Chapter 138

“No, I don’t want to hear it. Just go.” Before Athena could reply, Ferris suddenly burrowed into the quilt, his voice muffled. Ferris resembled a wounded cub, yearning for comfort, yet terrified of rejection.

Athena’s voice remained steadfast. “Just remember this. You are Ferris, and no matter what happens to you, I’ll always love you.”

Healing took time for both physical wounds and emotional scars. To break free from this darkness and shatter those psychological barriers, only Ferris could be his own savior.

Athena turned and walked away, believing Ferris would eventually come to terms with it.

The door closed softly behind her. From the bed came muffled sobs, a man desperately trying to stifle his pain.

As soon as Athena stepped out of the courtyard gate, she spotted Gale rushing toward her. Gale’s face was flushed with anger, yet her eyes betrayed unease.

Gale halted in her tracks at the sight of Athena. Now, all that showed was a mother’s raw concern for her son. “I–Is Ferris alright?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Athena nodded gently. “He’s alright now.”

Gale heaved a sigh of relief, then burst into tears. “It’s my fault. I failed to protect him, letting that bastard hurt him again.”

The bastard she referred to was Wade. Both Gale and Ferris loathed Wade to the core, yet they remained powerless against him.

Athena hesitated for a moment, then stepped closer and asked, “Did Wade have something to do with Ferris’s wounds?”

Gale’s face paled, her eyes darting nervously as she stammered, “N–no, not at all.”

“There are things I’ll inevitably find out,” Athena said gravely. “To help someone heal, I need to know the root cause. Physical wounds mend easily, but emotional scars are far harder. Surely you understand this, Your Grace.”

Gale staggered slightly, her brow furrowing deeply. Her expression conflicted—she was weighing whether to reveal the truth to Athena.

“Since I’m going to be his wife, his enemies are mine too,” Athena said firmly, trying to persuade her once more.

Gale’s eyes were red-rimmed. She bit her lip and slowly raised her hand. “Dismissed.”

In an instant, every attendant vanished without a trace.

Gale led Athena to the garden. After taking a deep breath to compose herself, she finally spoke, her voice shaking with suppressed rage. “Every wound on Ferris was inflicted by that damned Wade.”

Athena had pieced together some clues and nodded. “How exactly was he hurt?”

Gale fell silent for a moment, then finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “Back then, Ferris was only twelve years old.”

Athena’s heart skipped a beat. At twelve, Ferris had left Pidence City, following Gale to Athkar.

Gale’s face was twisted with hatred. “That bastard Wade tricked Ferris out of the city, which led to him being kidnapped by bandits. By the time we rescued him, Ferris was barely recognizable after all the torture he’d suffered.”

At this point, Gale covered her mouth with trembling hands, her shoulders shaking with suppressed sobs.

Every time she closed her eyes, the horrific scene would replay in her mind–Ferris, a mass of raw flesh, covered in blood.

“There wasn’t a single patch of unbroken skin left on his body. He was nothing but a bloody mess; we couldn’t even make out his facial features.” Gale’s voice trembled as her emotions overwhelmed her.

For the lofty Duchess to be reduced to such a state, it showed just how severe Ferris’s wounds truly were.

Athena couldn’t bear to let Gale relive the pain any longer. She gently wrapped her arms around the weeping duchess and whispered reassuringly, “It’s all in the past. I promise, no one will ever hurt Ferris again.”

Gale slumped against Athena’s shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably. “Ferris is such a wonderful boy. I can’t stop thinking about killing that bitch and her son. We even fled to Pidence City, but why won’t they leave us alone? Why?”

Athena’s heart ached as she watched Gale sob in utter despair.

All real power in the Mcgee family rested entirely with Ferris’s dad. As for Gale and Ferris, aside from their wealth, they had no real influence at all.

Her husband’s favoritism was beyond measure. That was precisely why Gale harbored such deep resentment toward him. After the incident, he merely gave Wade a beating, and that was the end of it.

Within two years, he went so far as to take Wade’s birth mother, his mistress, into the Mcgee family as his concubine.

The only reason Gale refused to divorce her husband was out of pride and defiance. She would never hand over her title as Duchess to anyone else.

As long as she remained Duchess, Ferris would be the legitimate heir, and Wade would always remain beneath him.

Gale sobbed for what felt like an eternity before finally regaining her composure.

She wiped her tears with a handkerchief and, her voice trembling, said to Athena, “After that, Ferris became a different person. He never speaks a word about those days, but as his mother, I know–he must have endured unspeakable abuse.”

Athena’s heart skipped a beat, her eyes clouding with concern. ‘That can’t be all there is to it,’ she thought.

Ferris was full of youthful vigor and ambition–a bit arrogant, maybe, but never the overly sensitive type.

Athena couldn’t believe a few physical wounds could have broken him so completely. There must be deeper secrets at play here.

After spending quite some time comforting Gale, Athena finally took her leave.

On their way back, Trina seemed hesitant to speak.

Athena glanced at her in confusion. “What’s up?”

Trina carefully held up five fingers and said, “Lady Athena, it’s been five days.”

Only when Trina reminded her did Athena remember that she needed to deliver the medicine to the Xander Manor.

Sure enough, when Athena returned to the duke’s estate, she saw the Xander Manor’s carriage already waiting at the gate.

Its coachman was dozing off while leaning against the carriage. Startled by the noise, he quickly straightened up.

Spotting Athena, the coachman hurried forward, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, “Lady Athena, I’m here to escort you to the Xander Manor.”

“Give me just a moment. I need to run back and grab the medicine,” Athena said apologetically, noticing from the coachman’s weary look that he must have been waiting a long time.

The coachman bowed respectfully. “Okay, Lady Athena.”

Athena hurried back to her quarters, grabbed the prepared medicinal herbs, and rushed out.

As Athena stepped outside, she spotted Matthew in the distance, leaning on a servant as he strolled through the courtyard.

As soon as Matthew saw Athena, he sprang up like a scalded cat. Pointing at her, Matthew bellowed, “Athena, stop right there!”

Athena didn’t break stride, a cold smirk curling her lips. “What’s wrong, Matthew? Didn’t get enough dirt to eat? Or are you still hungry for rats? I told you not to mess with me again.

“If you dare bother me again, eating dirt will be the least of your worries.”

Matthew wouldn’t listen. Taking advantage of being in the duke’s estate, he assumed Athena wouldn’t dare retaliate here.

“I’m settling this score today.” He blocked her path, his voice dripping with venom as he spat through gritted teeth. With that, he actually raised his hand to strike her.

Trina cut in sharply, “Sir Monson, Prince Xander awaits Lady Athena. Dare you lay hands on her?”

Matthew was taken aback. “P–Prince Xander?” he stammered.

It took him a moment to recall that Athena went to the Xander Manor every five days to teach embroidery.

‘If I hurt her now, I might end up angering His Highness,’ Matthew thought, a chill running down his spine.

With a scowl, Matthew dropped his arm and shot Athena a venomous glare. “Fine. I’ll deal with you when you get back. Mark my words, Athena–I’ll make your life a living hell.”