The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 388

Chapter 388

Michael snorted at his threat and shot back, “Why don’t you worry about yourself instead of me?”

Another word and their fragile truce would collapse. Seething with frustration, Nicolas bit his tongue, though his eyes still blazed with fury.

Neither would yield, but for the sake of the marriage alliance, both forced themselves to rein in their anger. In the end, they parted ways in bitter silence,

“Miss Monson,” Trina called as she walked briskly into the courtyard of the Monsons‘ residence with a box in her hands.

Athena lounged on the garden swing, swaying gently with a contented smile.

The warm sunlight was just right, and it made her feel pleasantly drowsy.

It was only when Trina approached that Athena barely opened her eyes and asked languidly, “What is it?”

“Miss Athena, it’s from Fiona. She had sent you something,” Trina reported as she presented the box to Athena, who roused herself to lift the lid.

Athena froze at the sight.

To her astonishment, all she found inside the box were a few simple pieces of cake.

Athena blinked in surprise and wondered, ‘Why would Fiona suddenly send me cakes?

‘Even if she wanted to give a gift, would she really just send a few pieces?‘

Puzzled, Athena picked up a piece and turned it over in her hand. “This is just an ordinary butter cake, and there’s nothing unusual,‘ she thought.

She broke it open with her fingers, but there was no filling inside either.

“Miss Monson, is there something amiss with these cakes?” Trina asked in confusion.

Athena shook her head. ‘Am I just being paranoid?‘ she wondered.

Athena picked up the last two pieces of cake and broke one of them open. This time, she made an unexpected discovery.

A tiny wax pellet tumbled out from inside the cake.

“Miss Monson! There’s something inside!” Trina gasped.

Trina picked up the wax pellet and handed it to Athena, who carefully unrolled it, only to discover a tiny slip of paper inside.

Inside were a few tiny handwritten words: “Do not return to the Duke’s Estate.”

Trina frowned in confusion and asked Athena, “Miss Monson, what does Lady Fiona mean by this? Why doesn’t she want you to return to the Duke’s Estate?”

Athena was also completely at a loss, but she knew Fiona wouldn’t have risked sending her a secret message for no reason at

all.

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Athena thought, ‘Fiona must be warning me not to return to the Duke’s Estate.

‘But I had long since severed all ties with the Duke’s Estate. Why on earth would I go back?‘

A quiet unease gnawed at Athena, stealing her sleep all night.

At the crack of dawn the next day, Gwen came knocking at her door.

“Miss Athena!” Gwen burst in, her face etched with panic, eyes red–rimmed and brimming with tears. “You must return to the Duke’s Estate at once. Lady Margaret is fading fast!”

The sight of Gwen’s distraught appearance made Athena’s heart leap to her throat.

Athena gently tried to calm her and probed, “Gwen, don’t panic. Take your time. What’s happened to Grandma?”

Gwen, who was clearly terrified, wiped away her tears and stammered, “Lady Margaret suddenly coughed up blood late last night! The estate physician came and said that her vitals are weak, and she’s at death’s door!”

Athena prompted, “But Grandma was in perfect health just days ago. So, how could her health deteriorate so suddenly…?”

Athena’s heart turned to ice as she suddenly recalled Fiona’s warning, and this set off blaring alarms in her mind.

She thought anxiously, ‘Someone must be plotting against Grandma. Otherwise, her condition wouldn’t have deteriorated so suddenly.’

Athena forced herself to stay calm. Turning to Trina, she ordered firmly, “Fetch my medical kit and gather the household guards. We’re heading to the Duke’s Estate immediately.”

Trina looked at Athena anxiously and urged, “Miss Monson, if you go back, won’t you just be walking straight into the lion’s den?”

“Even if it’s walking into the lion’s den, I have to go,” Athena declared resolutely. She knew all too well the true nature of those at the Duke’s Estate.

Athena thought, ‘Grandma’s sudden illness is no accident.‘

Just then, a realization hit her: ‘This was all aimed at me.’

Now that Athena knew their true intentions, she certainly wasn’t about to meekly walk into their trap.

Athena turned to Marquita and instructed, “Send Lance to the Xander Manor with a message. Tell them I’ve returned to the Duke’s Estate on urgent business. If Prince Xander runs out of medicine, have someone come to the Duke’s Estate to get it from me.”