In the dim light, a figure hurriedly entered and supported Vi.
"What''s wrong?"
Through her tear-filled eyes, Vi saw her husband, Barrett''s face.
She threw herself into his embrace, crying even harder and more pitifully.
Barrett had never seen Vi so openly distressed, sitting on the ground and wailing. He thought something serious must have happened, and urgently asked, "What''s going on? What happened?"
With tears in her eyes, Julia recounted the events of the day. However, when she was about to mention Thomas''s military pension, Vi suddenly shouted, "Be quiet!"
Julia was startled, and immediately fell silent.
Julia hadn''t mentioned the pension specifically, but she had mentioned Thomas''s name. Even if he were not the sharpest, Barrett could piece together the situation. Vi had used Thomas''s death benefits to buy a tiara for Serena, which was worth 36,800 silver coins.
"Enough. You''re dismissed," Barrett said.
Then, he released Vi, his face dark with anger. "Tomorrow, you will go to the Golden Tower and return the ruby tiara."
His towering figure cast a shadow over Vi. As she wiped her tears and looked up at him, she saw his face filled with humiliation and rage.
She shot a bitter look at Julia, who felt the silent reprimand. The maid retreated to the side, too frightened to say another word.
Barrett grabbed Vi''s hand and dragged her along. "Come on, we''re going to Mom''s room."
Vi stumbled a few steps as he pulled her, nearly losing her bnce. She pleaded, "Honey, please slow down."
Barrett seethed with fury.
Hadn''t he already endured enough humiliation? How much longer would he be mocked?
His reputation in the capital was in tatters, and if it became known that Vi had used Thomas''s pension to buy a tiara for his sister''s dowry, any remaining dignity of the Warren family would bepletely destroyed.
Meanwhile, Serena was still in Reba''s room, talking about how she would manage things after marrying into the Marquis of Ironridge''s family. She would try to please Jessica and align with her against Leopold''s secondary wife.
"Mom, I''ll stand my ground and make sure that the Marquis of Ironridge favors me." Serena nestled into her mother''s arms, her gaze resolute.
At first, she didn''t want to be
Leopold''s concubine. But after
things were settled, she reflected on Leopold''s tall and handsome figure his stable position in the court, and the Marquis of Ironridge''s family''s status as a century-old family. Even being a concubine in such a prestigious family didn''t seem
shameful.
Reba said, "But in the beginning,
you must heed Lady Jessica''s
advice and oppose the marquis''s secondary wife. You need to
be useful so that she will trust and favor you. Until then, you must
not unt the marquis'' favor"
towards you. You must always be respectful and cautious with her-"
Suddenly, the door flung open with a loud bang, startling both mother and daughter.
Seeing Barrett''s face contorted with anger and Vi''s expression filled with resentment, Serena instinctively asked, "Vi, has the shop assistant left?"
If the shop assistant had left, it meant the money had been taken, and the ruby tiara was truly hers.
"Mom!" Barrett red at Reba, his tone brooking no argument. "Return the ruby tiara to the Golden Tower tomorrow."
"Return it?" Serena shrieked. "No, I won''t return it!"
"You have no say in the matter." Barrett''s gaze was sharp and mocking. "You''re a concubine. That tiara is covered in dazzling red
rubies, and it''s too extravagan
you. Do you really think you deserve
it? Even if you did, it was bought with Thomas''s death benefits. Do you want to make the whole Warren family aughingstock?"
"What?!"
Reba hurriedly threw off the cover. With Jade''s help, Reba hobbled over to Vi. Her face was now cold and furious. "You actually used the money from a deceased person to buy something for my daughter''s dowry?! What were you thinking?" Vi was utterly dumbfounded and froze in ce. She trembled all over, her lips moving but unable to utter a single word.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.