Chapter 325

After crying her heart out, Athena’s mind gradually cleared.

Athena pointed accusingly at Eloise and demanded, “I’ll make the entire duke’s estate pay with their lives for my mother’s death!”

Willow shrieked hysterically while rambling incoherently, “Don’t drag me into this. None of this has anything to do with me. I’m innocent. If you must kill someone, take them instead. Please, just let me go!”

Eloise stared at Willow in stunned disbelief, never imagining her daughter would utter such words.

She said, “Willow, you’re my daughter. How could you…”

Before Eloise could finish, Willow screamed hysterically, “You colluded with the remnants of the former empire. What does that have to do with me? You conspired with Father for wealth and glory. You gave birth to two bastards just to seize the title of Duchess. You even sabotaged Aunt’s carriage and made her miscarry. All of this is your own doing. Why should I have to die for your sins?”

Willow’s features twisted grotesquely, her face resembling a demon’s.

Willow shrieked. She was clearly on the verge of breaking down. “You said you schemed all that status and position for me. I never once asked you to do any of this. Don’t pretend it was for me. It was all for your own selfish motives! You just wanted me to be a legitimate heiress and marry into nobility to secure your status!”

Eloise stared at Willow in utter disbelief, her lips quivering. “You really see me that way?”

Willow sneered coldly. “Or what? It was your greed that destroyed everything. You brought down General Perkins, you ruined Aunt’s life. I refuse to acknowledge a mother as wicked as you. I’m severing all ties with you.”

Willow naively believed that by disowning Eloise, Athena would spare her life.

Willow looked at Athena with fawning desperation while pleading pitifully, “Sister, I’ve disowned her. I’m no longer part of the duke’s estate, if you must take lives, take Eloise and her two sons. I’m innocent!”

Eloise finally exploded, “Willow, I’m your mother. All these years, I’ve committed countless wrongdoings for your sake. How can you disown me? Matthew killed people for you, and Joseph was exiled to the military camp because of you. Even if you won’t acknowledge me, at least acknowledge them!”

Tears streamed endlessly down Eloise’s face. Her heart was utterly shattered.

Eloise thought, ‘How could the daughter I raised with my own hands betray me like this? What was the point of all those years of sacrifice?’

Willow shrieked, her face twisted with resentment, “You’re going to die anyway, so why drag me down with you? I have my whole future ahead of me, I’m the Marchioness of Somers. Will you only be satisfied if I die with you? What does Matthew killing someone have to do with me? What does Joseph’s stealing have to do with me? This is all because you spoiled them.”

“Willow!” Michael’s furious bellow erupted from behind the bushes.

Willow’s voice was abruptly cut off. Her face filled with terror as she turned toward the shadows, where a tall figure emerged and strode into the light.

Though the figure’s outline was indistinct in the darkness, Willow recognized that it was none other than her husband, Michael.

Willow’s eyes went wide with shock. She couldn’t figure out why Michael was there.

At this moment, she was a complete mess, looking every bit like a madwoman.

What truly terrified her was that Michael had overheard every single word she’d just said.

In Michael’s eyes, Willow had always been delicate and kind-hearted.

Now, everything was utterly shattered.

Willow was utterly selfish and ruthless. She would stop at nothing to achieve her goals, including disowning her mother just to save her skin.

She even threw her brothers under the bus and used them as shields.

Michael stared at Willow, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

His chest burned with a furious fire, and he wished he could gouge out his own eyes for being so blind and deceived.

Michael’s eyes burned with hatred and bitter regret as he glared at Willow. “Do you honestly think that staying out of this will make you innocent? I must have been completely blind to be so utterly fooled by you!”

Willow shook her head frantically, trying to defend herself. “Michael, no. It’s not like that. Please, let me explain. None of this has anything to do with me.”

Michael roared, “Don’t you dare claim Macy and Thalia’s deaths had nothing to do with you. Don’t you dare pretend Athena’s three years of torment in the military camp weren’t your doing. If it weren’t for your scheming, would Athena have suffered three years of abuse in that camp?

“After all this, you still dare claim it has nothing to do with you?”

Michael roared like an enraged panther.

Michael’s furious demeanor sent shivers down Willow’s spine, but she had nowhere left to turn.

The duke’s estate was doomed. If the Osborne family cast her aside, she’d be left with nothing but death.

She said, “Michael, please don’t abandon me. I can still be useful. I have so many tricks up my sleeve. I’m worth keeping around!”

Michael gave a bitter, self-mocking smile and declared icily, “Enough with your pathetic schemes. I’m divorcing you.”

Michael thought bitterly, “I have been so blind. As a marquis, I was completely played for a fool by that scheming woman.’

Never in his wildest dreams would Michael have imagined Willow could be so vicious.

He used to think she was just a bit scheming, only trying to win his affection.

Never would Michael have imagined she was capable of every wicked deed.

Willow thrashed wildly at Michael’s words, her voice shrill with panic. “No. Michael, you can’t divorce me. If you cast me aside, it’ll be the end of me.”

Willow scrambled out of the pit, desperately crawling toward Michael, only to be kicked back in utter disgust.

He said, “Just the sight of you makes my stomach turn. I couldn’t care less if you live or die.”

Michael turned and walked toward Athena.

His eyes brimmed with guilt, barely daring to meet Athena’s gaze.

After a long pause, Michael finally said, “I leave Willow to your judgment. The Osborne family will raise no objections whatsoever.”

Michael was about to say something else when Xander stepped between them, his voice icy with authority. “No one would dare interfere with your judgment.”

The implication was clear. Even if the Osborne family wanted to intervene, it wouldn’t make a difference.

Michael lowered his head, looking utterly abashed. “You’re right, Prince Xander,” he murmured meekly.

Michael stood silently to the side, saying no more.

The truth was out, and Athena would delay no longer.

Athena turned to Xander and said, “Your Highness, I must trouble you to hasten to the imperial palace and present this case for His Majesty’s judgment.”

Nicolas was a remnant of the previous fallen country, making this case of grave political importance.

Not only was the duke’s estate implicated, but even the Osborne family was caught up in it.

Xander turned to the guards at his side and commanded coldly, “Take Marquis Osborne into custody as well.”

He did not say escort, which meant that this matter was serious.

Only criminals were taken into custody. Until the case investigation was concluded, Michael would remain a suspect.

Michael offered no resistance. He simply let himself be taken into custody without protest.

As he was being led away, Michael shot Willow a venomous glare and spat, “I deeply regret ever marrying you.”

Michael longed to see Athena, but Xander’s towering frame blocked his view.

Michael’s eyes brimmed with regret. As the guards dragged him away, he mustered every ounce of strength to shout, “Athena, I was wrong. I am so sorry!”

This belated apology made Athena’s lashes flutter slightly.

Athena gazed after Michael as he was led away, lost in thought.

Suddenly, her gaze was cut off by Xander.

Athena looked up to find Xander’s face clouded with displeasure. With a hint of wounded pride, he murmured, “Hey, you know I’m still right here, don’t you?”