Chapter 165

Athena gave Marquita a grateful smile and said, "I truly appreciate all your efforts."

Marquita said, "As long as you're well, Miss, that's all I could wish for."

Trina frowned in indignation. "How shameless can they be? They already kicked Miss Monson out of the Monson family, and now they're trying to hawk her back again. What on earth do they want!"

Athena also sensed something amiss. After a moment's thought, she told Marquita, "I'll visit the McGee family. It's the perfect chance to deliver Lady Gale's medicine."

"Understood, Miss Monson," Marquita replied respectfully.

Athena grabbed the medicine pouch, motioned for Trina to follow, and headed straight for the McGee family residence.

Before Athena could reach the entrance, harsh coughing fits from inside were already audible.

Hearing this, Athena quickened her pace and stepped inside the McGee family home.

The interior was filled with stifling steam, instantly drenching anyone who stepped inside in sweat.

Gale was wrapped in a heavy fur robe, her face pale as she lay slumped on the couch, looking utterly drained.

When Gale saw Athena approaching, her eyes lit up with a faint glow. She beckoned her closer and asked, "What brings you here?"

Her attitude toward Athena changed completely after Ferris vowed to her that he would marry no one but Athena.

Now that Athena had been granted the title of the Viscountess, Gale grew even closer to her.

Athena removed her cloak, gifted her skirts gracefully, and took a seat before Gale.

She said, "I've brought your medicine, Lady Gale."

Athena had previously taken Gale's pulse and diagnosed her with cold syndrome.

Years ago, she had marched and fought alongside her husband, and years of bitter cold in those snowy mountain expeditions left her with a lingering ailment.

Every winter, Gale would suffer from relentless coughing fits.

Her coughing fits would only start to ease when spring arrived and the ice began to melt.

Gale struggled to breathe, her words barely audible as she whispered, "You're so thoughtful."

"Let me begin the acupuncture for you, Lady Gale," Athena said gently, taking out the silver needles from her medicine pouch and starting the treatment.

Gale closed her eyes slightly as the maidservant stepped forward to remove her outer robe, allowing Athena to administer the acupuncture.

Her illness couldn't be rushed; it needed both treatment and gradual recuperation.

While gently inserting the acupuncture needles, Athena suggested to Gale, "For a quicker recovery, you might benefit from more frequent hot springs."

"Hot springs?" Gale asked gently, "The closest to Pidence City would be Tacuperate Spring. But going there..."

Gale snapped back to the present, shook her head, and replied, "It's nothing."

Gale took Athena's hand and asked softly, "Would you come with me?"

Athena hesitated for a moment. She thought, "Actually, this is perfect. I really don't want to run into anyone from the Monson family right now, and besides, I wouldn't feel comfortable letting Gale go alone."

After all, she had promised Ferris that she would look after Gale.

Athena nodded with a gentle smile. "Of course, I'll accompany you, Lady Gale."

Gale smiled warmly and said, "With you by my side, I feel so much more at ease."

With their travel date set, Athena returned home to prepare.

After Athena left, Gale gave a subtle wave, and a shadow guard silently materialized before her.

Gale sneered, "Where has that shameless woman been hiding lately?" Of course, the woman she meant was none other than her husband's mistress, Ruth McGee.

The shadow guard replied in a hushed, respectful tone, "Your Highness, her bastard child has fallen ill. Ruth has been holed up in the East District, never venturing out."

Gale refused to acknowledge Wade McGee's legitimacy, referring to him only as "bastard."

Hearing the shadow guard's report, Gale's face lit up with malicious glee. "He's sick? But wasn't he perfectly fine just a moment ago?"

Gale sneered inwardly, "Sick? That's not enough, he should just drop dead!"

"Word is, he's broken out in festering sores all over, and nothing seems to help, even the imperial physicians are at their wit's end."

Upon hearing the news, Gale burst into malicious laughter. "Excellent! Divine justice at last..."

Her words were cut short by a violent coughing fit.

After finally stifling her cough, Gale caught her breath and gave a crisp order. "Tell everyone to pack up. We're heading to Spring Villa."

Gale thought to herself, "As long as that wretched Ruth is stuck in Pidence City with her sick child, she won't be able to leave.

That means the two of us won't have to see each other!"

The trip would take around ten days. With her spirits lifted, Gale could feel her condition improving considerably.

Fiona returned to the Monson family by carriage, surprised to find Nicolas waiting at the entrance.

He took a few quick steps forward, eyes full of anticipation as he looked at Fiona and asked, "Well? Did Athena agree to come back?"

Fiona lowered her head in silence, the words stuck in her throat.

He said, "I told you, we're family, bound by blood. Whatever happened, we can talk it out. If Athena agrees to come home, we'll treat her just as we did before."

At this point, Nicolas immediately corrected himself. "No, that's not enough, I should treat her even better than before. She's been wronged in all this, and I'll make it up to her properly."

Fiona couldn't stand Nicolas's arrogance any longer and finally blurted out. "Athena never said she'd come back."

"What?" Nicolas's smile froze.

Nicolas stared at Fiona in disbelief. "You're telling me she refused to come back?"

Fiona nodded slightly. Nicolas's face darkened instantly. "Did you even try to reason with her properly?" he demanded.

"Are you asking me to beg her?" Fiona had braved the bitter cold, bringing Cedric with her, just to personally invite Athena.

She thought, "Never mind all the suffering and humiliation I've endured, not once did Nicolas even ask about Cedric's well-being. He immediately lashed out at me the moment I walked in. In his eyes, interests will always come before family."

Fiona's eyes brimmed with unshed tears as she stood rigidly in place, unable to utter a word.

Just then, Henry and Eloise approached, both visibly astonished. Henry frowned and exclaimed, "How could this be? You went in person to summon her, yet she still refuses to return? Does my daughter truly expect her own father to humble himself and fetch her personally?"

Henry's face darkened. He didn't think he could possibly stoop so low as to personally summon a disobedient daughter.

Eloise stammered, "Does Athena really think that way?"

Fiona nodded slightly, her voice laced with humiliation as she admitted, "I couldn't even get past the door."

"The sheer audacity!" Henry bellowed angrily. "You're her sister-in-law, and you even brought Cedric with you. How dare she show such insolence?"

From Henry's perspective, even if Athena harbored resentment, she could at most disown her parents and brother.

But Cedric was just an innocent child.

He thought, "Athena is truly heartless. She wouldn't even see her own nephew, Cedric!"

Nicolas was livid with rage, his face turning ashen, while Eloise and Henry wore deeply troubled expressions.

Not far away, hidden behind the wall, a cold, calculating glint flashed in Willow's eyes.

Willow thought coldly, "I don't want Athena to come back. I won't allow it. She must never return."

"Athena's interference has ruined all my marriage prospects."

"Athena is nothing but a jinx."