The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Athena never expected that simply enYvetteing the lantern displays would end with her being shoved into the river.

Athena thought with a hint of self–mockery, ‘Sure, my reputation is already in tatters, but I really don’t need to make it any worse, especially not with so many people watching.

‘If I get pushed into the river now, I’ll just become fresh gossip fodder for everyone all over again.

Panicking, she flailed her arms wildly, desperately trying to grab onto something, anything, to stop herself from falling.

Suddenly, her falling body jerked to a stop.

A strong hand clamped around her wrist. Looking up, she was startled to find Ferris watching her with an inscrutable expression. “Grab my hand,” he urged.

‘I never imagined Ferris would save me at this critical moment,‘ Athena thought in shock.

Ferris’s face was deathly pale, his eyes betraying a hint of panic as he looked at Athena.

Veins bulged at his temples, his eyes bloodshot from exertion.

He strained to pull her up, but each attempt ended in failure as his strength gave out.

The crowd behind kept surging onto the bridge. Athena saw cracks splitting the structure and screamed to Ferris, “Let me go! The bridge’s going down!”

Uncertainty flickered in Ferris’s eyes, a brief hesitation about releasing Athena. Then, in an instant, his gaze hardened with resolve.

With a sudden, guttural roar, whether driven by pure survival instinct or something deeper, Ferris summoned inhuman strength and yanked Athena up to safety.

As soon as Athena’s feet touched solid ground, she grabbed Ferris by the hand and bolted toward the underside of the bridge.

But with the bridge packed shoulder–to–shoulder, breaking through was nearly impossible. In desperation, Athena kicked a man square in the back.

The man plunged forward uncontrollably, creating a gap in the crowd ahead.

Seizing the moment, Athena quickly fished a handful of silver coins from her sleeve and scattered them under the bridge.

“Free money!” people shouted.

As soon as the crowd spotted the coins, they swarmed down after them. Athena yanked sharply on Ferris’s hand. “Now!” she ordered.

Blending into the chaos, they followed the crowd off the bridge.

The moment their feet hit the ground, the bridge collapsed behind them with a thunderous crash, sending water spraying everywhere. Those still on the bridge plunged into the churning waters, their terrified screams blending into a cacophony of panic.

Under the lantern light, Athena’s face washed with the relief of surviving a near–death experience.

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Chapter 95

So close… Just a moment later, and I would have drowned with Ferris,‘ she thought, her heart still pounding.

Ferris looked at the slightly flustered Athena before him and suddenly burst into laughter.

Athena couldn’t help but turn to look at him, only to see the usually aloof and untouchable Ferris with his eyes crinkled with

mirth.

The curve of his long eyes softened their usual pride, revealing a spark of youthful vigor and recklessness.

Ferris was vivid and alive at the moment.

No longer was he the despairing young man beaten down by illness.

Athena found herself smiling in response to Ferris’s infectious laughter.

Amidst the chaos, the two stood there, smiling at each other.

Thankfully, the river wasn’t very deep. Plus, with Athena scattering silver coins to divert the crowd, only a handful of people ended up falling in.

People quickly lent a hand to pull those in the water out.

When the Padence Guards arrived, there were only a couple of casualties, all minor injuries.

In a secluded spot, Athena fixed her bright eyes on Ferris. “Why did you save me back there?” she asked.

Ferris was no soft–hearted man, nor had he accepted this marriage willingly.

‘If Athena had drowned in the river, wouldn’t I have been free from this marriage?‘ he thought.

Yet just moments ago, he had clutched her wrist with desperate strength, his actions spoke louder than words, clearly showing he wanted her alive.

Ferris’s smile froze. Then, her voice dripping with sarcasm, she sneered, “Letting you die now? Wouldn’t that be letting you off too easily?”

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