Chapter 97

Athena's voice was calm and indifferent, but the sarcasm in her eyes was as sharp as needles, making everyone's expressions shift, especially Willow. Her face turned pale, and the tears in her eyes began to fall freely. She tensed up hard, seemingly trying to suppress her grief, her face full of despair.

"Athena is right. I should've left long ago." As she finished speaking, she suddenly got up and charged toward the wall.

Seeing this, Athena grabbed her back, yet because Willow used too much force, Athena was also dragged down to the floor.

Screams rang out in the room. Eloise rushed over to Willow, overcome with shock and anger, tears pouring down her face. She had never lost control like this before. Now she looked like a madwoman, crying and yelling, "Willow, what are you doing? If you die, your mother won't live either!"

As she spoke, she shoved Athena away and held Willow tightly in her arms, sobbing as if her heart was breaking. The scene made it look like Athena had committed some monstrous crime.

Athena fell hard to the ground, her hand hitting the sharp floor. Pain shot through her as her fingernail split in half. When she raised her hand, she saw blood welling up under the broken nail, revealing the raw flesh beneath. Her finger trembled with pain. She couldn't even speak.

A furious shout erupted. "You'll only be satisfied when you've driven Willow to death? Look what you've done!"

Nicolas rushed to help Eloise and Willow up, glaring at Athena with seething rage.

Henry also wore a face of fury. He scolded, "How could you speak to your sister like that? You tried to drive her away because of jealousy. What if we weren't here? How many shameful things have you done behind our backs?"

The incident from three years ago, when Athena was accused of drugging Willow, resurfaced in Henry's mind. He thought this daughter was beyond salvation. Even after three years of discipline, she remained unchanged.

"Lady Athena, get up quickly," Gwen said, hurrying over to help Athena. When she saw Athena's hand, she gasped sharply. "How did it get this bad?"

Everyone turned to look. Her nail was dripping with blood. The whole finger was purple and bruised.

Even Eloise widened her eyes in shock, visibly unsettled. "Athena, I didn't mean to—don't blame me." She had only acted in a panic earlier; she hadn't meant to hurt Athena. Now, seeing the injury on Athena's hand, her heart ached terribly. She truly hadn't meant it.

Nicolas's words also died in his throat. He hadn't expected Athena to be hurt.

Even Henry's expression softened slightly at the sight of her injury. He recalled Margaret's words. "You've never shown her love. How could she possibly accept you as her father?"

Henry lowered his voice and asked with concern, "How did you hurt your finger? Go call the doctor."

Late to react, Eloise also came around. "I just saved Willow, don't blame her anymore."

"Yes, exactly," Nicolas said awkwardly in agreement.

Facing all these panicked faces, Athena's own expression remained untouched. She gave a cold smile and said, "I saved Willow only because I didn't want her dying in Grandmother's courtyard. If she wants to die, she can do it somewhere else. She just wants to drag Grandmother down with her, so she'll be accused of mistreating a foster daughter. What a fine calculation."

She turned to Willow and said, "Did you rush in my direction because you counted on me stepping in to stop you!" Willow's face instantly drained of all color. She shook her head frantically, denying it. "No, it's not like that, Athena, how could you accuse me?"

As she spoke, she burst into fresh tears pitifully. The tension in the room, which had just begun to ease, instantly thickened again.

Nicolas couldn't even be bothered to pretend anymore. The way he looked at Athena was full of disgust. He pulled Willow behind him protectively and snapped, "You think everyone's like you, scheming and vicious? You're so full of malice, you assume the same of others?"

Athena raised her brow slightly. "If I were truly that vicious, she'd be a corpse right now, and you wouldn't be standing there talking to me?"

"You…" Nicolas was so enraged by her outrageous remark, he looked ready to explode. "What, even your elder brother isn't worth your respect anymore?"

Athena met his anger with a steady gaze and said coldly, "Never has been."

Perhaps provoked by her icy manner, Nicolas lost control and shouted, "If you don't want to stay here, then why not leave? The doors are wide open! Go, instead of staying and glaring at us every day!"

Athena said, "No need to rush. Once Grandmother's health is stable, I'll leave on my own."

Hearing this, Eloise panicked. "Leave? What are you talking about? You're a child of the Monson family. Where could you go?"

Then she turned to hit Nicolas. "What nonsense are you spouting? You've lost your mind!"

Nicolas's eyes were red, his fists clenched tight, saying nothing.

"Silence, all of you!" Henry shouted as the room descended into chaos. Everyone went quiet.

He looked at Athena, breathing heavily. Her face was pale and defiant. She made him feel utterly exhausted. After a long breath, he tried to soften the atmosphere. "Your grandmother and I discussed it just now. We'll give you ten shops and two estates. Will that help ease your mind?"

Seeing the look of charity on his face, Athena almost laughed.

Balance? What balance? This is just him calculating positions and benefits, she thought.

She knew it was only because her grandmother had threatened to starve herself that he agreed to such terms. The more she thought of her grandmother's sacrifice, the more disgusted she became with Henry.

Looking him straight in the eye, she said each word with sharp clarity, "Not enough."

She would take the shops and estates, but not for her. She would hand them all to her grandmother for her comfort in old age.

Henry was so furious he almost fainted. Clutching his chest, he gasped for air.

"My lord!" Eloise rushed to steady him, helping him breathe, but her gaze at Athena was full of blame. "Athena, how could you upset your father?"

Henry closed his eyes, unwilling to speak. Athena, still wearing a mocking smile, remained cold and indifferent. And just like that, she was once again cast as the villain.

"Father," Nicolas spoke up in agitation. "This won't do! Ten shops and two estates were half the family's assets!"

Then he suddenly turned to Athena, as if he'd just realized something. "So this is your plan all along! I was wondering why you've been visiting Grandmother's courtyard so often. It turns out you've been scheming with her to steal the Monson family's property. You really do have a massive appetite."

As he finished, both Eloise and Willow turned to stare at Athena.