The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 456

Chapter 456

She felt on top of the world.

‘So what if Athena was skilled in medicine?’ Willow thought. I’ve still managed to outshine her!’

Kelsey looked at Willow with genuine admiration. “Willow, you’ve truly lived up to my expectations. You’ve achieved great merit-news of this will surely reach His Majesty, and you’ll be commended. The Osborne family will also gain honor because of you.”

ཊྛ ཚུ ཛྱཱ བྷཎྜཏྟཱ་༩༠

Willow smiled. “Thank you for your praise, Kelsey. It’s simply my duty to serve the Osborne family.”

Willow’s eyes gleamed with triumph. ‘At last,’ she thought, ‘I’ve secured my position as Lady Willow of the Osborne family:

Kelsey nodded approvingly. “Indeed, you are such a fine young lady. I knew I wasn’t wrong about you.”

Just as the two were happily chatting, Michael strode in from outside, his brow furrowed and his face dark with obvious displeasure.

Seeing this, Willow hurriedly rose to her feet. “Michael, you’re back!” she exclaimed, her voice full of anticipation.

She reached out for Michael’s hand, but just as her fingers brushed his, he pulled away sharply.

Michael’s brow furrowed, his face icy as he demanded, “What’s all this talk going around outside?”

His sudden question left Willow rooted to the spot in shock.

She blinked, confused, and asked, “What are you talking about?”

“Why is everyone in the city saying you’re the one who contained the epidemic, and even… calling you a living saint?” The last three words nearly stuck in Michael’s throat.

He could barely bring himself to say it.

It would be one thing if Willow had actually contributed, but calling her a living saint? Wasn’t that too much?

Besides, he knew it was Athena who had worked tirelessly to bring the outbreak under control.

What did any of this have to do with Willow?

And those rumors-people were practically putting her on a pedestal, as if she were an angel from heaven.

‘There’s no smoke without fire,’ Michael thought, a deep unease settling in his chest.

He had hurried back specifically to ask Willow if she was involved in this matter.

Willow was so shaken by Michael’s attitude that tears nearly spilled from her eyes. Biting back her grievances, she replied in a trembling voice, “I didn’t. I only did what was expected of me-how could I possibly dare to claim the credit for myself?”

Kelsey, displeased to see Willow reduced to tears, shot Michael a discontented look. “Willow has done a commendable deed -it brings honor to the Osborne family. Why must you scold her like this?”

“Mother, there’s something you don’t know.” Michael said, sinking wearily into a chair with a soft sigh. “This whole situation escalating so quickly isn’t a good thing. Haven’t you even considered why Willow is being thrust into the limelight like this?”

Kelsey paused briefly. “What else could it be? Just commoners showing gratitude for her kindness,” she said dismissively.

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Chapter 456

What could possibly go wrong?’ Kelsey thought inwardly, scoffing at the idea.

Michael was simply being overly cautious.

Willow sniffled and said, “Don’t worry, Michael. I know my place. I would never dream of taking credit from Athena.”

Willow’s words immediately caught Kelsey’s attention. “What does Athena have to do with this?”

“Athena was sent on official assignment to treat patients at Saint Jero Clinic. She spent days there with no real improvement. But once the patients started wearing masks, the transmission was blocked, and only then was the epidemic finally contained,” Willow explained, subtly shifting the credit to the masks rather than Athena herself.

Willow’s voice trembled as she said, “Michael, are you afraid I’ll steal Athena’s credit? But I’ve never tried to take anything for myself. For you to pin such an unfair label on me… it truly breaks my heart.”

Though Willow never openly claimed credit, every word she uttered carried hidden grievances and veiled protest.

Tears welled in Willow’s red-rimmed eyes as she said with feigned resignation, “If giving up the credit will ease your mind, Michael, I’m willing to concede it. I never even wanted to compete with her anyway.”

Kelsey frowned deeply at Willow’s so-called generosity. “What nonsense is this! The credit is rightfully yours. Why should you give it away?”

She shot Michael an exasperated glare and snapped, “Willow is your wife. As her husband, shouldn’t you stand by her instead of siding with an outsider?”

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