Chapter 158
Henry and Nicolas gasped in shock, their faces showing a complex mix of emotions. They exchanged a knowing glance. Both found themselves at a loss. Athena had been expelled from the Monson family, yet Fermin wanted them to win her back. That was like asking the impossible.
Eloise’s eyes darted nervously. “But what about Willow?” she blurted out, her voice trembling.
Fermin shot Eloise a disapproving glare. “Willow is merely an adopted daughter. Misena is the trueborn heiress of the Monson family. Naturally, Athena shall be the official wife, and Willow the secondary wife.”
Eloise protested in disbelief. “A secondary wife?” she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper.
Eloise thought, Willow may be an adopted daughter, but I’ve doted on her since she was a child. Apart from her status, she excels in every aspect. What’s the difference between being a secondary wife and a mistress? She’ll still be at the mercy of the official wife. Poor Willow, this is utterly humiliating for her.
But seeing the stormy look on Fermin’s face, Eloise swallowed her words and dared not say anything.
With a final display of displeasure, Fermin departed the Monson family in cold fury.
Henry’s family now found themselves caught between a rock and a hard place.
The room was eerily silent. All three wore troubled expressions, but Nicolas looked especially furious, his teeth clenched in anger.
“Who would have thought she was the healer?” he spat out. “With someone like her serving Fermin’s purposes, he’d never let her go. But…”
Nicolas’s face twisted in frustration. “I was the one who banished Athena from the family. How the hell am I supposed to get her to come back now?”
Nicolas and Henry had both witnessed Athena’s determination when she left the estate.
She’d rather walk barefoot through a field of blades than stay another minute, Nicolas thought.
Now getting her to come back would be harder than moving mountains.
Henry’s brow furrowed deeply. “No matter how difficult it is, we must bring her back,” he said sternly. “Never forget, the very fate of the Monson family rests in Fermin’s hands.”
They had thrown their lot in with Fermin from the very beginning, recognizing his potential to be named crown prince. Over the years, they’d worked tirelessly to further his ambitions. Naturally, Fermin now held all the leverage over them. If they failed to satisfy him, the entire Monson family could be doomed.
Nicolas looked exhausted. “I understand, Father. But you know what Athena’s like.”
With a weary sigh, Nicolas turned to Eloise. “Mother, it falls to you to break the news to Willow.”
Eloise, eyes red-rimmed, said, “If Willow finds out, it will break her heart. And who knows how the Osborne family will react?”
The wedding plans between the Monson and Osborne families were all set when Fermin suddenly threw a wrench into things, turning everything upside down.
Meanwhile, the Osborne family also received Fermin’s order.
Kelsey gasped in shock. “What? He actually wants to make Athena his principal wife?”
Fletcher Osborne’s face remained impassive, his expression unreadable. He held the letter in his hand over the candle flame until it caught fire, then tossed the burning parchment into the brazier.
His aged face exuded authority. “Prince Fermin must have his reasons for this. Just comply.”
“But how will the Osborne family face all the gossip!” Kelsey fretted, her primary concern being the family’s reputation.
Fletcher slowly settled into his chair and scoffed. “Who would dare? With the Queen backing the Osborne family, only someone with a death wish would dare slander them.”
Kelsey felt her heart pounding wildly in her chest. “Does this mean we must postpone the wedding with the Monson family?”
Fletcher shot Kelsey a dark look and rebuked, “Such feminine weakness! The official wife of Michael hasn’t even joined us yet. How dare a secondary wife precede her?”
Chilled to the bone by his icy gaze, Kelsey hastily composed herself and said meekly, “You’re right, I’ll send word to the Monson family right away to postpone the wedding.”
Fletcher grunted through his nose and waved his hand dismissively. “Go.”
Kelsey stepped out of the study, only then realizing a thin sheet of sweat had broken out across her back. Now, as a chilly breeze swept over her, she shivered, the cold biting straight to her bones.
Pausing on the steps to steady herself, a look of helpless resignation crossed her face before she finally forced herself to move forward.
Walking down the corridor, Kelsey saw Michael striding toward her with purposeful steps. He wore a midnight blue robe embroidered with gold thread, substantial and luxurious in its weight. An emerald-adorned belt cinched his waist, studded with turquoise, a clear mark of imperial nobility.
As Michael walked, his cloak billowed dramatically behind him with each purposeful stride. His handsome features, bearing a striking resemblance to Kelsey, carried the same air of martial authority as Fletcher.
In her dazed state, Kelsey suddenly found Michael standing right before her.
Michael bowed deeply, hands clasped respectfully before him, and greeted Kelsey with a formal bow. “Mother.”
A surge of maternal pride rushed through Kelsey as she beheld her son’s noble bearing. Marrying into the Osborne family, she never won Fletcher’s favor, but after Michael was born, she finally had something to look forward to. He became her only hope.
“Rise, my son.” With a gentle lift of her hand, Kelsey motioned for Michael to stand.
Noticing the redness around Kelsey’s eyes, his expression darkened, his face turning icy. Michael instinctively glanced toward the study behind her. "What did Father say?"
In this family, all matters were deferred to his authority. Even the slightest misstep from Kelsey would earn her a stern reprimand.
Michael had been protective of Kelsey since childhood. So when he saw the redness around her eyes, he immediately demanded to know what had happened.
“No, it’s not like that,” Kelsey said hastily as she stepped forward. She glanced nervously over her shoulder, then gestured for Michael to follow her out.
Only after they had left the study did Kelsey finally exhale the breaths she’d been holding.
Once they reached the pavilion, Michael carefully helped his mother sit down before asking, “What troubles you so, Mother?”
Kelsey felt ill at ease facing Michael. With his wedding plans undergoing repeated changes, she struggled to find the words. After a long hesitation, Kelsey finally said softly, “Michael, I’m afraid there might be some changes to your wedding with Willow.”
Michael’s heart skipped a beat, though his face remained impassive. He asked calmly, “What changes?”
“Her Majesty the Queen was moved by your devotion and has granted your request,” Kelsey said cautiously, not daring to repeat Fermin’s exact words to Michael.
She thought, Who would know my own son’s temperament better than I do? If Michael ever found out that Fermin intended to use Athena as a pawn, he would break with him without a second thought.
After much deliberation, Kelsey could only settle for this explanation.
Michael could no longer contain his joy. He sprang to his feet.
A radiant smile, one only seen in youth, broke across his face. His usually composed phoenix eyes now widened, sparkling with delight. “Mother, is this really true?” he asked, his voice trembling with excitement.
Michael’s joy brought a bittersweet pang to Kelsey’s heart. All along, Athena was the only one he ever wanted. But as a member of the royal family, he could not be free to follow his heart.
Kelsey nodded slowly, a pained look in her eyes as she watched him. “Though the Queen has relented, Athena still harbors resentment. She may not accept you so easily, so don’t celebrate too soon.”
Athena had been formally banished from the Monson family, and now she held the title of Viscountess. Moreover, Ferris was deeply in love with her.
Winning Athena back won’t be easy for Michael, Kelsey thought with concern.
“Don’t worry, Mother, I’m confident,” Michael assured her. In the past, he had to give up Athena for the greater good of the family, but now he was determined not to let her slip away again.
Thanks for this chance, Michael thought, his heart brimming with gratitude.