Chapter 61
Athena’s piercing gaze struck Nicolas like a dagger to the chest. He vividly recalled forcing Athena to kneel in the rain as punishment that night. But this time was different. He saw it with his own eyes.
Nicolas was certain that it was Athena who pushed Willow into the river. But under Athena’s dagger-sharp gaze, Nicolas couldn’t help but doubt himself. “Could what I saw really be wrong?” he wondered.
Athena insisted that Willow had fallen into the river by herself. Nicolas thought, “Isn’t that utterly ridiculous? Who in their right mind would deliberately throw themselves into a river and gamble with their life?”
“Besides, Willow is so sweet and kind-hearted, she could never do such a vicious thing.”
Nicolas composed himself and turned to Athena. “Stop making excuses, is it really that hard to just admit you were wrong?”
“What exactly did I do wrong?” Athena’s eyes grew even colder as she faced these so-called relatives, her heart filling with growing disillusionment.
Just as the argument was at its height, a deep voice cut in. It was Michael. “Stop arguing. This has nothing to do with Athena.”
As soon as the words were spoken, all eyes in the room snapped toward Michael.
Athena stared at Michael with an unreadable expression. “What’s gotten into him? He’s actually taking my side!” she thought.
The sarcasm in Athena’s eyes irked Michael, but he kept his temper in check. “Willow lost her footing and fell into the river herself. If you don’t believe me, Lady Eloise, you can ask Willow yourself.”
“Willow’s awake?” Eloise exclaimed in surprise.
Michael gave a curt nod. “She’s awake.”
An apologetic smile flickered across Lady Eloise’s face as she cast an awkward glance at Athena.
Athena’s face remained stony, her expression showing not the slightest flicker of emotion.
At that moment, Eloise realized she had indeed wronged Athena today.
To break the awkward silence, Eloise stepped in as the peacemaker. “We’re all family. No need to fuss over such things.”
As if putting on a show for Athena, Eloise smiled gently and said, “Nicolas has always doted on you and Willow since you were little. No matter who was wronged, he’d always stand up for you. Today, he just made a mistake in the heat of the moment because Willow nearly lost her life. Athena, if you’re upset, take it out on me instead of blaming your brother.”
She tried to appeal to Athena’s emotions.
When they were kids, Nicolas was indeed fiercely protective of Athena; he wouldn’t tolerate anyone upsetting her.
But whenever Willow was involved, his heart always sided with her.
Athena had long seen through their hypocrisy, so when Eloise tried to make amends, her expression remained stone-cold.
With a cold sneer, Athena retorted, “Lord Nicolas, if you can’t even handle your own family’s affairs, how can you possibly be trusted as Deputy Minister of Justice? One day, you’ll probably get betrayed and not even realize it.”
Athena’s offhand remark made Nicolas’s face darken instantly.
He suddenly shot to his feet, his face contorted with rage as he jabbed a finger at Athena’s face. Through gritted teeth, he enunciated each word, “Say that again!”
His expression suggested he’d tear Athena limb from limb if she dared say another word.
Nicolas’s sudden outburst of rage startled Eloise.
Eloise hurried to calm Nicolas down, then turned to Athena with pleading eyes. “Athena, please. Don’t provoke your brother any further.”
Judging by her expression, Eloise seemed to have something she couldn’t quite bring herself to say.
But Athena was never one to back down. She took a bold step forward, meeting Nicolas’s murderous glare head-on. “You’re the one at fault here, not me,” she said coldly. “Why should I swallow my pride? Besides, you wouldn’t dare lay a finger on me.”
Nicolas’s face darkened with rage. Through gritted teeth, he hissed, “Don’t think that just because you have the McGee family’s backing now, I can’t touch you.”
Athena let out a cold, mirthless laugh. “Oh really?”
Athena shot Nicolas a look loaded with meaning, then turned on her heel and strode out without a backward glance.
Not a single soul dared to stand in her way this time.
Even Henry felt a pang of guilt, his gaze at Athena tinged with melancholy.
With a heavy heart, Henry thought, “When did my dear Athena become so cold and estranged from her own family? Even if Nicolas was mistaken and wronged her… after all, he is still her brother. What sister would truly defy her own brother?”
Seeing the argument had subsided, Eloise felt exhausted. She murmured softly, “I’ll go check on Willow.”
After a moment’s thought, Henry stayed.
Henry motioned for Michael to sit down, and servants immediately served fresh drinks.
Henry sighed meaningfully. “Michael, my deepest gratitude for saving Willow today. Without your intervention, she might not have survived. You two grew up together as childhood sweethearts. Should Willow marry into the Osborne family, I would finally be at ease.”
Henry was pressuring Michael to propose. After Willow fell into the river today and was rescued by Michael, if the Osborne family didn’t come forward with a marriage proposal soon, Willow’s reputation would be ruined.
Michael was far too astute to miss the implication in Henry’s words.
Today’s events truly took Michael by surprise.
After a moment’s consideration, he said to Henry, “Your Grace, rest assured, the Osborne family will do right by Willow.”
With those words, Henry finally felt that Michael had agreed.
A smile finally broke across Nicolas’s face as he let out a long sigh of relief.
Nicolas had been worried sick that Michael might still be involved with Athena. That was why he’d been dragging his feet about the marriage proposal with Willow.
Kelsey Osborne had pressured him more than once, but Michael would either dodge the issue or remain silent.
Today’s incident settled the matter for good.
Nicolas and Henry exchanged a knowing glance and shared a tacit smile.
Willow’s “accidental” fall worked out perfectly for her.
Inside the room, Eloise sat by Willow’s bedside, gazing at her with tender affection. Gently stroking Willow’s hand, she murmured, “My dear, you’ve really been through so much. You’ve worried me sick.”
Willow’s face was deathly pale, yet she still struggled to prop herself up and comfort her mother. “It’s all my fault, Mother,” she said weakly. “I’ve made you worry.”
“There now, my dear. You’re not well enough to sit up.” Eloise said quickly, gently guiding Willow’s shoulders to help her lie back down.
Willow’s gaze, brimming with remorse, met Eloise’s eyes, making her mother’s heart ache all the more.
Eloise hesitated, her lips parting slightly as she thought of the wronged look in Athena’s eyes. Finally, she couldn’t hold back any longer. In a gentle tone, she asked, “Willow, did your fall into the river have anything to do with Athena?”
Tears instantly welled up in Willow’s eyes. She let out a soft sob, shook her head, and said, “It has nothing to do with Athena. It’s all my fault, Mother. Please don’t blame my sister.”
As if struck by sudden realization, Willow struggled to sit up, trying to get out of bed. “Are Nicolas and Father going to punish Athena? I need to go to them!” she said anxiously.
Seeing Willow so anxious, Eloise gently pressed her shoulder and let out a quiet sigh of relief. “No, sweetheart, it was just a misunderstanding. Everything’s been cleared up now, so don’t worry.”
Before coming here, she had worried that Willow might have deliberately thrown herself into the river to force a marriage alliance between the two families.
But seeing Willow’s genuine reaction, Eloise felt even more guilty toward her.
She thought, “How could I ever doubt Willow? I watched her grow up.”
At that very moment, Henry strode into the room, his steps noticeably lighter.
Willow was about to get up to curtsy when Henry gently stopped her. “Rest now, my dear,” he said warmly. “You need to regain your strength over the next few days. How else will you endure the Osborne family’s proposal event?”
Eloise and Willow froze in shock, then sheer delight overwhelmed them.