Chapter 234

Athena’s arrangement really left Trina and Marquita scratching their heads.

Trina muttered under her breath, “How can Lady Athena be so sure she won’t just leave?”

“I don’t know,” Marquita said warily. “The two of us can keep an eye on her. If the girl so much as tries anything funny with Lady Athena, we’ll grab a broom and chase her out.”

“That’s right,” Trina said, clenching her fists with determination. “I won’t let Lady Athena get hurt.”

About half an hour later, the girl finally woke up. True to Athena’s words, she wanted food the moment she woke up.

Marquita placed five steamed buns and two dishes before her. The girl wolfed down the meal, leaving not a single crumb behind.

Marquita was taken aback as she watched the girl devour all five steamed buns. ‘This girl was really a bottomless pit!’ Marquita thought.

“Where are you from, and what’s your name?” Marquita asked.

As Marquita spoke, her eyes swept over the girl before her. The girl had a mildly chubby face and big, innocent eyes. She looked like a carefree simpleton.

The girl looked up at Marquita and replied, “My name is Jessa Kent. I’m an orphan with no family. I was captured by traffickers but managed to escape. I didn’t expect to pass out from hunger on the road, and that’s when Lady Athena found me.”

As Jessa spoke, her eyes settled on the last drumstick on the plate. She asked sincerely, “Marquita, can I have this drumstick?”

Jessa’s round little face crumpled into a pitiful pout, her eyes wide like a puppy begging to be fed. Just hearing her story, Marquita’s heart ached.

‘No wonder this child eats so much, she had such a tragic past,’ Marquita thought.

Marquita then said kindly, “Go on, eat up, dear. There’s plenty more if you’re still hungry.”

Jessa gave Marquita an innocent, guileless smile. “Thank you, Marquita.”

Then she grabbed the drumstick and tore into it with gusto. Marquita watched Jessa eat, grease smeared around her mouth. Then, seeing Jessa’s scrawny frame, she could not help but feel sorry for her.

There was no doubt about it. How could she possibly be a bad person with such a miserable past?’ Marquita thought to herself.

Furthermore, with Jessa’s small and thin frame, Marquita even wondered about the harm that she could do.

Marquita went to report to Athena, telling her everything she’d learned about Jessa. To Athena’s surprise, she even pleaded on the girl’s behalf, “Lady Athena, please let Jessa stay. The poor girl has had such a hard life.”

Athena glanced at Marquita in surprise. She could not believe that Marquita had been won over by Jessa after just one meal.

Athena had her doubts, but didn’t let it show. She simply nodded and said, “Let her stay.”

Marquita responded cheerfully, “Lady Athena, you could use an additional maid servant. Why don’t we have her stay by your side? The girl seems quite sharp.”

“Alright,” Athena readily agreed. The thought of having Jessa right under her nose to watch put Athena more at ease than putting her anywhere else.

Over the next few days, Jessa began serving by Athena’s side.

Soon, Marquita realized that Jessa was a slacker. Whenever Jessa had free time, she was either stuffing her face or fast asleep.

Jessa was utterly carefree and completely undisciplined. Even though she was supposed to be serving Athena, Jessa was nowhere to be found most days.

Trina stomped over to Athena, fuming. “Lady Athena, Jessa’s behavior is outrageous! I told her to learn how to make coffee, but I haven’t seen her since…”

Athena stood by the window, lost in thought. Noticing her silence, Trina approached and asked, “Lady Athena, what are you looking at?”

“Shh…” Athena put a finger to her lips, and Trina quickly fell silent.

Trina followed Athena’s gaze and her eyes widened in shock.

Jessa was casually lounging on the rooftop. With a simple flick of her wrist, a bird flying overhead came crashing down.

‘Such terrifying skill…’ Trina thought, her blood running cold.

Jessa, the seemingly carefree girl, knew martial arts.

Trina’s face went ghostly pale. “Lady Athena, we can’t keep Jessa here any longer. Let’s get rid of her!”

Trina thought in horror, ‘With skills like hers, she could kill anyone in this manor without breaking a sweat. Keeping her by Lady Athena’s side is just too dangerous.’

