The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 395

hapter 395

Chapter 395

Nicolas shot Athena a displeased look. He could not believe that she had bothered the granduncles over such a trivial matter.

The last time the granduncles were alarmed was when Willow had burned down the Memorial Hall. Willow had received a severe whipping then.

‘Does she really think the granduncles would still defend a disowned girl like her?‘ Nicolas thought.

“Granduncles,” Nicolas stepped forward and greeted them respectfully.

The two granduncles, Les and Toby, furrowed their brows. They were usually not involved in the Monson family’s affairs. However, with Margaret involved, they could not simply leave things as they were. After all, Margaret was their brother’s wife.

After Les and Toby took their seats, one of them asked, “What happened to your grandmother? Why is she suddenly in critical condition? Wasn’t she perfectly fine before?”

Nicolas flushed with embarrassment and averted his gaze guiltily. He replied, “The cook mixed up the ingredients. It is a truly minor matter. We are deeply mortified to have troubled granduncles make this trip.”

Les narrowed his eyes, clearly unconvinced. “That’s all? The cook worked in the estate for years without a single incident, and just happened to serve your grandmother poisonous mushrooms? Do you honestly expect me to believe this was just an accident, Nicolas?”

Les’s piercing gaze fixed on Nicolas, his voice taking on a sharper edge.

As a family unit, the Monsons shared all glory and disgrace. If one of them prospers, they all prosper. However, when one of them falls, they all suffer.

If the main branch commits heinous acts, the other branches will inevitably be implicated as well.

At this critical moment, Henry rushed in. He stepped forward and bowed to Les and Toby respectfully.

They acknowledged him with a slight nod and motioned for him to take a seat.

Henry caught sight of Athena standing off to the side, and a flicker of annoyance flashed in his eyes.

He turned to Les and Toby and said, “This was but a minor incident caused by this ungrateful lady. There was no need to trouble you both.”

Turning sharply to Athena, Henry snapped, “What are you waiting for? Get over here and kneel! Beg your granduncles for forgiveness!”

Athena stood her ground, fixing Henry with a piercing gaze. “Grandmother’s poisoning won’t be swept under the rug. If the family won’t bring her justice, I’ll take this to the Federal Bureau.”

At her words, Les and Toby’s faces soured.

If this matter gets escalated to the Federal Bureau, the public outcry alone would be enough to drown the entire duke’s estate in disgrace.

If word got out that Margaret had been poisoned and was critically ill, the Monson family would be utterly disgraced and condemned by all. Once the family’s reputation is ruined, no one would want to marry into the family.

Athena’s move was ruthless. She had given them no alternative.

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Les, being the elder, spoke up first with authority, “Since Toby and I are already here, we won’t let this matter rest until we’ve uncovered the whole truth.”

“My sincere thanks to granduncles,” Athena said earnestly.

Les, however, waved his hand, a complicated expression on his face. “Since you are no longer a part of the Monson family, what we do here has nothing to do with you,” he said, “We’re only investigating because we can’t bear to see our sister–in–law suffer such injustice. Getting to the bottom of this will not only ease your mind and clear the Monson family’s name.”

Truth be told, they were simply afraid Athena would air the Monson family’s dirty laundry and tarnish their reputation.

Regardless, Athena had achieved her goal.

Les fixed his gaze on the cook and demanded, “Spare me these cheap tricks. I’ll give you two choices: either confess who put you up to this, or face torture. Which will it be?”

The cook was terrified. After frantically scanning the room for Joseph in vain, she lowered her head in despair.

Clutching the hem of her clothes with trembling hands, she stammered, “Sir, please spare me! I…I swear, it was just an accident! I would never dare to hide anything from you!”

“So you refuse to tell the truth? Guards, take her out for punishment!” Les cut the conversation short and signaled for his attendants to drag the cook out and strap her to the punishment bench.