Chapter 318
ince Margaret didn’t fresh her send
spress her aptation as she kept latera
inconsciously her hands twisted hercher krukerninge from the strain
archiet, atise
low, moved
Within the wat mansion, only Margaret’s reverberated
Vania and i stayed i
months flew by without a sing word from him
iber your father and ene Pingle fron
a found out she was pregnant.
we finally heard from him again, he had already! close to her due date. Unexpectedly, the centage deliver a baby girl before the passed away
is streamed down Athena’s
Trans
We had the
uma the red hair to the duke’s estate Vania and set out for idence Dry She
vident on the way. The shock sent i
mature labor. She fought desperat
Her fats clenched to tightly her knuckles turned white, eyes wide with
Margaret could hardly bring herself to meet Athena’s eyes, her guilt laden voice growing fainter.
She reluctantly nodded, as if the couldn’t bear exposing
ke’s estate’s dirty affairs. She continued, “Your father complied with Elbise for the duke’s
title. By the time arrived in Pidence City with you in my arms, Eloise had already given birth to a baby girl about your age
“At that time, Eloise was already the duchess, posing as your mother, but couldn’t account for an extra child. So,
her own, while her actual daughter was passed
adopted orphan
Since it was public annaledge that your mother and had turned to Pidence City Eloise had no choice but to acknowledge you as her imagined she could be so cruel as to abandon you while you were just a baby.
“tried everything to find you and bring you back, but even then, I still couldn’t protect you. You ended up enduringthree bitter years of hardship in the
military camp:
“These matters are a deep stain on the duke’s estate. To protect honor, your father and kept them completely concealed, not even elders in the family knew about them
By this point, Margaret was already weeping uncontrollably.
With trembling hands, she reached out and grasped Athena’s hand, managing a pained smile. “Child, I am sorry. To protect your father’s title, I kept the truth from you and made you suffer all these years for nothing.
“I am truly sorry for what I’ve done to your
Choking back sobs, Margaret confessed to Athena, “For her own daughter, Eloise was dead set on eliminating you. The poison in these pastries was her daine”
Athena gritted her teeth and demanded, “Did Willow know about all this?”
Margaret nodded slowly, her voice heavy with regret “She’s known her true identity from the very beginning. Every putul act, every time she tried to undermine you, it was all to secure her place the legitimate heir.
ty and lived a life of opulence that
Athena found this series of events absurd. Her birth mother had been impersonated by Eloise, who stole her identity should have been hats.
Chapter 318
Athena was the legitimate her, yet her aunt schemes let her homeless and motherless.
Her birth mother’s resting place still remained unknown.
Athena was sobbing uncontrollably, a searing flame burning in her chest, scorching her very soul.
The truth was unbearably cruel. For over a decade, the had taken her enemy as her mother.
Everyone had kept this from her, Even Kulis never knew that the one who passed was his eldest daughter
Athena felt that Kurtis must still be wondering why his most obedient daughter suddenly cut all ties with him.
“How could this happen?” Athena wouldn’t believe it. She frantically shook Margaret’s hand and asked, “Grandmother, this isn’t real. Please, tell me this isn’t reall
Athena collapsed to her knees before Margaret, burying her face in Margaret’s lapas sobs wracked her body
She had imagined countless possibilities. She thought Elone simply disliked her for being a gr
But never had she imagined the truth would be so devastating.
She thought, ‘No wonder Grandmother always doted on me and shielded me at every turn. So this was the reason
Margaret’s eyes were swollen and red from crying. Gazing at Athena with profound heartache, she gently stroked her hair, her voice thick with twar “Athena, I’ve failed you. If you must blame someone, blame me. it’s entirely my fault”
Athena was on the verge of collapse as she cried, “Grandmother, you’ve kept this from me for decades. Why tell me now? Why not keep it from mo
forever!
Faced with Athena’s anguished questioning, Margaret closed her eyes in sorrow and shook her head weakly.
She murmured, it’s my fault. It’s all my fault.“”
Margaret and then clung to each other, dissolving into uncontrollable obs
With trembling hands, Margaret fumbled a gold pendant from her robes and pressed it into Athena’s palm. “Athena, this was left to you by your mother when you were born”
Athena’s hands shook as she accepted the pendant, her grip tightning until her knuckles burned white
Tears streamed down her face, falling faster than she could wipe them away
She could only y imagine how desperate and heartbroken her mother must have been back then,
She had just given birth to Athena, and then she had to be separated from her already
Clutching the gold pendant, Athena collapsed into wracking sobs, as if she could finally release all the years of pain and injustice she had endured.
injustice`shi
“Your mother was buried by the Jana River, about fifteen miles from Pidence City. Every year, I would go to pay my respects. L.” Margaret’s voice prem increasingly faint.
Athena looked up in alarm to see blood trickling from her mouth, Margaret was clearly at death’s door.
“Grandmother!” Athena shricked,
Only then did she notice Margaret’s lips had tumed a dark, unnatural purple, Athena realized with horror that Margaret
“No. Please, Grandmother, don’t die. I don’t blame you” Athena stricked, more panicked than sho’d inver been.
dak pan
23:12 Thu, 17 Jul I E
Chapter 318
She screamed, “Someone, help! Trina, bring my medical kitnow”
Clutching Margaret’s hand in near hysterical desperation, she pleaded, “I’m a miracle healer, Grandmother can save you I won’t let
- a. I have
On her last breath, Margaret gazed at Athena, a look of profound relief dawning in her eyes. “Athena, my dearest Atheria. many years. Now, I am finally free. Please, just let me po”
“No. Grandmother, don’t die. I can’t lose you too. Athena clung to Margaret, sobbing uncontrollably. She had lost everyone else. losing her grandmother on top of that.
But Margaret took the poison with the resale to die. Even then, who was a miracle healer, couldn’t save someon
poisoned.
With a trembling hand, Margaret reached out to caress Athena’s face and whispered weakly. “Athena, you must live a good live My never be atoned for in this lifetime…”
“No, Grandmother. Please don’t die. Grandmother, please. Athena sobbed while clutching Margaret’s hand as she fran
verd with this quilt for so
hed for her medicil
Then, she realized that Margaret had peacefully closed her eyes for the last time
A heartbroken wail tore from Athena’s throat. The door burst open, and Gwen, along with all the household staff from the courtyard, collapsedtother
knees.
Gwen, her face etched with grief, intoned, “Farewell, Lady Margaret”
The servants behind her echoed in unison, “Farewell, Lady Margaret.”
AD
