Chapter 499

Athena stood in a hidden corner and only looked away after seeing Ray’s family walk away.

A figure appeared beside her, and she knew who it was without turning her head.

“Did you bring me here on purpose?” Athena asked Xander.

Back then, when Ray was defeated, Xander didn’t explain the specific details to Athena. He only said that he had fallen off a cliff, and his body was never found. Presumably, Xander was afraid that Athena wouldn’t believe him even if he told her that Ray was alive. After all, Ray was a traitor and deserved to die.

Now that she had seen it with her own eyes, Athena understood Xander’s good intentions.

Athena turned and threw herself into Xander’s arms. “Thank you for sparing his life.”

Xander held her waist and smiled gently. “I knew you would want him alive. Everything I do is for you.”

The two had grown up together since they were children, so it was no exaggeration to say that they were childhood sweethearts. Ray was like a younger brother to her, and Athena couldn’t bear to see him die a tragic death.

Athena and Xander did not stay in town for long. After a short rest, they left, and a few days later, the two arrived at Pidence City. As soon as the carriage stopped in front of the manor, Athena couldn’t wait to lift the curtain.

The familiar gate exuded warmth in the twilight. The old servant guarding the gate saw her return and hurriedly bowed and saluted. “Your Highness, you’re finally back.”

Athena looked at everything with joy. With the help of the maid, she got out of the carriage. As soon as she stepped over the threshold, she heard the babbling of two children.

Two chubby little ones came into view, reaching their arms out to her from afar. Upon seeing her sons, Athena’s eyes welled up with tears, and she quickened her pace to take them in her arms.

Perhaps it had been too long since they had seen their mother, but as soon as the two children were in Athena’s arms, they burst into tears. Tears streamed down their round faces, and their little noses twitched with grievance.

Athena’s heart ached as if it were being cut by a knife. With red eyes, she coaxed the two children, “Don’t cry. I’m back.”

It would have been better if she hadn’t spoken. The two little ones couldn’t stop crying at all. The three of them cried together, and Alexandra also dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.

Seeing Athena’s return, Alexandra felt both pained and reproachful, “You two heartless guys, disappearing for more than half a year without caring about us.”

Alexandra came from a family of generals and usually kept up appearances. At this moment, however, she resembled an ordinary maid, wishing she could throw a tantrum and hit Athena a few times. But looking at Athena’s thin frame, she couldn’t bear to do it.

“Mrs. Cavendish, I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.” Athena didn’t expect that this departure would last for more than half a year. If she had returned a few months later, the children would have been able to walk.

Athena felt guilty and heartbroken, holding the children and unwilling to let go for a long time. Seeing that Athena was having some difficulty holding both of them, the nanny reached out her hand. “Your Highness, let me take the boy.”

Unexpectedly, the two little ones waved their arms, tightly hugging Athena, refusing to let go. Athena was reluctant to let them go, so she had to hold one in each arm. “It’s okay. I’ll hold them.”

Alexandra felt sorry for her, coaxing one of them. “Come, let me hold you. I will get you something delicious to eat, Randolph.”

In this way, Randolph was finally in Alexandra’s arms.

After entering the house, they sat down. Alexandra ordered people to bring food, as Athena hadn’t eaten or slept well along the way. She hurriedly ate a few bites and then put it down. “Mrs. Cavendish, I’ll go rest for a while.”

Seeing her haggard appearance, Alexandra felt extremely distressed. “Go ahead, you don’t have to worry about these two children. They’re with me and they’re not causing any trouble.”

Perhaps the little ones knew that their mother was too tired. When Alexandra took them, they didn’t cry.

Being back in familiar surroundings was so relaxing. After bathing, Athena fell asleep on the bed.

She slept very soundly and didn’t even know when Xander returned. When she opened her eyes, it was already morning. The sky was bright, and Athena looked at the furnishings in the room in a daze. After staring for a while, she realized that she had returned to the Xander Manor.

As soon as she moved, Xander woke up.

“When did you come back?” Athena asked.

Xander put one hand on her shoulder, his voice still a little hoarse. “About 10 pm.”

Athena was already asleep when he came back. In order not to wake her up, he walked on tiptoe. Lying on the carved big bed at this time, he felt extremely at ease.

Xander turned sideways, looking at Athena with burning eyes; the meaning in his eyes was too obvious. Athena suffered all the way, and her backache and leg pain were terrible. Having experienced Xander’s might firsthand, she couldn’t possibly withstand it at the moment.

Athena hid in the bed, frightened, as Xander approached her like a big bad wolf, step by step. With a stretch of his long arm, he pulled her into his embrace.

Just as he was about to make a move, they heard someone knocking on the door. “Your Highness?”

Athena slapped his hand, and Xander released her reluctantly. He asked the outside in a deep voice, “What is it?”

“Mrs. Cavendish sent this servant to report that there is something in the manor and wants to ask Her Highness to discuss it,” he said.

Xander frowned. “What’s the matter that’s so urgent?”

Even as he spoke, Xander hurriedly got up. If it weren’t for important matters, Alexandra wouldn’t be in such a hurry to urge them. Athena hurriedly got up, dressed, and took Trina to the front yard. Xander couldn’t interfere with matters in the backyard, so he went to the military camp.

Athena took the maid to the front hall and saw Alexandra sitting on the grandmaster’s chair with a worried look.

In the hall, there were also Geoffrey and his wife, Ruth. The two rarely appeared before Alexandra and had always been quite content and law–abiding. Their appearance together today must be due to some difficulty; otherwise, Alexandra wouldn’t have asked Athena to come over.

“Mrs. Cavendish, good morning,” Athena stepped forward, but Alexandra stopped her before she could salute, “There are no outsiders here; sit down.”

Geoffrey and Ruth, however, stood up and greeted Athena. Xander was the heir of the family. Geoffrey was his elder brother, and the two were twelve years apart. The two stood up and called out, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Seeing Geoffrey frown, Athena asked, “Geoffrey, is something the matter with your manor?”

Geoffrey’s eyes reddened at the question. He looked at Athena, somewhat embarrassed. “It’s about my daughter.”

Geoffrey had many children, and Athena didn’t know which one he was talking about. Ruth hurriedly interjected, “It’s Gracie. She married into Fermin Manor before the New Year. At the time, you also gave her a gift.”

After she said that, Athena remembered. “Oh, yes, that’s right.”

Athena remembered Gracie, a round–faced girl who looked quite delicate. Her temperament was also gentle and refined.

Ruth continued, “Gracie has a hard life. When she first married, things were better, but recently, Jude has been running outside the manor every day. After much inquiry, Gracie learned that he had a mistress. How can they take a concubine within six months of the wedding? The Miller family is embarrassing us.”

Athena thought for a moment and asked, “What was his attitude when the scandal broke?”

“What’s infuriating is that if Jude had been more sincere and gotten rid of that mistress, it would have been fine, but he insisted on bringing her back to the manor. Gracie couldn’t bear it and fell ill,” said Ruth.