Chapter 452

Viola was anxious. “What I’m saying is the truth. The rumors were mostly unfounded, likely spread by the Hell Monarch’s princess consort out of resentment. Moreover, the recent incident of dung being thrown at our residence was also orchestrated by her.”

Alice turned abruptly and walked away, her steps unsteady and her face pale. Viola’s words had struck her deeply. After hearing Zoey’s remarks, Alice had thought that even if she accepted Viola’s marriage to Barrett, the affection she spoke of couldn’t be genuine. But now, hearing Viola’s words, Alice felt a coldness wash over her. She could hardly believe that Viola would compare Thomas to someone like Barrett.

She found Opal and gripped her niece-in-law’s hand tightly, fearing she might lose control of her emotions and disrupt Helen’s birthday banquet. Opal took her back to the theater area, where Carissa noticed them and asked, “Are you feeling unwell? Perhaps you should go back and rest. The days are long, and you can come back whenever you wish.”

“Rest assured, Your Grace, it’s nothing,” Alice said, trying to maintain her composure despite her agitation.

“Shall I accompany you to the sitting hall to rest for a while?” Carissa offered.

“No, please don’t trouble yourself, Your Grace,” Opal quickly interjected. “The guests are here, and you still have to oversee the event.”

Carissa nodded. “Very well. Just enjoy the performance and try not to think about anything else.”

Carissa caught sight of Viola standing not far off. When their eyes met, Viola quickly looked away, her expression a complex mix of emotions. Carissa had seen them talking earlier, but since it was a matter between their families, she felt it wasn’t her place to intervene. She had genuinely invited the Farrell family, though she hadn’t expected Viola to come along.

Soon, the male guests began to arrive in the garden. Given the scale of the banquet and the spacious setting, the separation between men and women was not as strict. Although everyone was in the garden enjoying the flowers, they were at a considerable distance from each other and did not engage in close contact.

As Carissa was about to sit down and enjoy the performance with the others, she noticed Janice heading towards the male guests from Helen’s side. She kept a close eye on the scene and observed that Janice approached Rafael and said something to him. Rafael nodded, then moved towards Helen.

Helen was currently enjoying the flowers with Eleanor and other ladies. They were talking, but the content of their conversation was unclear. Fortunately, Violet was nearby, maintaining a cold and watchful demeanor. From her vantage point, she was not too far from them, and despite the noise of the event, she should be able to hear their conversation clearly.

Carissa glanced at Serena, who stood behind Jessica, barely visible. Nonetheless, Carissa could see that Serena was extremely nervous. At the same time, Rafael was striding purposefully towards Helen, as though he had something urgent to discuss.

Chapter 452 (continued)

As Rafael approached Helen, Jessica suddenly stepped aside and grabbed Serena’s arm, giving her a forceful push. Serena stumbled and cried out, falling directly towards Rafael. Her cry drew everyone’s attention. Seeing her about to fall into Rafael’s arms, the crowd collectively gasped.

What a scandal this would be if she fell into the Hell Monarch’s embrace—how could she ever salvage her reputation after this? Especially with so many prominent families present today, how could she ever find a suitor? The only way out might be for the Hell Monarch to take her himself. But which family did that reckless girl belong to?

However, the situation seemed full of hidden schemes. Many noble ladies recognized the ploy and watched with thinly veiled amusement, their lips curling into cold smiles. Then, with a loud thud, Serena fell to the ground.

The onlookers blinked in confusion. How had she gone from seemingly falling into the Hell Monarch’s arms to being a full yard away from him? Moreover, Rafael had turned on his heel and walked away. His expression was one of clear disgust, as if he feared being tainted by something unclean.