Chapter 685
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Chapter 685
Chapter 685
Evelyn pleaded with Pamela for a while longer, but the princess still wouldn’t budge.
Enraged, Evelyn laid down the law. “If you insist on this, I won’t try to persuade you any further. But let me be perfectly clear.
“If Fermin divorces you or you leave him, you are never to set foot in the Beren Manor again. The Beren family has no daughter like you p>
“Mother?” Pamela exclaimed, her face a mask of utter shock. She had never imagined Evelyn could be so heartless.
Evelyn let out a cold, disdainful snort and swept out.
Pamela slumped into the chair, utterly defeated. ‘Was I truly in the wrong?‘ she wondered.
At the Xander Manor, Athena was reviewing the household accounts when, suddenly, a tall figure strode briskly through the main
entrance.
Xander entered with a dark expression. As soon as he stepped inside, he dismissed all the servants from the courtyard.
Athena’s expression froze momentarily as Xander was already standing before her.
“What’s wrong?” Athena asked in surprise.
Xander slammed down into the chair, his face dark with rage. “The Queen has been scheming all along–she wants Fermin to take concubines, and now she’s set her sights on Freya and Natasha p>
With a forceful thud, Athena slammed the counting board down onto the table. Her face hardened as she demanded, “Is this true p>
Xander’s brows knitted tightly in anger. “Thanatus had someone relay the message. There’s no way it’s false p>
“The Queen sure knows how to scheme,” Athena hissed through gritted teeth. “Grandfather has just been reinstated, and the Beren family controls the Ministry of Finance.
“Now she’s trying to tie the Perkins Manor, the Xander Manor, and the entire Ministry of Finance to Fermin’s faction for good p>
‘How utterly shameless,’ Athena seethed inwardly.
Athena stood abruptly, her face dark with cold determination, and stalked toward the door.
“Where are you going?” Xander asked urgently.
“The Perkins Manor,” Athena said tersely.
“I’m coming with you,” Xander said.
When Athena and Xander arrived at the Perkins Manor, they found Kurtis pacing anxiously inside, his grizzled beard framing a face turned livid in the flickering candlelight.
A flicker of surprise crossed Kurtis’s face as he saw them. “What brings you two here?” he asked.
“Grandfather, we already know everything,” Athena said softly, her heart aching for the elderly man who shouldn’t have to deal with such matters at his age.
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Chapter 685
Kurtis’s voice was as weathered as an ancient pine. He waved his hand dismissively and said, “The Queen’s scheme is clearly meant to drag the Xander Manor into this mess as well p>
As soon as Freya becomes Fermin’s concubine, both the Xander Manor and the Perkins Manor will inevitably be forced to serve as his political backing.
Whether Athena liked it or not, she would be forced to dance to the Queen’s tune.
The flickering candlelight reflected in Athena’s eyes, revealing a turbulent undercurrent.
Athena turned to Kurtis and said, “We’re just secondary in all this. It’s Freya I’m really worried about–she’s fiercely strong – willed. If anyone tries to force her into marriage, there’s no way she’ll go along with it p>
Freya, a true daughter of a military family, had inherited Kurtis’s unyielding spirit and principles from a young age.
A daughter of the Perkins family would rather die than be a concubine.
‘Don’t be fooled by the grand title of secondary consort, Athena thought bitterly. ‘In reality, it’s no better than being a common concubine p>
Besides, they were all well aware of the Queen’s true intentions.
The only reason to take a secondary consort was to produce an heir.
If she were to bear a son, the child would be placed under Pamela’s care, forcibly separating mother and child. They might even go so far as to dispose of the mother while keeping the child.
Such ruthless tactics were nothing new in noble circles.
Kurtis slumped into his chair with a heavy sigh. “How could I bear to let Freya suffer such indignity?” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
By the end, his voice choked up completely, and he couldn’t utter another word.
Athena thought for a moment, then suddenly said, “Grandfather, I’ve got a plan p>
Kurtis leaned in with interest. “Oh? What stratagem do you have? Let’s hear it p>
AD
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.