Chapter 69
Nicolas glared at Matthew with olivious displeasure. Though Matthew looked resentful, he didn’t dare say another word.
Then, Nicolas, adopting a conciliatory tone, burned to Willow and said, “Willow, this matter did originate from you, and you were indeed at T sentence you to be grounded in the memorial hall in solitary reflection for a day, no food, no water. Will you submit to this punishment?”
Willow choked out between sobs, “I am willing.”
She cast Nicolas a grateful glance before lowering her head.
Willow thought, ‘The Osborne Lamily is coming for the betrothal the day after tomorrow, I absolutely can’t afford to be punished now!
Nicolas coldly passed sentence on Danielle. “Eighty lashes with the cane, then banishment from the Monson family”
Eighty lashes was a death sentence in itsell
This wasn’t a punishment at all, it was nothing short of a death sentence, a ruthless way to silence her forever.
As Danielle was dragged away screaming, Willow visibly let out a sigh of relief
Athena gave a cold, mocking laugh. She’d seen this coming, but actually witnessing it still made her sick to her stomach.
Without another word, Athena whirled around and strode out with determined steps.
A sense of foreboding gripped Nicolas. Instinctively, he stepped forward and blocked Athena’s path, demanding sharply, “What do you think you’re doing?”
e bit out. “Mo
Athena halted, fixing Nicolas with a glacial stare, Her eyes were like ice as she bit out, “Move.”
Athena’s tone wasn’t forceful, if anything, it was almost flar
But to Nicolas, it struck like a sledgehammer blow to the heart.
His heart sank like a stone, and an indescribable sense of oppression washed over him.
Seeing the disappointment in Athena’s eyes, Nicolas could no longer muster the courage to stop her.
Nicolas slowly lowered his arm. Without so much as a glance in his direction, Athena turned and strode out of the main hall.
After Athena left, Willow peered timidly after her, eyes brimming with confusion.
Given Athena’s temperament, she would never let Willow off so easily.
But Athena said nothing at all, she simply turned on her heel and walked away.
This was just too strange.
Eloise, oblivious to Willow’s distress, gently pulled her to her feet and patted her hand. “Go on,” she said softly, “spend some time in the memorial hall and seriously reflect on your actions
Relief washed over Eloise’s face
Nicolas had shown leniency toward Willow. Though Athena was displeased. Eloise would go and comfort her.
Glas had sho
Willow nodded gently at Eloise, then headed toward the memorial hall
All the way to the memorial hall, Willow couldn’t shake the image of Athena’s icy stare from her mind.
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Chapter 69
That gaze was like icicles in the dead of winter, sending chills down her spinë.
A maid escorted Willow to the memorial hall, then departed.
Willow fell on the cushion, her face still streaked with tears. Though her aggrieved sobs had subsided, intermittent droplets continued to fall, darkenis small patches on her collar.
Her eyes were puffy and red, her gaze clouded with confusion and bewilderment.
Every time Willow recalled Athena’s icy stare, a chill ran down her spine.
“Why can’t Athena ever accept me?‘ Willow wondered in frustration.
The question kept haunting Willow, like an
v, like an invisible hand twisting her heart again and again.
Before she knew it, midnight arrived.
The memorial hall was filled with the musty scent of age. Inside, it was pitch–dark and eerily silent, the kind of place that sent shivers down your spine.
As the chill seeped into her very core, Willow couldn’t help but shiver. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around herself for warmth.
A full day without food or water had left Willow’s throat parched and burning
Her stomach growled hungrily. She licked her parched lips, squeezing her eyes shut to force away thoughts of food.
Just then, a faint sound came from the doorway.
Suddenly, a small cloth–wrapped bundle came rolling in from outside.
“Who’s there?” Willow called out warily, her voice barely above a whisper.
There was only silence outside.
After a moment’s hesitation, Willow cautiously approached and picked up the cloth bundle.
Inside was a sandwich and a small lamp.
A spark of surprised delight lit up Willow’s eyes. It must be from Mother or Joseph, she thought, feeling a wave of gratitude wash over her.
A wave of gratitude washed over her. “They know I’m afraid of the dark, so they sent me a lamp, Willow thought.
With trembling hands, Willow fumbled desperately in the darkness and finally managed to pull out the tinderbox, shakily bringing it close to the oil lamp.
As soon as the faint flame touched the wick, there was a sudden pop-
In an instant, the entire oil bowl burst into flames. The fire, like a ravenous beast, roared to life and shot nearly two feet into the air.
wildly, casting flickering light into every shadowy corner of the memorial hall and illuminating Willow’s face,
Fiery orange tongues of flame danced wi contorted with sheer terror.
A searing pain shot through Willow’s hand. Panic–stricken, she let out a piercing scream and violently flung the oil lamp away like it was burning her
flesh
Every drop of lamp oil inside splattered onto the tablets of the ancestors of the Monson family.
Slick with lamp oil, they were instantly engulfed in roaring flames.
The fire raged through the cramped memorial hallke a stampeding herd, completely out of control.
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Chapter 69
In the blink of an eye, the surrounding drapes ignited
Tongues of flame licked hungrily at the Monson family’s ancestral portraits
Willow was stunned by the sudden scene before her, her mind going completely bili
was consumed by a car
It wasn’t until the billowing smoke sent her into a violent coughing fit that she finally snapped out of her dam. Jolted a door, stumbling and crawling in terified desperation
At that moment, panicked shouts from the servants outside erupted as they screamed, “Final The memorial is on fire
Just as everyone rushed over with buckets, they saw Willow, her face blackened with soot, scrambling out of t behind her, panic written all over her face.
Her hair was singed and charred, her dress smeared with soot and ash, she was the very picture of utter disarray
Willow looked up and saw Henry, his eyes bulging wide in shock, and Eloise with a look of honor
His eyes bulged as it about to pop out of their sockets, his face twisted in utter disbelief and rage
the scrambled toward the
Beside him, Eloise also stood frozen in horror, her mouth agape as if about to speak, but the sudden turn of events left her utterly speechless, all color draining from her face until she was deathly pale.
Lined up
behind them were Nicolas and his two brothers, their faces pale with terror..
Nicoles frowned deeply, his eyes full of panic and unease as he stared hard at Willow, as if unable to believe she could have caused
The other two brothers stood frozen, faces deathly pale and bodies trembling, utterly stunned by the inferno consuming the memorial hal soot–streaked, disheveled appearance.
There also stood Athena, silent and still behind the crowd
Athena fixed Willow with a steady, unblinking gas, her eyes utterly devoid of surprise or panic.
Athena’s gaze was like watching a play she’d long anticipated, her eyes glinting with mockery as if laughing at
st Willow’s foolishness.
An Icy dread shot up Willow’s spine, and a tidal wave of terror overwhelmed her.
An invisible hand seemed to crush her heart, each beat a desperate struggle
Her lips parted, desperate to explain, but her throat seized up, not a single word would come. She stood rooted to the spot, pinned under the crowd’s piercing stares, each gaze stabbing into her like a needle.
At that moment, Willow was nothing but a sinner in everyone’s eyes
Athena curled her lips into a cold smirk. A sinner should look the part, she thought.
She had promised Willow would pay.
Destroying the memorial hall was no less than grinding the ancestors‘ bones to dust and scattering their ashes, a true act of ultimate desecration
“Let’s see how Willow wriggles out of the punishment she so richly deserves, Athena thought coldly
