The Rise Of The Unwanted Girl (Athena) novel Chapter 277

Chapter 277

Michael was inside the room, close enough to hear every word Willow uttered.

He sat behind his desk, his expression growing noticeably darker.

For the very first time, he began to truly doubt Willow’s moral character.

In his memory, Willow had always been kind–hearted and delicate.

Yet now that she had married him and gotten everything she wanted, she still stooped to slandering Athena behind her back. He couldn’t understand what she hoped to gain from it.

Michael’s brows knitted tightly, his deep disappointment in Willow was plain to see.

The servant entered cautiously, casting a hesitant glance at Michael as he debated whether to relay Willow’s words.

However, Michael simply waved his hand wearily and said, “You may leave.”

Seeing this, the servant had no choice but to withdraw.

Seated at his desk, Michael held the book for ages without turning a page.

Athena’s image kept flashing before his eyes; her smile, her wounded look, every facet of her being.

It suddenly struck him. It had been ages since Athena had truly smiled.

At the very least, not so brightly in front of him.

Now, whenever Athena saw him, she was cold, even resentful. The one thing she never did was smile at him.

When exactly did I wound her so deeply?‘ he asked himself.

Then Michael stepped outside, aimless as a lost soul, and somehow ended up in front of Athena’s place.

The house, with its red walls and green tiles, stood quietly before him. Athena was just inside,

He yearned to push open the door and see her.

But his legs felt like lead, he couldn’t take a single step.

‘Even if I see her,‘ he thought bitterly, ‘how can I face her? How can I possibly ask for her forgiveness?‘

After gazing at the house for a long time, Michael sighed and turned away.

In the days that followed, Michael was nowhere to be found.

Willow, who had started out brimming with confidence, ended up utterly dejected.

A full seven days passed with Michael avoiding her, refusing to see her even once.

Willow was so furious that she smashed everything in sight in her room.

Fortunately, Eloise sent someone to fetch her, saying she was needed back at the Monson estate to tend to a sick family member. Willow seized the excuse and returned to her family home.

When she arrived, her cheeks were wet with tears, and her eyes red and puffy

Willow rushed to Eloise, breaking down as she poured out everything she’d been holding in. It took a while, but Eloise eventually managed to calm her.

As Willow stepped out of Eloise’s courtyard, she bumped into Nicolas.

Since Willow got married, Nicolas had rarely seen his little sister.

The moment he noticed her tear–streaked face, concern clouded his expression. Guiding her gently toward the gazebo, he asked, “Did Michael upset you? Tell me what happened, I’ll take care of it.”

At his words, the tears she had fought to hold back finally spilled over.

8:49 PM

Chapter 277

Nona immediately stepped forward, “From the day Lady Willow joined the Osborne family, Lord Michael has treated her with coldness and distance. Out of respect for the family, she chose not to speak of her troubles so soon after the wedding.

“Their bond had only just begun to mend when malicious rumors reached Lord Michael’s ears. He now wrongly believes that Lady Willow slandered Viscountess and blamed her for the rift between you and your wife. I swear on my life, she said no such thing!”

Nicolas’s brows furrowed deeply as he listened.

“What does what happens between me and Fiona have to do with you, or with Athena?” he snapped.

Still seething, he slammed his fist on the table and roared, “That bastard Michael! How dare he treat you like this? I’ll make him pay!”

Nicolas shot to his feet, furious and about to storm off to confront Michael, but Willow quickly intervened, stopping him. “Nicolas, please don’t! If you confront him like this, it’ll only strain our marriage even more.”

As she pleaded, her red–rimmed eyes were filled with worry.

“Even now,

you’re still defending him?” Nicolas fumed, though beneath his anger was only helplessness and heartache.

Willow was head–over–heels in love with Michael, always putting him first, yet he never cherished her.

I’ll stay at the family estate for a while longer and let him stew. I’m sure he’ll come to his senses,” Willow said.

With no better option at the moment, Nicolas let out a cold snort. “Just stay here and don’t worry. No one would dare gossip about you,”

Willow, looking deeply touched, nodded gently. “Thank you, Nicolas.”

Perhaps from a recent chill, Willow was suddenly wracked by a harsh fit of coughing.

Seeing her in such a pitiful state, Nicolas quickly unfastened his cloak and draped it over her shoulders.

He even meticulously fastened the straps for her.

Both were grown adults, and such intimate gestures should have been tempered with discretion..

Yet Willow and Nicolas saw no impropriety and felt perfectly at ease.

They were siblings, after all. There was no need for anyone to overthink it.

Willow threw herself into Nicolas’s arms, nuzzling him affectionately. “It’s so good to be home, with my big brother protecting me.”

Meanwhile, Nicolas held her in a gentle embrace, his expression soft with fondness. “Still the same as ever, always clinging to me.”

Suddenly, Willow froze.

Not far off, Fiona appeared in the garden, carrying Cedric,

Through the flowering hedge, she watched as Willow and Nicolas stood locked in

an

embrace.

In the past, she would have been consumed by jealousy and utter shock.

But at this moment, she merely cast them a brief, indifferent glance before looking away.

Fiona’s whole world was Cedric now. Cradling her child, she turned to leave and cooed, “My sweet Cedric, are you warm enough today? I will make you some steamed egg custard later, okay?”

Cedric’s little face was rosy, and he was already babbling.

He waved his tiny, chubby hands as if answering in his own language.

Fiona kissed his soft cheek, her face glowing with contentment.

Willow hastily pulled away from Nicolas’s embrace, looking up at him with feigned innocence. “Oh no, Nicolas, what should I do? Fiona must have misunderstood me. Let me go explain it to her.”

As she spoke, she started after Fiona, but Nicolas grabbed her arm and yanked her back.

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