The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 374

Natasha shot Willow a scornful look and sneered, “Who says Athena has no use for the horse? Even if she never rides it, she can keep it at the estate as a prized possession or just for show. And who do you think you are to demand she hand it over to you?” Her voice dripped with biting sarcasm as her gaze cut into Willow like a blade.

Tears finally streamed down Willow’s face. She looked timidly at Natasha and pleaded in a trembling voice, “Natasha, how could you

still hold a grudge after all these years? That was just something that happened when we were kids! I swear, I really didn’t see you fall into the lake back then. If I had, there’s no way I would’ve just left you there.”

Athena looked at Natasha in astonishment as her mind raced, ‘No wonder she’s been at odds with Willow ever since. So this was the reason.‘

Athena might not fully understand Natasha, but she knew Willow’s true nature all too well.

‘She’s fooled everyone by playing the delicate, obedient girl,‘ Athena thought bitterly. ‘But beneath that facade lies a treacherous, utterly vicious soul.

‘Willow said she hadn’t seen Natasha fall into the lake, but that was clearly a blatant falsehood.

‘What’s more puzzling was that Natasha and Willow had once been practically inseparable. How could Willow have suddenly turned on her out of the blue?‘

“I hold grudges. Unlike you, who ‘never holds grudges,‘ probably because you’ve never been the one framed. It’s always you scheming against others. You know exactly how I fell through that ice back then,” Natasha shot at Willow, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Natasha spared Willow no dignity whatsoever as she added, “The only reason I’m here today is because of you, Willow. As long as I’m around, don’t even dream of taking that championship!”

Willow’s face turned deathly pale as she stared at Natasha, shaking her head frantically. She begged, “No! Natasha, please, let me explain!”

“Explain what?” Natasha sneered. “Am I supposed to listen to your honeyed words while you stab me in the back?”

Natasha advanced two steps toward Willow, forcing her to stumble backward in fright.

Her piercing eyes, which were sharp as daggers, fixed on Willow, draining all color from her delicate face.

Just then, Michael’s gaze swept over to them.

The moment Willow met Michael’s gaze, she burst into tears.

Looking as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice, she choked out, “I’m not the kind of person you all think I am.”

Afterward, she turned and fled with tears streaming down her face.

Almost instantly, Athena felt an icy gaze lock onto her.

She turned around and there stood Matthew, whom she hadn’t seen in ages.

Matthew hadn’t changed a bit. He’s still blindly taking Willow’s side as always. First, he went to comfort Willow.

Then, his eyes locked onto Athena, his expression menacing, as if to warn her: “You’ll pay for this later.”

“Matthew is still as foolish as ever,” Natasha sneered, her tone laced with contempt.

1/2

Chapter 374

She was sticking up for Athena as she recalled how incredibly good Athena was to Matthew back then.

She remembered how Athena would go out of her way to get him whatever he fancied.

Back then, Athena had also gifted him a rare centry–old bow without a second thought.

However, her genuine kindness had been thrown away. ‘Matthew, that ungrateful wretch, had turned around and bitten the hand that fed him, Natasha silently fumed.

Natasha, thinking Athena was upset by this, gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder and said, “Don’t worry. We’ll crush them on the field and settle this once and for all!”

But Athena paid no attention to Matthew. In a quiet corner not far away, a solitary figure stood motionless.

His piercing gaze cut through the crowd and landed squarely on her.

Without her having to seek him out, he stepped forward of his own accord.

Like a single stroke of light in a dark tunnel, his presence illuminated everything around him.

Nothing in the world could compare to the breathtaking impact of his fleeting presence.

A sharp intake of breath came from Natasha as she whispered, “Prince Xander? He actually showed up?”

Chapter 375