The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 379

Chapter 379

Matthew roared like an enraged lion, his fury utterly impotent.

Matthew blocked Athena and Natasha’s path, his face twisted with a sinister expression as he spat, “We all saw it as clear as day. Your horse injured Willow. Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?”

Athena wondered, ‘With all that chaos on the field, who could tell if Willow had pulled any tricks?‘

Matthew saw only Willow get thrown from her horse, and immediately jumped to the conclusion that Athena was responsible.

To Matthew, Athena was nothing short of vicious and jealous.

In his mind, Athena couldn’t tolerate Willow, so today’s incident had to be Athena’s meticulously orchestrated scheme.

Athena had long stopped holding out hope for Matthew. When faced with his accusations, she merely asked nonchalantly, “Do you have any evidence?”

When falsely accused, Athena didn’t rush to clear her name; instead, she put herself on the defensive.

She turned the tables, firing back with a question and tossing the dilemma right back at him.

Matthew instantly erupted in fury, his eyes blazing red. He bellowed, “Everyone saw it, clear as day! It was your horse that kicked Willow’s horse. Otherwise, how could her horse have been startled and thrown her off?”

“Then let me ask you, Lord Matthew,” Athena countered calmly, her tone measured. “Why would my horse single out Willow when there were others just as close? Doesn’t that strike you as rather… peculiar?”

Matthew was momentarily speechless. But then, a fresh surge of fury washed over him. “Stop being so unreasonable! Your horse injured someone–that makes you responsible. Don’t even think about denying it!”

“Matthew, look closely. What is this?” Natasha thrust a hairpin in his face. “This is Willow’s hairpin. She tried to harm Athena, but got what she deserved. Your so–called ‘kind‘ sister used such despicable tricks. So, how dare you still question Athena?”

Matthew stared at the hairpin, his mind reeling, “The hairpin is specially crafted by the Duke’s Estate. Willow had specifically chosen this valuable piece to wear when she left the house.

‘Willow had even asked me, “How does it look on me?”

‘I had always told Willow she looked good in anything. So, of course, I would recognize this hairpin right away!

At this moment, Matthew couldn’t believe–no, refused to believe–that Willow would ever intentionally harm someone.

He thought, ‘She’s so kind and she wouldn’t even hurt a fly.

‘How could she possibly use a hairpin to hurt Athena?‘

Natasha dragged Athena’s horse directly in front of Matthew, jabbed a finger at a blood spot on its flank, and snapped, “Open your damn eyes and look. What the hell is this?”

Though Willow’s stab didn’t seriously injure the horse, it still left a visible wound on its flank.

The small yet distinct bloodstain struck Matthew like a physical blow.

Matthew’s brows knitted into a tight knot as he muttered to himself, “How could this happen? How could this happen?”

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Matthew refused to believe it. No, he didn’t even dare to.

But that’s Willow they were talking about.

To him, his little sister, Willow, had always been sweet and innocent. She believed that she was pure as snow.

Matthew thought in disbelief, ‘How could Willow do something so wicked?‘

Athena caught the incredulous look on Matthew’s face and smiled coldly, “Even with all this evidence staring you in the face, you still refuse to believe it, huh?”

She mused, “The funny thing about people is that they can know the truth deep down, yet still choose to live in denial.

‘He is wallowing in his fantasies, refusing to wake up!‘

Matthew had always thought Willow was pure and kind; it was a conviction he’d held for over a decade.

But what if, one day, someone told him that everything about Willow was a lie; that it was all an act?

This revelation was nothing short of a devastating blow to Matthew.

Matthew slowly shook his head, muttering to himself, “No… no, that can’t be. This simply isn’t possible.”

He staggered, then wheeled around and rushed after Willow.

Natasha stepped forward to block his path. “Matthew,” she snapped, “do you think you can just walk away after slandering

someone?”

Athena pulled her back and said, “You can’t wake someone who’s pretending to be asleep.”

Since childhood, she had known that Matthew doted on Willow, and he indulged her every whim.

‘Even if he knew the truth, Matthew would still blindly protect Willow.

‘So, why bother stopping someone like him?‘ Athena thought.

Natasha snarled through gritted teeth, “You bastard! Don’t you dare show your face around me again!”