The Scarred Queen's Rise (Athena) novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99

“Willow!” Nicolas rushed to the riverbank. His heart clenched as he saw Willow flailing in the icy water, his eyes reddening with distress.

Nicolas quickly scanned the three faces before his gaze settled on Michael. “Michael, go save Willow now!”

After all, Michael was Willow’s fiancé, of course it made sense for him to be the one to save her.

But Michael hesitated. Instead of rushing to save Willow, he turned to Athena, his gaze brimming with torment and inner conflict.

“Michael, what are you doing? Willow will drown if you don’t save her now!” Nicolas’s face contorted with frantic urgency. Michael took a steadying breath before finally tearing his gaze away from Athena.

He finally walked over to the riverbank, glanced at Willow struggling in the water, and without another moment’s hesitation, dove in after her.

The river wasn’t deep. Willow had been flailing for a while, but still hadn’t sunk.

Michael swam to Willow’s side and wrapped his arm around her waist, only to discover she had already lost consciousness.

With no other choice, Michael hauled Willow onto the shore.

Upon surfacing, Willow’s soaked clothes clung to her body.

Ferris had already turned away discreetly. Nicolas hastily removed his jacket and draped it over Willow’s shivering form.

After pulling Willow to safety, Nicolas turned to glare at Athena and snapped, “If anything happens to Willow, I won’t let you off the hook!”

His tone was as harsh as ever, laced with threat.

Athena gave a nonchalant smile. “Whatever,” she said.

Everyone present could clearly see that Athena hadn’t pushed Willow. She had fallen into the river by herself.

It was far–fetched for Nicolas to pick on her.

Ferris shot Nicolas a disapproving look. “You know perfectly well how Willow ended up in the river. Why are you picking on Athena? She’s your sister, too. You can’t play favorites.”

Nicolas pressed his lips together and fell silent, though his gaze at Athena remained full of displeasure.

“I’ll take Willow back first,” Michael declared, scooping her up in his arms and heading toward the carriage.

With so many people around, gossip was bound to spread.

Nicolas stopped pressing Athena and hurried after them.

Once the two left, Ferris looked at Athena with concern. “You’re bound to face trouble when you return. Should I escort you back?”

Athena shook her head. “No need.”

She thought, ‘If I let Ferris get caught up in the muddy waters of the Monson family again, there’s no telling what chaos

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might ensue.

Ferris felt a surge of frustration, he had kindly offered to help Athena, but she just brushed him off.

“Fine, you’re on your own,” Ferris said coldly, turning away.

With that, Ferris turned and strode off without a backward glance.

Athena wasn’t the least bit upset by Ferris’s coldness. ‘I’m no damsel in distress who needs someone to protect her all the time,; she thought, her resolve as unshakable as ever.

Three years of hard labor had already tempered her spirit, forging an unbreakable resilience.

She had always been on her own. This wasn’t the first time she’d faced something like this.

Athena turned and made her way back to the estate, completely unaware that Ferris was discreetly watching her.

“My Lord, please hurry back to the estate!” the attendant urged anxiously.

Ferris was barely able to stand, his body swaying and on the verge of collapse. His attendant quickly moved to steady him, worry etched all over his face.

His face was deathly pale, a searing pain tearing through his chest as if it would explode.

Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead as he swayed unsteadily, on the verge of collapse.

It was clear that he was having an attack.

Ferris had been holding on with all his might, but he had finally reached his breaking point.

With a weak nod, he finally let the attendant help him away.

Athena’s carriage waited in a side alley, still some distance away that she needed to cover on foot.

Just as Athena was about to board her carriage, a sudden commotion reached her.

Suddenly, a disheveled woman with wild hair and torn clothes came running, several hulking brutes in hot pursuit just behind her.

With no one else around, the disheveled woman desperately reached out toward Athena and let out a piercing scream,

But before a sound could escape her lips, someone clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her back..

Athena’s heart lurched in shock, but she remained largely unmoved.

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