Athena shook her head. “She means no harm.”

Though Athena could not fathom why Jessa chose to stay by her side, it was clear that Jessa was not here to harm Athena. If anything, Jessa was acting as her protector.

As twilight deepened, darkness swiftly enveloped everything. An unwelcome visitor arrived outside the Monson residence.

Michael stood outside Athena’s front gate, sorrow clouding his eyes. His wedding to Willow is tomorrow. All he wanted to do was catch a glimpse of Athena tonight.

Michael had intended to enter through the main gate and have the gatekeeper announce his arrival.

But recalling Athena’s attitude toward him, Michael abandoned the idea. There was no way Athena would agree to see him.

Michael’s heart ached with bitterness. He could not fathom how he and Athena had become so estranged that even a brief encounter with her had become nearly impossible.

Frustrated and unwilling to yield, Michael jumped onto the wall. Just as he was about to soar into the courtyard, a hidden weapon came whistling straight at him. With his lightning reflexes, he managed to twist aside at the last minute, and the weapon grazed his hair.

Michael jolted awake, the shock instantly sobering him.

‘Since when did Athena have such a formidable fighter by her side?’ Michael thought in shock.

Michael knew that he would be dead if he had not dodged that attack.

Michael scanned the area with a sharp gaze and barked, “Who’s there? Show yourself, you coward!”

Silence reigned all around. No one answered.

Michael’s competitive spirit flared. Since his opponent would not show themselves, he would charge instead. He was determined to see for himself who this mysterious opponent really was.

Michael lightly made his way into the courtyard. However, the moment he stepped into the courtyard, a powerful force came rushing at him head on.

The attacker struck with lightning speed and ruthless precision, aiming straight for Michael’s most vulnerable spots while using the dirtiest of underhanded tactics.

Michael paled in shock, stumbling back once more.

He scanned his surroundings again, but the figure had vanished without a trace.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. After that brief exchange, he hadn’t even gotten a clear look at his assailant, let alone their gender.

Yet that person had so thoroughly intimidated him that he didn’t dare make a single rash move.

Michael cast one last unwilling glance at Athena’s room before he grit his teeth and finally left.

But he didn’t go far. Instead, he perched atop a high rooftop, took out his flute, and began to play.

Michael remembered how Athena had always loved listening to his music. Just a few notes would have brought her running in the past.

He was sure that as soon as she heard the melody, she would come out to see him.

The hauntingly beautiful melody of Athena’s favorite tune drifted through the night. Its plaintive, lingering notes seemed to pour out endless unspoken sorrows.

It was enough to break any listener’s heart.

Athena had just lain down when the sound of a flute drifted through the night.

She instantly recognized Michael’s playing.

‘He’s marrying Willow tomorrow! What the hell is he thinking, playing the flute outside my house in the dead of night?’ Athena thought incredulously.

If this had been three years ago, just hearing this melody would have sent Athena over the moon. But now, she had long since fallen out of love with Michael.

Listening to it again, she felt none of the old butterflies. In fact, it annoyed her.

Athena tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The noise was driving her crazy and her eardrums about to burst.

Just as Athena’s frustration mounted, Jessa’s voice suddenly came through the window, “Lady Athena, are you really annoyed by that flute music?”

“Yes, it’s driving me crazy,” Athena said, rubbing her temples. “Can’t you make him stop?”

Athena thought to herself, ‘This is just straight–up harassment.’

“You got it!” Jessa replied cheerfully.

And just like that, silence fell.

Michael was certain Athena would come out to see him. If she did not, Michael would wait here all night until Athena’s heart softened, and until she came out to see him.

“Why are you making so much noise and disturbing others in the middle of the night?” A crisp, impatient voice suddenly cut through the darkness.

At that very moment, a sharp arrow flew at him, slicing the flute in his hands clean in two.

Not far ahead, Jessa stood atop the roof with her arms crossed, glaring at him with undisguised contempt. “Lady Athena says you’re making a damn racket! What kind of funeral dirge is this? It’s not as if someone died. You’re giving me the creeps!”