Reba''s vision went ck. She lurched forward, and fainted.


    Barrett quickly caught her, setting aside his anger. He urgently called out, "Someone, fetch a physician! Now!"


    With tears streaming down her face, Serena rushed to Vi. "What are you doing? Are you trying to anger Mom to death? You were the one who insisted on buying the tiara, and now you regret it?!"


    Vi took a step back, feeling helpless as she watched the scene unfold. A sense of powerlessness rose within her, mixed with frustration and pain. She had spent 36,800 silver coins to buy the jewelry, only to receive their reproach.


    Was she now to be med for everything?


    In the middle of the night, themotion of calling the physician created a chaotic scene. Vi had to wipe away her tears and use a handkerchief to clean Reba''s face and hands.


    The physician diagnosed Reba with a fainting spell caused by acute anger, but reassured them that it was not serious and that a few doses of medicine would suffice.


    When Reba regained consciousness, Barrett''s anger hadpletely subsided. He knelt by the bed and apologized to his mother. "I shouldn''t have spoken so harshly and made you faint from anger. I''m at fault."


    Reba looked at Vi weakly. "About the ruby tiara...make sure no one knows it was bought with Thomas''s pension. Keep it a secret."ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    Vi looked at Barrett, and he pulled her down to her knees beside him. She felt a chill all over, despite it being the warm month of May. The cold from the floor seemed to seep into her knees.


    She could only apologize, her voice trembling as she said, "I''m sorry."


    As a remarried woman, she couldn''t bear the guilt of causing her mother-inw to faint.


    Even though she was full of grievances and resentment, she had no choice but to ept the situation. The husband who had been so furious and ready to stand up for her was now filled with regret, showing no sign of pursuing the ruby tiara any further.


    Her heart was heavy with cold disappointment.


    Reba took a deep breath and said, "Enough. You all leave now. Just Serena will stay here to look after me."


    Barrett said, "Mom, let Vi stay here to take care of you. She has always been the one looking after you."


    "No, send her out." Reba still looked furious, her breathing rapid. "Have her leave and make sure the others keep quiet. We can''t have them spreading everything around." She had to appear furious. Otherwise, the me for this incident would fall on the Warren family.


    Vi felt a deep, bitter sorrow. She


    stood up and walked out like a lifeless doll. Barrett chased after her and tried to pull her back, but she shook him off and continued to move forward numbly.


    Even if Barrett had onlye after her and held her hand the way Rafael intertwined his fingers with Carissa''s, then the 36,800 silver coins she spent would have felt worthwhile.


    She had experienced the intimacy of intertwined fingers before, feeling the special importance and mutual joy. What she wanted wasn''t just mutual respect-she craved the unique closeness of married life.


    Barrett watched her leave after brushing his hand off. Thinking about how she had used Thomas''s pension, Barrett felt a deep sense of difort and irritation. He retreated to the study alone. Vi waited in the room for a long time, hoping he would return to offer somefort. Instead, Julia informed her that Barrett had already retired to the study.


    She covered her face with her hands, tears slipping through her fingers.


    She remembered the night she went with her sister-inw to collect the banknotes from the ount room. Zoey had spoken to her with an ic demeanor, a single sentence that left Vi feeling simultaneously chilled to the bone and burning with heat, as if she were being tormented by alternating waves of ice and fire.


    As Zoey handed over the payment with a disdainful look, she said, "You know that you have no right to use his pension. I hope you never forget what you''ve done to disappoint him." Those words dragged up every painful memory Vi had desperately tried to bury,ying them bare before her in a gory disy.


    There were things she deeply regretted, but it was toote for that now.


    It was a moment of poor judgment, apse she wished she could forget. Why did Zoey have to keep reminding her?


    A sudden sound of a muffledugh from outside the window startled her. She jumped up and asked, "Who''s there?"