Chapter 189
Chapter 189
Gale frantically pulled Athena behind her, her voice trembling as she pleaded, “Princess, the truth of this matter is still unclear. How can you so easily declare Athena guilty?”
Despite Gale’s status, the Mcgee family had long since lost its influence.
Lizzie didn’t even deign to acknowledge her existence.
Seeing Gale protecting Athena so fiercely, Lizzie’s eyes flared with resentment.
But after a moment’s thought, she forcefully suppressed that surge of anger.
Lizzie said coldly, “Mrs. Mcgee, only Athena and Wade were present. Now that Wade is dead, Athena cannot possibly be cleared of suspicion.”
Lizzie’s sudden civility toward Gale took everyone by surprise.
Athena sensed something was off.
Before Athena could process what was happening, Lizzie coldly commanded, “Guards, take Athena to the Federal Bureau!”
Almost instantly, two imperial guards barged in and seized Athena, ready to drag her away.
“Don’t move! Stay back, all of you!” Gale threw herself between the guards and Athena, arms outstretched in a desperate barrier, her voice shaking with
emotion.
Lizzie narrowed her eyes menacingly. She warned, “Mrs. Mcgee, think carefully. Does the Mcgee family truly wish to be dragged into this mess? If you care nothing for your household, have you no regard for Ferris either?”
“Ferris… my Ferris…” Gale murmured, her expression crumbling as her voice trailed off.
She averted her gaze from Athena, her heart wrung with sorrow and pity.
But Ferris was her only son.
In that moment, she found herself utterly torn, caught between her love for her son and her loyalty to Athena.
Athena managed a faint smile at Gale and whispered weakly, “Thank you.”
She was grateful for Gale’s staunch defense and for speaking up on her behalf.
Though their acquaintance was brief, Gale’s kindness had brought Athena a rare sense of warmth.
Gale watched helplessly as Athena was dragged away, large tears streaming down her face.
Gale thought in anguish, ‘Why… why has it come to this? Athena was supposed to marry my Ferris…
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Atheny…” Gale sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. She couldn’t save Athena. She had let her down.
Athena’s face broke into a serene smile, then she was roughly hauled away by the guards.
Lizzie’s face revealed smug satisfaction. She hadn’t expected to dispose of Athena so easily.
Drawing herself up regally like a victorious peacock, she strutted out of the chamber.
She felt that Athena was as good as dead.
Xander shouted, “Who dares show disrespect to my wife?”
Just when everyone thought it was all over, everything changed in an instant.
Suddenly, a squad of elite soldiers stormed in from outside.
With blades drawn, they subdued the courtyard guards in a matter of seconds.
Dazed and disoriented, Athena was suddenly pulled into a broad, solid embrace. The crisp, refreshing scent on the man jolted her awake.
She looked up and saw the man’s strong, chiseled jaw.
‘Prince Xander? He actually came to save me?‘ Athena thought in disbelief.
Xander frowned down at Athena, his brows knitted into a hard knot.
His icy eyes seethed with tempestuous rage, as if he could destroy everything here in the next instant.
Cavendish Slowly, his gaze swept across the crowd. Through clenched teeth, he demanded, “Who dared to harm Mrs. Cavendish like this?”
A blizzard–like pressure descended, freezing even the air itself.
Instantly, everyone’s knees buckled, dropping them to the ground.
The timid ones quivered uncontrollably, not daring to draw breath.
Lizzie frowned involuntarily. Steeling herself against the overwhelming pressure, she stepped forward and performed a deep curtsy. “Prince Xander, greetings,” she said, her voice barely concealing a tremor.
“Are you the one who dared to arrest Mrs. Cavendish?” Xander demanded icily.
Lizzie gasped, her eyes darting nervously to Xander. “Prince Xander, how could you say such a thing?”
She thought, ‘Athena is just a disowned woman, since when did she become Mrs. Cavendish?‘
Xander didn’t even dignify her question with a response.
Behind him, a trusted aide stepped forward and addressed Lizzie. “His Highness Xander has already requested the Emperor’s permission to marry Miss Monson. The imperial decree granting their union will be issued any day now.”
