The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 93

Chapter 93

If Athena had known that just going out for a stroll could cause so much trouble, she would never have come.

Michael’s words once again put Athena on the spot.

All three pairs of eyes were fixed intently on Athena.

Willow’s gaze, brimming with both reproach and resentment, made Athena extremely uneasy.

Instead of confronting Michael, the one who started all this, Willow kept shooting accusing glances at Athena.

Even the warmth in Nicolas’s eyes faded. He had been trying hard to mediate between them. However, with just a single remark from Michael, the fragile peace between them shattered, plunging their relationship right back to freezing point.

Nicolas took a deep breath and forced a smile. “Michael, you must be mistaken. Athena doesn’t care for rabbit decorations. That’s Willow’s favorite.”

Willow nodded meekly in agreement, her voice barely above a whisper as she pleaded, “Michael, it’s me who likes the rabbit lantern. Please don’t embarrass Athena anymore…”

But Michael acted as if he hadn’t heard a word, his stubborn gaze still locked on Athena. He demanded, “Athena, tell me, which one do you actually like?”

Ferris’s expression darkened. Michael’s repeated provocations had finally pushed him past his breaking point.

He fixed Michael with an icy stare and declared, “What Athena likes is my concern. Michael, stop coveting what’s not yours. My betrothed is none of your concern.”

With that, Ferris wrapped a possessive arm around Athena’s shoulders and pulled her firmly into his embrace, as if marking his territory.

Though frail, Ferris was still a man.

His tight grip made Athena wince, her brows knitting together in discomfort.

Athena met Michael’s burning gaze head–on, her voice icy as she declared, “Michael, you are indeed mistaken. I never liked rabbit decorations, not in the past, not now, and I never will.”

Michael’s gaze darkened as he stared at Athena. “So you truly don’t like it at all?”

Michael was utterly disappointed in Athena at that moment.

He thought, ‘Just for the title, she’s throwing herself into this marriage, fully aware she’ll be left a widow.

‘Since when did Athena become so status–obsessed?‘

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“Michael…” Willow couldn’t bear the way Michael kept looking at Athena. She gently tugged at his sleeve, her eyes brimming with tears.

A few muffled coughs finally made Michael tear his eyes away from Athena.

Before Michael could cause another scene, Nicolas quickly dragged him away. “Hurry up, the stalls are packing up

Dragged away by Nicolas and Willow, Michael followed them to a vendor’s stall and bought two decorations.

soon.”

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But just as he was about to pay, Nicolas beat him to it.

To avoid further trouble, Nicolas picked up a rabbit lantern and approached Athena with an ingratiating smile. “Look, Athena, isn’t this rabbit lantern adorable?”

Nicolas extended the lantern in front of Athena with a gentle smile. “Here, Athena, this is from me.”

Athena didn’t take the lantern, her expression indifferent as she stated flatly, “I don’t like it.”

“How could you not like it…” Nicolas forced a smile, deliberately falling back a couple of steps to walk alongside Athena. Trying to lighten the mood, he brought up a childhood memory. “Remember when you were little? You cried your eyes out over that rabbit lantern.”

When Athena was eight, Nicolas bought her a lantern, only for Willow to demand it for herself.

But back then, there was only one rabbit lantern left.

Without waiting for Athena’s response, Nicolas unceremoniously handed the lantern to Willow.

Nicolas promised Athena, “You can have it back once Willow’s had her fun with it.”

Athena waited, but even when dawn broke, her little rabbit lantern was nowhere to be found.

When Athena went to ask Willow for her precious rabbit lantern back, she found it had been trampled into pieces.

At that moment, Athena’s heart ached terribly as fat tears streamed down her cheeks.

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