The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 394

Chapter 394

Tears slipped down her cheeks as an icy chill settled in her heart. Never once had her meals gone wrong before. Yet this time, they almost claimed her life.

“The children I devoted my life to protecting are now using me as a weapon against Athena,” Margaret thought bitterly, her heart heavy with disappointment.

Margaret reached out and clutched Athena’s hand, struggling to whisper, “I… I’m alright, Athena, you must leave…” A wave of dizziness and nausea washed over her, making every word a struggle. But she absolutely couldn’t let them succeed.

Athena firmly clasped the old lady’s hand in return and said with a gentle smile, “All these years, Grandma, you’ve been the one protecting me. Today, let me protect you. Just rest. I’ll go prepare some herbs in the outer room.”

Margaret tried to speak, but having just woken up, she was too weak. Not a single word could escape her lips.

Gwen carefully brought the medicinal brew and fed it to the elderly woman. After taking the medicine, she drifted back into sleep. Athena stepped out of the room, her entire being seething with cold fury.

Athena slowly swept her gaze across the courtyard, her eyes landing on the maids attending to Margaret. In a low, dangerous voice, she demanded, “Who brought that mushroom soup?” The maids, terrified, instantly dropped to their knees across the courtyard, but not a single one dared utter a word.

They exchanged nervous glances, each eyeing the others, but none dared to confess. Athena pointed a commanding finger at the head maid. “You. Speak up.”

Terrified, the maid scrambled forward on her knees, her face twisted in fear. “Please, My Lady, have mercy! This old servant merely followed orders. I brought it from the kitchen as instructed.”

“Madam’s meals have always been prepared separately in the kitchen,” she added hastily, her voice trembling.

Athena nodded and ordered, “Bring the cook here. The guards acknowledged the order and started towards the door.

Nicolas stormed in at that moment and bellowed, “Who dares?” His house guards immediately barricaded the courtyard gate, cutting off all escape.

Nicolas glared at Athena, his face dark with anger. “This is the duke’s estate. It’s not your place as an outsider to throw your weight around. Letting you see Grandma was already a special favor. Do you really think you can call the shots in this household?”

Athena glared at Nicolas’s sanctimonious face. Just looking at him made her stomach churn with disgust.

2

In the duke’s estate, Nicolas calls all the shots. Surely, even the food served here has to get his approval.

Athena refused to believe a cook would make such a rookie mistake as letting a poisonous mushroom slip into the ingredients.

There was only one explanation: someone had ordered it. Otherwise, why was only Margaret poisoned while everyone else was unharmed?

Athena seethed with hatred. “How could they be so ruthless?” she thought. “Just to get what they want, they’d even harm their own grandmother!”

“It’s not your call, or mine. But what about the Federal Bureau? If we can’t get to the bottom of this, let them handle it!” Athena shot back, her voice unwavering, not yielding an inch. She’s dead set on protecting her grandma.

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Chapter 394

Athena said coldly, “If we can’t pin down the killer, we’ll interrogate them one by one. Under brutal pressure, someone’s bound to crack and spill the truth.”

Nicolas’s face drained of color as he stared at Athena in utter disbelief. “This is absurd theatrics! It was merely an accidental case of food poisoning–why drag the Federal Bureau into this? Do you think it’s your personal fiefdom? Is such a trivial matter really worth involving the authorities?”

“What, are you scared?” Athena sneered coldly.

Nicolas’s heart skipped a beat, but he forced a composed look onto his face. “My conscience is clear. What do I have to fear? But you, an outsider, trying to meddle in my Monson family’s affairs? That’s utterly laughable.”

Les’s booming voice rang out from outside the courtyard, “If Athena can’t meddle in the family matters of the Monson, then what about us, the Elders?”

A moment later, Les, Toby, and several other senior family elders stepped inside, their presence instantly shifting the atmosphere.

Chapter 395