The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 68

Chapter 68

Matthew paused for a moment–then quickly shook his head. No. He would never treat Willow that way.

Willow was sweet and obedient. He barely had enough time to dote on her. He wondered, ‘How could I ever bear to scold

her?‘

If anyone was to blame, it was Athena. She was too petty, too stubborn. If she were more like Willow–knew when to yield, when to stay quiet–maybe things wouldn’t be so tense between her and the rest of the family.

Still, with the Monson family needing her now, Matthew didn’t want to make things worse. He let out a cold snort and left it at that.

Athena had long stopped expecting anything from him, so she didn’t even bother responding.

What did surprise her, though, was Nicolas’s sudden change in tone.

“I spoke out of turn earlier,” he said, voice softened. “Don’t take it to heart, Athena.”

Athena was taken aback–but when she caught the faint smile he sent in Nelson’s direction, she immediately understood.

It was all for show. A performance meant for Xander’s people. After all, with Xander now relying on her, Nicolas’s sudden kindness wasn’t about brotherly love. It was about politics.

“Atheny…” The soft call sent a tremor through Athena’s heart.

Atheny–her childhood nickname. No one had called her that in years.

Nicolas’s expression shifted slightly too. He had been the one who gave her that name.

When they first brought her back home, she was thin, quiet, and full of fear. He had said gently, “We’ll call you Atheny.”

Back then, she’d loved that name. She used to follow him around, tugging at his sleeves, asking, “Nicolas, do you like Atheny?”

“Of course,” he’d smile. “Atheny is so sweet–how could I not?”

Just those few words had been enough for her to give him everything–her loyalty, her trust, her whole heart.

She had believed, naively, that sincerity could earn sincerity in return. But all she got in the end… was betrayal.

She turned toward the voice that had called her. Ray stood beneath the parasol tree, tall and radiant, sunlight casting a golden halo around him. He looked as if he’d stepped straight out of a painting.

For a brief moment, Athena felt disoriented. The scene was so familiar that she couldn’t quite tell if it was Ray standing there… or Michael.

But as he came closer, she saw Michael following behind him—face dark as thunderclouds.

He glared at her as if she owed him something monumental, his cold gaze practically grinding her into dust.

Athena found it amusing. She wondered, ‘What right does he have to be angry? I owe him nothing.”

She gave Ray a graceful curtsy. “Your Highness. Lord Osborne.”

Her eyes never strayed from Ray. The “Lord Osborne” was just a formality–an afterthought. And that made Michael’s scowl

1/2

deepen

Ray, on the other hand, looked perfectly pleased. A faint smile played on his lips, and there was something almost dreamy in the way he looked at her. “What did Xander say to you?”

“He asked me to help train the palace seamstresses,” Athena replied plainly.

“Ah,” Ray nodded in understanding, then turned to her and said, “I have something to take care of. I’ll leave your brother to escort you back.”

Athena didn’t want to return with Nicolas, but she didn’t have much choice. She gave a small nod.

Ray smiled again, then turned and walked away without another word.

Matthew sneered. “So much for being in Ray’s favor. Doesn’t seem like you mean much to him. What exactly are you so smug about?”

Athena didn’t even glance at him. She walked straight past him without a word, eyes forward.

The smugness on Matthew’s face faltered. “What’s her problem? Is she looking down on me?”

Nicolas shot him a glare. “Why do you keep picking fights with her for no reason?”

“She’s the one always going against us,” Matthew grumbled, still fuming. But even so, he turned to follow after Athena.

Chapter 69