The Rise Of The Unwanted Girl (Athena) novel Chapter 268

Chapter 268

Athena looked at Xander’s expressionless face, somewhat confused by his words.

Athena frowned. What does he mean, Ferris is actually enjoying this?‘ she wondered.

Athena frowned in thought, then suddenly understood what Xander meant.

“No way!” Athena retorted, unable to stomach the implication. “Ferris may seem aloof, but he’s absolutely not the kind of man you’re implying

Xander’s expression remained calm, yet his gaze was stubbornly fixed on Athena. “Atheny, people change,” he said.

“But…” Athena’s eyes darted around uncertainly. Suddenly, she recalled Ferris’s reaction from earlier, and the words died on her lips.

Normally, given Ferris’s character, he would never yield to Lizzie, Athena thought.

But today. Ferris was acting so out of character.

Athena’s fists clenched tightly, then went limp as she released them helplessly.

Xander saw the struggle in her eyes and gently patted her shoulder. “Atheny, this is his choice.”

Athena looked up again, her eyes rimmed with red. “But I just want him to be happy,” she choked out.

Athena thought, I should have seen this coming when Ferris became the Imperial Overseer!

Athena realized that she and Ferris were drifting further and further apart.

Now I get it, Athena thought. No wonder Ferris came rushing to see me today and said all those puzzling things.

“Ferris has moved on with his life. What about you?” Xander asked Athena.

Atheny looked at him blankly. “I… I don’t know…”

Xander smiled, though the smile was tinged with bitterness. “It’s alright,” he said gently. “Take your time to think–I’ll be here, waiting for you.”

Xander’s sudden confession left Athena completely at a loss.

Their relationship was now hopelessly tangled, like a ball of yarn that no one could unravel.

A sudden gust of cold wind made Athena shiver involuntarily.

Xander noticed how frail Athena looked in the chilly wind. Without hesitation, he slipped off his cloak and gently draped it over her shoulders.

“Come on, I’ll send you home,” Xander said gently.

The carriage that had been following at a short distance pulled up, and Athena got into it.

“Thank you,” Athena said through the carriage window to Xander.

Xander gave her a gentle smile and said, “Go on.”

The carriage slowly rolled away. Xander stood rooted to the spot, watching until it disappeared into the distance before finally tearing his gaze away.

Ansel let out a soft sigh behind him. “Master, why didn’t you escort Lady Athena home?”

“She needs some peace and rest right now. I don’t want to burden her any further,” Xander said, his gaze shifting into the distance, a dangerous glint flickering in his eyes.

Ansel’s expression tightened as he tentatively asked, “Master, do you want me to go to Lizzie’s?”

Xander fixed Ansel with an icy stare that sent chills down his spine.

Ansel instantly snapped to attention and replied respectfully, “Understood.” With that, Ansel leaped and vanished into the night.

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Chapter 268

Lizzie’s Manor.

Lizzie returned to her manor, too excited to sleep.

Her male favorites in the manor swarmed around her, fawning, “Princess, you wouldn’t leave us behind, would you?” they pleaded, each trying to outdo the others in their flattery.

“Princess, what will become of us if you get married?”

A group of exquisitely groomed male favorites clustered around Lizzie, their eyes brimming with anxious concern.

They were terrified that Lizzie would cast them aside, forcing them back into a life of hardship and poverty.

Staying with Lizzie meant a life of endless luxury and privilege–they’d never dream of leaving her.

Lizzie lounged lazily on the divan, her gaze drifting from one favorite to another, unwilling to part with any of them.

Every single one of these male consorts had been painstakingly handpicked by Lizzie after an exhaustive search.

Each of them bore some resemblance to Ferris–whether in the eyes, the mouth, or the bridge of the nose.

Lizzie reached out and cupped the chin of her nearest favorite, a doting smile playing on her lips. She cooed, “You’re all my precious

darlings. How could I ever bear to part with any of you?”

“But, Princess, what happens to us if you get married?”

“Of course, I will keep you all,” Lizzie said with a smile. “As long as you behave and don’t cause me trouble, no one will ever be able to pry you away from my side.”

With Lizzie’s assurance, all the male favorites broke into satisfied smiles.

Lizzie’s male favorites pulled out all the stops to curry favor with her.

Before long, the room was filled with unmistakable sounds of passion that would make anyone blush.

Ansel perched on a large tree in the courtyard, arms crossed and eyes squeezed shut, his brows furrowed in clear disgust.

“To marry a woman like that,‘ Ansel thought, ‘Ferris is truly cursed.

A sudden voice from behind startled Ansel. “What, too squeamish to go inside?”

He whirled around to find a woman clad in black standing behind him, her face as cold as ice.

Ansel quickly wiped the casualness from his eyes and said seriously, “Of course not! I was just thinking about how to teach them a lesson and get some justice for Miss Monson.”

“Useless,” Jessa sneered coldly. She pulled her mask over her face and, in a flash, launched herself into the room.

With lightning speed, she vanished in the blink of an eye.

Ansel’s face fell at the thought of the scene inside. “Wait!” he blurted out, alarmed.

‘What is happening inside is not very pleasant to the eyes, Ansel thought.

He hurried after her.

Suddenly, with a resounding crash, a door panel came hurtling straight at Ansel. He frantically dodged aside.

The door panel whizzed past him, narrowly missing him, and slammed into the tree with a thunderous crash.

Suddenly, panicked shouts erupted throughout the manor, “Assassin! Protect the princess! Protect the princess!”

When Ansel leaped into the room, he saw bodies strewn haphazardly across the floor.

There were maids, attendants, and several stark–naked men sprawled haphazardly across the floor.

Lizzie lay sprawled on the floor, barely covered, her body paralyzed yet her mind painfully alert.

Lizzie stared in horror at the assassin who had suddenly burst in, her eyes wide with terror, unable to utter a single word.

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