Chapter 506
Serena sat on the edge of her bed and snorted. “I wouldn’t go out of my way to bother her. Before her marriage, I thought she was quite capable, especially compared to Carissa’s dowry. Now she can’t even come up with a few tens of thousands. It’s truly pathetic! At least she’s better than Aurora. Do you remember how much money Barrett gave away when he married Aurora? The dowry she brought was a pittance. I’ve never seen such a poor showing, and it was a royal marriage to boot!”
After criticizing her two sisters-in-law, Serena turned her attention to Amelia. “Amelia hasn’t cared about anything since she fell ill, not even my dowry. I don’t even know what she’ll prepare for me. I shouldn’t get my hopes up too high. She’s poorer than anyone in our family.”
None of the three daughters-in-law was worth much. Listening to this, Rebecca grew increasingly irritated. “Enough, be quiet.”
Serena shut her mouth. The light illuminated her face, revealing a harsh, gaunt look that belied her earlier babyish softness.
Meanwhile, Amelia trembled in her room. She had been deeply worried when Viola hadn’t returned. The shop assistant was still waiting, and her anxiety mounted. She feared Viola wouldn’t be able to raise the required money and would ask everyone to contribute. Amelia was low on funds herself, having pawned most of Carissa’s jewelry.
Hearing that Viola had “gone mad” that day, Amelia had inquired. She learned Viola had bought a ruby tiara for 36,800 silver coins from the Golden Tower.
Stunned beyond measure, Amelia’s mouth fell open in shock when she heard Viola had insisted on the purchase. Was Viola out of her mind? Didn’t she know their family’s situation? How could they buy nearly 40,000 silver coins worth of jewelry on a whim? And she still needed to borrow more—what a disgrace!
The second branch of the Warren family was also discussing the matter. Living together on the same estate, the commotion couldn’t go unnoticed.
Charlotte shook her head and muttered, “Sooner or later, this household will be doomed.”
Near nine o’clock that evening, Viola dragged her weary feet through the gates of Valor Estate. Her eyes were red and swollen, her makeup smudged, her hair a mess, and a handprint marred her cheek.
She hadn’t brought Thomas’s military pension when she married into the Warren family, leaving it with her mother at Silverstone Estate. To gather the required silver, she had to retrieve it. The court had granted her two boxes of money, totaling 10,000 silver coins.
Lower-ranking officers typically didn’t receive such a substantial pension. But after Thomas’s achievements at the Southern Frontier, his death was met with great regret by the king, resulting in a hefty 10,000 silver coin compensation.
Alice hadn’t taken a single coin. The Farrell family had given it all to Viola. Since Viola had cried and sworn she would never marry again when leaving the Farrell family, Alice feared she might live a lonely life. The 10,000 silver coins, along with two shops, were meant to ensure Viola’s comfort and security.
Learning Viola was using the money for Serena’s dowry, Evelyn slapped her in anger. Viola knelt, begging her mother and sister-in-law to exchange the silver coins for banknotes so she could return to Valor Estate and repay the Golden Tower.
Her mother relented. Zoey, who managed the household affairs, agreed to the exchange, but her gaze was filled with contempt.
Viola had truly lost all her dignity that day.
After counting the banknotes, she handed them to the shop assistant, who recounted them under an oil lamp outside. After thanking her, he left.
Once he was gone, Viola collapsed. Her maids, Julia and Yvonne, rushed over, exclaiming in shock as they helped her up. “Madam Viola!”
Viola clung to Julia, sobbing uncontrollably. She truly hated Rebecca and Serena. If they hadn’t insisted on going to the third floor that day, she wouldn’t have encountered Kayla, and wouldn’t have spent the money on the ruby tiara.
Using Thomas’s military pension for Serena’s dowry filled Viola with rage.