Chapter 67

At the sight of Athena’s face, the maid turned deathly pale and stammered. “Miss Monson.”

Athena recognized the maid. She was a servant from Willow’s residence, though the name escaped her. Athena demanded.

She stammered, “My name is Danielle Barker, Miss.”

Athena turned to the two matrons and demanded, “What have you found out?”

Obsequiously, one of the matrons replied, “Miss Monson, this wretched girl is being very stubborn. She only admitted that Lady Willow gave her some things and allowed her to go home to visit her relatives.”

Seeing Danielle clutching a bundle, Athena motioned for Trina to swiftly snatch it away.

Opening it, she found it packed with silver coins and several pieces of jewelry, all items Willow wore regularly.

Danielle was terrified out of her wits. “Please spare me, Lady Athena! I swear I am telling the truth. These things really were given to me by Lady Willow!”

Athena gave the scattered jewelry a sharp kick. She demanded, “Only a thief would sneak out at midnight. What other explanation is there?”

Danielle was struck speechless, stammering, “I…”

Her eyes darted as she scrambled for an excuse. “…. I just thought if I left tonight, I could get home a bit sooner, Miss,” she stammered.

Trina snapped, her voice full of anger, “What nonsense! Who needs a small fortune just to visit family? Just the silver adds up to a small fortune, not even counting all this jewelry. If you ask me, you clearly stole these!”

Athena suppressed the amusement in her eyes. “Lucky’s injuries have stabilized, so Margaret likely won’t blame you. But sneaking out with all these stolen valuables, your employer certainly won’t protect you for this.”

Then, Athena’s voice hardened as she warned, “Stealing means having your hand chopped off. Think carefully, which would you rather face?”

“Mercy, Miss! Mercy!” Danielle pleaded desperately, but the sharp-eyed matrons swiftly gagged her with a rag, cutting off her cries.

“Lock her up in the woodshed,” Athena ordered the two matrons. “Keep a close eye on her; don’t let her escape.”

The matrons responded immediately, hauling Danielle away as easily as if she were a rag doll.

On their way back, Athena instructed Trina, “Send word to Ivory Grove that Danielle has been intercepted.”

Trina nodded in understanding and instructed the matrons to discreetly relay the message to Ivory Grove.

Athena returned and slept peacefully through the night, while over at Ivory Grove, Willow lay awake until dawn, tossing and turning in restless agitation.

At first light, Athena made her way to the main hall.

Willow was clinging to Eloise, her eyes swollen and red from crying. Nicolas and Matthew were there as well, their faces set in grim, stony expressions.

As Athena appeared, Eloise gently patted Willow’s hand in reassurance, silently urging her to remain composed.

Nicolas and Matthew stood as if ready to defend Willow, their cold, unfriendly gazes fixed on Athena as she walked in.

Seeing their relaxed demeanor, Athena found it amusing. She smirked and said, “Lord Nicolas, Lord Matthew, you both must have plenty of free time today, no duties at the ministry?”

“Stop with your damn sarcasm!” Matthew exploded in fury, glaring daggers at Athena. “Why did you stop Danielle? What false charges are you trying to pin on Willow?”

His tone was so venomous, it was as if he wanted to tear her limb from limb.

Trina shot Athena a worried look; the odds were clearly stacked against her.

Clearly, Eloise and the two Motion brothers had all taken Willow’s side.

No matter what the truth was, they were determined to back her up.

Seeing Matthew losing his temper, Eloise swiftly shot him a warning glance, and he subsided slightly.

But the look Matthew gave Athena still burned with smoldering resentment.

Eloise smiled warmly at Athena, her voice laced with false concern. “Athena, was it you who detained Danielle? Willow has already explained: the girl’s uncle is gravely ill, and out of pity, Willow gave her some silver and allowed her to visit home. Why must you keep making trouble for her?”

Athena sat down, fixing Willow with a knowing, slightly amused look, “Oh, is that so?”

Willow, her eyes red-rimmed, nodded eagerly and pleaded, “That’s exactly what happened. Please let Danielle go at once.”

“If this was truly just a family visit,” Athena demanded coldly, “why sneak out at midnight? Wouldn’t it have been better to leave openly at daybreak? She’s just a young maid traveling alone with so much silver; weren’t you afraid she’d be robbed?”

Before Willow could respond, Nicolas stepped in to defend her. “It was probably just a minor oversight, nothing serious.”

“Since you all insist on this,” Athena said coolly, “why don’t we bring Danielle here for a direct confrontation?” She gave Trina a meaningful look, while a distinct flicker of panic briefly crossed Willow’s eyes.

Before long, the two matrons dragged Danielle in.

She was shoved down to her knees, her face etched with panic as she looked at the assembled members of the family.

When Danielle saw Willow, her eyes pleaded for help, but Willow deliberately turned her head away, pretending not to see her.

At that moment, Danielle remembered that Athena had told her Willow wouldn’t stand up for her.

The hope in Danielle’s eyes flickered out. Athena stepped forward, blocking her view, and demanded, “One last time, did you lure Lucky to the rock garden?”

Hearing Athena’s question, Willow lifted her cup with deliberate grace and took a measured sip.

Her expression remained perfectly composed, betraying not a flicker of unease.

Yet, in the very next moment, Danielle’s voice, trembling with tears, rang out.