Chapter 432
Upon hearing Viola's heartfelt declaration, Barrett felt no joy whatsoever. It seemed he had never truly understood her.
Initially, when the Farrell family allowed her to return to the estate without the obligation of remaining a widow, he had assumed it was due to her gentle nature. Now, he found himself perplexed.
The steward did not return, nor did the guards who had accompanied him. The person who had been attacked refused any resolution, demanding that his assailants be severely punished. The steward eventually confessed, admitting it was his order. His action spared Viola.
The Royal Citadel detained all of them. While the criminal aspect was dealt with, the man who had his limbs broken could still claim compensation for medical expenses.
Viola was eager to resolve the issue swiftly, hoping to prevent further complications. To that end, she sent a thousand silver coins to the injured man.
Upon learning of this, Rebecca reprimanded, "Is it true that his limbs were broken? Why haven't you sent someone to check? For all we know, it could be a scam. Is there even a reason for him to throw dung at the gate of our residence?
"Besides, broken limbs can be treated. It's not as if his limbs have been severed. Even if bones are broken, treatment wouldn't cost more than a hundred silver coins. Yet, you gave him a thousand silver coins -such a profitable scam! Won't this only encourage more extortionists in the future?"
"Mother, please don't be angry. No one will come to extort us again. That person was definitely sent by Carissa. And once Aurora apologizes, this matter will be resolved," Viola replied.
"What?" Rebecca's brows knitted in shock and anger. "The person who threw dung every day was sent by Carissa?"
Once Viola recounted seeing Carissa at the estate gate that day, Rebecca's fury erupted.
"She... she is already a princess consort. Why can't she let go of us? It's as if she wishes for everyone in our house to be completely wiped out."
Seeing her mother-in-law denounce Carissa with such fury, Viola felt a mixture of relief and satisfaction.
"With such a wicked heart, she will surely face retribution," Viola declared.
However, there was an underlying worry in her heart. Since taking over the management of the household, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law had frequently expressed their dissatisfaction with her. Though her husband never voiced his concerns, his occasional contemplative silence left her with a cold and distant feeling.
The servants in the household, including the steward, had never spoken a word against Carissa. Even when Viola attempted to guide the conversation, they seemed oblivious, consistently praising Carissa as a good and kind mistress.
Charlotte, the old lady from the second branch of the family, was even more direct. She praised how well the household had functioned under Carissa. Even Viola's eldest sister-in-law, Amelia, echoed those sentiments.
Before marrying into the Warren family, Viola had expected that everyone would despise Carissa. Given Carissa's narrow-minded and jealous nature, Viola thought she would have been harsh toward the servants, who would then speak ill of her.
Yet, it was only her critical mother-in-law and youngest sister-in-law who harbored such intense hatred towards Carissa.
Viola's anxiety stemmed from the
feeling that she seemed to
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understand everything while grasping nothing fully. She vowed to surpass Carissa and to be more accommodating. She especially wanted to prove to the world that even as a woman who had remarried, she could handle the household better and manage the Warren family with exceptional skill.
She also intended to mend her relationship with Aurora. Since Aurora was also a rightful wife,
by the king, Viola believed that
long as she was sufficiently lenient towards the other woman, Aurora would be eternally grateful. After all, she had once been rejected by Carissa.
having been granted this fel
But Viola had miscalculated even that.
Aurora showed no appreciation for her kindness, only a cold indifference that was infuriating. Their disagreements often escalated. Despite Viola's attempts to resolve conflicts, Aurora seemed determined to argue about every little thing, unwilling to settle unless right and wrong were established.
To Aurora, everything she did was right, while everything Viola did was wrong.
That distortion of right and wrong was truly maddening.
Life after marrying into the Warren family had been a mess, completely different from what Viola had previously imagined. Aside from her husband's relatively good treatment, nothing else was going as she had hoped.