The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 392

Chapter 392

Nicolas sneered inwardly, “What the hell is Nona? Just a worthless maid, yet she dares to sow discord between us?”

He had every right to discipline Athena. As her elder brother, it was his natural privilege. No matter how much trouble Athena caused, she was still a Monson by blood.

Willow was utterly taken aback by Nicolas’s sudden appearance. “Thank goodness I didn’t say anything wrong,” she thought to herself, secretly relieved.

Willow gasped, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded desperately, “Nicolas, please calm down! Nona spoke thoughtlessly. Spare her tongue! If you must vent your anger, take it out on me instead. This is all my fault for failing to discipline my maid.” Willow was so frantic that half her body was dangling off the bed.

Just as Willow was about to tumble off the bed, Nicolas swiftly stepped forward, caught her, and helped her sit upright.

Nicolas looked at her, his voice laced with both anger and heartache. “What are you doing, Willow? Are you really willing to throw away your own leg just for a mere servant?”

“Nicolas,” Willow gasped between sobs, her face etched with remorse. “This is all my fault. If anyone deserves punishment, it’s me. Nona has served me the longest. If she’s taken from me too, I’ll have absolutely no one left.”

Willow cried piteously as she pleaded, and Nicolas’s fury subsided a bit.

Nicolas glared at Nona’s trembling form, his anger still simmering. “Get out!” he barked.

Having narrowly escaped with her life, Nona stumbled and scrambled her way out of the room in utter terror.

Nicolas took a moment to compose himself, then fixed his gaze on Willow and asked sternly, “Willow, tell me the truth. How exactly did you injure your leg?”

“Nicolas, didn’t you already know? Why are you asking again?” Willow’s heart sank as a wave of dread washed over her. Under Nicolas’s stern gaze, tears welled up in Willow’s eyes. She looked at him, her eyes filled with genuine fear and feigned grievance.

She looked at him, her eyes filled with genuine fear and feigned grievance.

But instead of comforting her as he usually did, Nicolas’s voice dropped to a dangerous whisper, cold and commanding.

“Answer me.”

Tears streamed down Willow’s face. She knew there was no way out, but no matter what, she absolutely couldn’t admit she’d ever intended to harm Athena.

Willow, her voice choked with tears, began, “That day, I was desperate to win the race. Knowing I couldn’t beat Athena, I panicked and pulled the hairpin from my hair, planning to prod my own horse to make it go faster. But somehow, Athena’s horse suddenly lashed out at me, and I was thrown off. In the chaos, my leg was trampled and broken by a horse. Athena’s horse was far stronger than the others‘. Thankfully, I only broke my leg instead of losing my life.”

Willow’s voice broke into a sob, unable to continue speaking.

Nicolas’s furrowed brows gradually relaxed, his eyes softening with tenderness. He asked gently, “So, you just wanted your horse to go a little faster, is that right?”

Willow tilted her head up, her tear–filled eyes gazing pleadingly at Nicolas. “Big Brother Nicolas, did…did someone say something to make you doubt me?”

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Seeing that innocent, pure look on Willow’s face, Nicolas felt his heart waver. “How could I ever doubt her?” he thought, as the last shred of suspicion within him finally dissolved.

Having handled countless cases, Nicolas prided himself on his ability to spot a lie at a glance, especially from a suspect.

But looking into Willow’s eyes, he was convinced she was telling the truth. Sure enough, it was Athena, trying to drive a wedge between us.

A wave of guilt surged through Nicolas as he let out a heavy sigh. He said firmly, “No one can ever shake the bond between us siblings. You’re my dearest sister–you always have been, and you always will be.”

Willow trembled uncontrollably, her voice choked with sobs as she pleaded, “Nicolas, please don’t make things difficult for Sister Athena. I don’t want to be the cause of another fight between you two. She utterly despises me–if this keeps up, she’ll kill me for sure.”

Chapter 393

Chapter 393