The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Athena blinked, her long lashes fluttering slightly with each blink.

Athena gave a faint, apologetic smile and said, “Lord Mcgee, you’ve misunderstood. It’s not that I’m unwilling, I simply don’t know what to say.”

Ferris was momentarily stunned. He stared at Athena as a disbelieving smile spread across her face.

He thought, ‘Athena actually said she didn’t know what to say?

When she was a kid, Athena could talk non–stop about everything, street snacks, the clouds above, even the birds in the

trees.

‘Back then, even the tiniest ant could keep Athena chattering for hours.

‘Now Athena claims she doesn’t know what to say?”

‘Isn’t that ridiculous?

Ferris’s eyes turned cold. “So it’s me you don’t know what to say to, is that it?”

Ferris had always known about Athena and Michael. He fully expected Athena would marry Michael, but to his surprise, it was Willow who ended up becoming Michael’s bride.

Ferris fixed Athena with a mocking glint in his eyes. “Since you’ve agreed to marry me, you mustn’t harbor feelings for any other man.”

“You’ve misunderstood, Lord Mcgee.” Athena took a deep breath. “During my three years in the military camp, I was buried under endless duties and had no one to talk to. Gradually, I just stopped speaking, it was never about you. Besides, I’ve long severed all ties with Michael.”

Ferris eyed Athena skeptically, weighing the truth in her words.

The carriage came to a halt. Ferris stepped out first, and Athena followed closely behind.

The street was lined with decorations stretching endlessly, as far as the eye could see, immersing everyone in a veritable sea of glowing lights.

Ferris’s mood shifted unpredictably. Just moments ago, his face had been dark with anger, but now he was smiling, looking at Athena with unmistakable affection. “Athena, I remember you’ve always loved lantern decorations, haven’t you?”

Athena couldn’t help but give Ferris a second look, unsettled by his erratic mood.

Just those two glances made Ferris’s expression darken again. “What’s that supposed to mean? Why are you looking at me with such pity?”

Athena couldn’t help but pity him.

She had no idea that ever since Ferris fell ill, he had grown unusually sensitive.

She was a bit baffled by his sudden questioning, not quite sure what he meant.

Athena had no desire to engage in such meaningless bickering. She said flatly, “You must be mistaken.”

She started to walk away, only for Ferris’s hand to clamp down hard on her wrist.

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Chapter 91

Almost instantly, searing pain shot through her fingertips, radiating outward.

Athena let out a pained gasp as pain exploded in her injured hand, Ferris had grabbed her right where she was hurt.

“Lord Mcgee, let go,” Athena pleaded, her face contorted in pain as she winced. But Ferris ignored her, scoffing. “Stop playing the victim. I wasn’t even holding tight.”

Given his frail condition, doctors had even predicted he wouldn’t live long. He didn’t think merely gripping her wrist could cause Athena such excruciating pain.

But Athena’s face twisted in growing pain, her complexion draining to a ghostly pallor.

Just as Ferris was puzzling over this, a sharp pain shot through his shoulder, forcing him to let go of Athena’s wrist.

Before anyone could react, Michael was already standing right in front of them.

Michael swiftly steadied Athena by the arm, concern filling his eyes. “Are you alright?”

Athena never expected to run into Michael here, let alone Nicolas and Willow.

With Michael supporting her arm, Willow stared at them both in shock, her eyes red–rimmed.

Her expression was just like that of a wife catching her husband cheating.

Large teardrops rolled down Willow’s cheeks as her choked sobs pierced through everyone’s hearts.

Nicolas’s chest heaved with suppressed anger, but to preserve the family’s dignity, he urgently motioned for Athena to leave. “Weren’t you supposed to be viewing the decorations with Ferris? Why are you still here?”

Athena wanted nothing to do with Michael.

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