The Rise Of The Unwanted Girl (Athena) novel Chapter 25

Matthew’s face darkened, his expression as black as the bottom of a pot, filled with seething i

He thought, ‘Whena, how dare you?”

“Athena has some nerve,” he said, his voice low and sharp with fury.

Alta flinched, lowering her head in fear. “Lord Joseph, please don’t blame Lady Athena. She didn’t know you were back at the manor

Joseph, with a mocking glance, shot her a skeptical look. “You’re still covering for her? What did she promise you? If she hadn’t returned, Mother would’ve given you to Willow. So why, as soon as she’s back, does a maid who once belonged to Willow suddenly become her?”

Aliza lowered her head even further, too afraid to speak.

Her pitiful demeanor only confirmed Matthew’s suspicions. Fury rising within him, he stormed into the courtyard to confront Athena.

The servants and maids in the courtyard saw him coming and tried to block his path, but with a sharp command, Matthew dismissed them. “Get out of the way.

None of them dared to challenge him, only watching in silence as he kicked open the door to Athena’s room.

Inside, Athena stood quietly in plain clothes, her frail figure and pale face startling Matthew into stillness.

He instinctively glanced around the room but saw no one else. Only then did he turn back to her, his voice unsure. “You… are you really Athena?”

The Athena he remembered had been healthy, vibrant. The woman before him, however, seemed as though life had drained from her entirely, reduced to a mere shadow of herself.

The once lively, cheerful Athena was now a world apart from the person standing in front of him.

A sharp pang hit Matthew’s chest. Something wasn’t right. But he couldn’t put his finger on it. He thought, “Three years of hard labor can’t have changed her this much, cant

Athena gave a faint smile, but there was no warmth behind it

Her tone was so indiferent, so detached, that Matthew almost felt as though he was speaking to a stranger. “Lord Matthew, what brings you here, making such a scene in my courtyard?”

Matthew frowned, his mind struggling to comprehend. “What did you just call me!”

He knew Athena had changed, but he never expected her to be so cold and distant. Every he, her elder brother wasn’t worthy of the simple courtesy of being called his name. He had always been the one who spoiled her.

As a child, he never allowed anyone to get close to his horse except Athens.

He trusted her to care for it, and she always did so perfectly, keeping his beloved horse in top condition. His favorite bow and arrows had she been

entrusted to her.

She had always been the one person he trusted, his most cherished confidante. But now, she couldn’t even call him “Lord Matthew.”

“Athena, have you lost your mind? You’re calling him Lord Matthew?” Joseph’s voice dripped with mockery. “Are you going to deny ma too!

Athena didn’t acknowledge Joseph’s words. Out of all her brothers, he was the one she liked the most.

She focused on the small space in front of her, speaking in a calm, almost detached tone. “So, you’ve come here today to seek revenge for Willow.”

It wasn’t a question, but a statement, because this kind of thing had happened too many

times before..

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Chapter 25

Every time Willow was wronged, the two brothers would storm in without hesitation, holding her accountable for everything without even knowing the

facts

Sometimes, Athena couldn’t help but wonder what kind of sins Henry had committed to father two such foolish man,

Already frail, the commotion from the two brothers was starting to wear Athena down.

She sat down on a stool and poured herself a cup of coffee, taking small sips. As she lifted her arm, her sleeve slipped down, revealing scars on her

skin.

“How did you get these injuries?” Matthew asked, his voice thick with concern.

were doing this for her own good, but she refuses to see it.

Suppressing the ache in his chest, Matthew forced a stern expression “Why do you always target Willow? Haven’t we treated you well? Why do you insist on competing with her for that small bit of affection? All it does is make us more disappointed in you.”

“After I came back, I tried to win your favor. I willingly fed your horses, cleaned the stables, and when you loved archery, leven went to the mountains to gather wood for your bows, getting scratched and bruised in the process. But my efforts only eamed a glance, and you handed my bow straight to Willow…

She had poured her heart out, offering everything she had, only for it to be trampled upon

Joseph muttered, clearly irritated, “You did all that willingly, so why are you making such a fuss? Besides, Willow is our sister. We let her have some things–what’s the harm in that?

so, I’m just supposed to be ignored?” Athena took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm. “To you, my efforts mean nothing, so you think it’s fine to trample on me. But if it were Willow, would you treat her the same way?”

When Willow was a child, they cherished every scribble she made or every clumsy Ettle pouch she stitched. They kept them as treasures, proof of her

love.

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