Chapter 339
Henry froze when he saw the woman,
He immediately tried to sidestep hes, only to find her blocking his path again.
The woman asked, “Mr. Monson, why are you avoiding me?”
Henry’s face darkened as he forced a strained seile. “Loretta, what brings you here?”
The woman was none other than Athena’s adoptive mother, Loretta Holmes,
Operating undercover in Petanion, she had long served as Nicolas’s right hand woman,
Years ago, it was Loretta who helped Nicolas escape from the imperial capital
To protect Nicolas’s life, Loretta forced Henry to acknowledge Nicolas as his legitimate heir and claimed he was born to Eloise in the countryside.
Henry’s eyes blazed with hatred as he looked at Loretta,
Henry thought bitterly, ‘If it hadn’t been for Loretta’s threats back then, I never would have been forced to join the rebels and end up reduced to living a
an outlaw?
Loretta let out a soft chuckle and said, “Mr. Monson, why such hostility toward me! If you hadn’t drowned your brother, you wouldn’t have taken the position as the Duke.”
She spoke so casually, but Henry’s eyes widened in horrified shock.
Henry’s face visibly drained of color in an instant
Fortunately, no one was around. Henry gritted his teeth and snapped, “For God’s sake, that’s all ancient history. What’s the point of digging it up now? You’ve already ruined my life. What more do you want?”
Henry thought bitterly, ‘It’s horrible having someone hold your life in their hands.
And to make matters worse, Loretta had kept Henry under her thumb for over a decade.
Not a day went by that Henry didn’t fantasize about killing Loretta!
Loretta smiled nonchalantly and said, “You’re out of options now. You’d better give up any foolish ideas and stay put if ever find out your crossing me, I’ll make you wish you were dead.”
“How dare you threaten me?” Herry snapped, veins bulging at his temples.
But this stronghold was built from the ground up by Loretta, and every man here was loyal to her.
Though seething with rage, Henry was powerless against Lovetta.
Loretta let out a contemptuous snort. “So what if it’s a threat? Don’t forget, you have only yourself to blame for all this. When you handed Athena over to me back then, you never intended for her to survive, did you?
“You knew damn well that worthless husband of mine was into drinking whoring, and gambling Giving Athena to him was practically a death sentence for her, yet you still went ahead and did it!”
Henry’s face turned ashen, then tushed crimplon under Loretta’s verbal assault. He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles bamed white, barely restraining himself from hitting har in the lon
Loretta looked at Henry’s crestfallen face, her eyes gleaming with even greater disdain. “No matter how veno
- am. I’m nothing compared to you,
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Chapter 339
For the title of the duke’s heir, you murdered your broth yourself”
Henry swallowed hard, a metallic tang spreading across his to
Rage churned violently i
i tried to kill your daughter, You brought every misery you are facing now upon
y in ferry’s chest, the bitter taste of blood rising in his throat. He nearly coughed it up.
Henry’s eyes bulged as he jabbed a finger at Loretta and said, “You venomous bitch!”
Loretta’s words cut deeper than swords
Henry w
wondered bitterly, if I hadn’t taken that wrong turn all those years ago, would my fate Rave been different
Loretta let out a bizarre and triumphant laugh as she walked away
Henry stood rooted to the spot, his guts twisting with regret.
No outlaw would ever meet a good and
All that awaited him now was certain death.
Henry gazed up at the sky in utter despair, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face.
Had he not been so consumed by greed, perhaps he could have grown old peacefully with Vania Perkins
He said, “Vania, I’ve wronged you so deeply!”
Henry thought, am sorry for Athena, too. One wrong step led to another, and now there’s no turning back
At Pidence City
Athena laid Vania to rest in a tranquil place and enshrined her tombstone at the Guardian Church.
Today marked Athena’s official relocation to her newly bestowed manor
In recognition of Athena’s discovery of the gold mine, Arthur granted her the title of Duchess.
He also bestowed the duke’s estate upon her.
Athena stood before the crimson–lacquered gates of the duke’s estate. Once, she had escaped this soul devouring manor by reading on a ram’s edge.
Now Athena returned to the very duke’s estate she had once fed as the Duchess.
The sunlight glinting off the gilded plaque stung her eyes, making them bum..
“Your Highness, the old plaque has been removed. The steward’s voice snapped Athena back to reality.
Beneath the intel carved with dragons, the plaque escribed with “Duke’s Estate” was hurled down onto the bluestone slabs, shattering into countless fragments.
The new plaque was slowly raised into place, bearing the grand characters for “Duchess Manor“. The king had personally written these wroch.
Athena was no longer the helpless little girl she once was. She had transformed into
strong and well–rebant.
Now, she could rely on herself.
Trina’s delighted laughter rang in Athena’s ear. “Your Highness, this place is absolutely magnificent!”
Chapter 339
have family by
The joyful laughter and da
rature, they
ata promptly replied, “Everythe
You needn’t worry about a thing”
Achen couldn’t help but laugh “Oh, look at me got so wicted complenty forgot the courting
I I
nothing to you
eeing you back in such glory today truly fills me with
finally come.”
ha knowing smil Now all that
I felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. Just as she was about to spe courtyard
Iderment. “Marquita, why are you pulling me away?s
“Enough charter out of you,” Marquita said with a
Suddenly, a towering shadow eclipsed the su
agarwood dried
The whisper of her shirt briching over the bluestone was fatherlight She turned, just in time to mar
clad in jet black robes that highlighted his broad should
Beneath the fabric, the sleek ntours of his muscles were subtly define
The sunlight caught his brow, deepening the wan
Meeting Xander’s warm gan, Athena couldn’t suppress the smile blossoming her face. “What brings you here?” i
Xander smiled casually, “it’s the first day in your home. Thought I’d bring you a little housewarming
But behind him stretched an endless procession of servants carrying chests. The line med towns into the horm
This was clearly not a casual gesture.
Athena curved her lips into a rating smile and quipped, “Your Highness, have you emptied out the entire Kander your fortune to my manor. Are you always this greensus, or is it just for me?
braucht hat
“For others. as tight listed as they come But for you.“Kander drawled, stepping forward was close to the Hened in his voice low
17:17 Fri, 18 Jul 005
Chapter 339
and intimate. “I’d gladly give you everything I own.”
AD
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