“What?” The news struck like a thunderbolt, leaving everyone’s minds reeling in disbelief.
They thought, ‘Athena, who was once a cast–off, has suddenly become Mrs. Cavendish?‘
Lizzie’s face paled with terror as she thought, ‘Doesn’t this mean Athena is now my aunt by marriage?‘
“Lizzie!” Xander’s thunderous roar cut through the air. “Answer me, my wife came to this party unharmed. Why is she now so gravely injured?” The force of his fury instantly made Lizzie’s knees go weak.
With a thud, Lizzie dropped to her knees, her eyes darting helplessly, her face pale with terror. “Please calm down, Prince Xander,” she stammered “It was… it was all Wade’s doing! That vile man tried to assault Mrs. Cavendish, and she only killed him in self–defense!”
Xander let out a cold, disdainful snort, clearly dissatisfied with Lizzie’s answer.
“You’d better give me a satisfactory response.” With that, Xander strode out, carrying Athena in his arms.
His trusted aide swiftly stepped forward and draped a cloak over Athena, concealing her disheveled state.
Right before everyone’s eyes, Xander took Athena away.
Some sighed with emotion, some watched with envy, while others had their composure completely shattered.
Lizzie collapsed to the ground, her face full of lingering fear.
‘Xander is ruthless. He’ll never let this go,‘ she thought, panic rising in her chest.
She remembered how, once, a prince had crossed Xander and was exiled to the barren wastelands as punishment.
Now that she was of marriageable age, she wondered if Xander wpi;d send her off to some barren, faraway land thousands of miles away
The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became, tears streamed down her cheeks.
She thought, ‘What should I do?‘
Just then, a maid stepped forward and advised, “Your Highness, don’t panic. Hurry to the palace and seek help from the Queen Mother!
‘The Queen Mother has always doted on you, so she won’t turn a blind eye to this.‘
Even if Xander was furious, he’d still have to give the Queen Mother face.
Lizzie took a deep breath, steadying herself. “Yes, yes, I must go to the palace and see the Queen Mother,” she said, her voice regaining a hint of
composure.
With her maid’s support, Lizzie rose unsteadily and made her way outside, her legs still weak from the ordeal.
Ferris waited eagerly for Athena, his heart brimming with joy as he slipped a pair of priceless emerald bangles from his sleeve.
Ferris wondered, ‘How should I propose to Athena when I see her?
‘She’ll surely blush at my words.‘
The thought of seeing Athena so soon filled Ferris with a mix of nerves and excitement.
Just then, Ferris’s trusted aide exclaimed in alarm, “Mr. Mcgee, Miss Monson is coming out!”
Ferris, his back to the door, drew a steadying breath and turned around.
What met his eyes was a heart–stopping sight. Athena, battered and bruised, lay limp in Xander’s arms. Her eyes were shut tight, her condition unclear.
At the sight of Atheny, Ferris felt as if his heart had stopped.
Regaining his senses, he rushed forward in panic, calling out desperately, “Atheny! Atheny…”
Xander’s guards swiftly blocked his path and sternly warned, “Mr. Mcgee, show some respect! You must not address the future Mrs. Cavendish by her nickname.”
Ferris’s eyes widened in shock. He stared at Xander, a mocking smile twisting his lips. “Future Mrs. Cavendish? Prince Xander, you know full well that Athena and I were about to be married. Why would you swoop in and steal her away from me?”
The blatant disrespect in his words was shocking.
Xander shot Ferris an icy glare but remained silent.
He had already shown Ferris every possible consideration.
Carrying Athena in his arms, he walked past Ferris and said coolly, “I gave you your chance. You failed to seize it.”
With that, he strode away decisively.
Ferris was about to chase after them when Gale suddenly threw herself at him, wrapping him in a desperate embrace. “Ferris,” she pleaded, her voice breaking, “let’s go home first, please?”
“Why… why did it come to this?” Ferris cried out in despair.
Ferris collapsed into anguished sobs as the emerald bangles fell from his grasp, smashing to smithereens on the ground.
