive it all?‘

With concern clouding her eyes, Lina softly murmured, “Lady Fiona.”

Lina thought sadly, ‘Poor Lady Fiona. Lord Nicolas neglects her, and even the child she bore is neglected. Yet this is Nicolas’s flesh and blood.

Cedric’s cries from within his swaddling blanket jolted Fiona back to reality.

Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, Fiona said to Lina in a strained voice, “Let’s go.”

With that, Fiona left with Cedric. At this moment, Willow caught up with Nicolas and timidly asked, “Nicolas, did you and Fiona have a fight?”

Nicolas felt a sudden surge of intense irritation, and he snorted coldly, “Who knows what had gotten to her?”

Nicolas thought irritably, ‘Fiona’s world used to revolve around me, and she was constantly by my side. I don’t know when it started, but now she’s just like Athena, always acting all high and mighty. Not only does she give me the cold shoulder, but she’s constantly pulling a long face. What a nuisance!‘

Willow let out a noncommittal “oh,” her eyes glinting with calculation. “Maybe Fiona just felt a bit stifled in the estate and went out for some air. Don’t take it to heart, Nicolas,” she said.

At Willow’s words, it suddenly dawned on Nicolas.

Fiona was never one who went on outings, yet just now, Nicolas had seen her leave the estate with her entourage of maids and nurse. She was even carrying Cedric in her arms.

Nicolas frowned and wondered, ‘What on earth is she up to?‘

Nicolas hated losing control. As such, he summoned an attendant and ordered curtly, “Follow Lady Fiona. Find out who she’s meeting and what she’s up to.”