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Sophie shook off the thought, pushing it from her mind. She didn’t want to dwell on it.
After their bath, the two lay in bed, and naturally, one thing led to another as they indulged in their love for each other.
“Shouldn’t Yuvan and his family be returning to the capital soon?” Sophie asked, her voice hoarse from exhaustion as she lay in his embrace.
Rafael stroked her hair, his face adorned with a satisfied, warm smile. “They’ll return soon. Even if we do nothing, they’ll find an excuse to come back to the capital for a while. If they’re set on it, they’ll definitely return to handle the marriages of Randall, Sabrina, and Stephanie.”
Sophie nodded in agreement.
The three children were valuable assets, ideal for forming alliances with the children of high-ranking officials. It was a significant step for them, During the New Year, Yuyan’s hasty return to the capital had been alkabout letting those three children make an appearance.
They hadn’t talked about Serena, but Rafael found the whole thing disgusting. Among the many things he detested in the capital, the Jaffe family was at the top of the list
How dare she try to approach him? It was a reckless move.
Sophie fell asleep in his arms, her thoughts lingering on the fact that Margaret would be visiting tomorrow.
Helen had grumbled for quite a while tonight, lamenting how that girl from the Jaffe family had been so shameless.
Gillian hadn’t explained, only urging her to rest early.
After making such a grand appearance today and receiving envious glances from many, Helen was too happy to fall asleep.
She held Gillian’s hand and said, “In the past, I thought Sophie, being a woman who was once divorced, might not be quite worthy of my son. Did you think so too?”
Gillian shook her head. “I never thought that. I knew Lady Sophie was pure. Even if she wasn’t, as long as Prince Rafael likes her, that’s enough for me.”
Helen continued, “Speaking of liking, it’s clear that the woman Rafael likes must be her. Didn’t you see the way Rafaelooks at her? It’s just like how the late king used to look at me-full of sweetness and affection.”
Helen missed the late king. Back when he was alive, he always remembered her birthday, prepared gifts, and celebrated with her in the palace.
Gillian watched her. Helen always found ways to comfort herself. The way the late king looked at her wasn’t like that. It was how Helen saw him through her own eyes.
The late king had never looked at even his most favored concubine the way Rafael looked at Sophie.
Helen fell asleep, dreaming of the late king’s warm embrace. But even in her dreams, she was clear-headed-she would never have another man in her life.
Tears slipped from her eyes.
She was still so young, after all.
Viola and Serena returned to Valor Estate in complete despair.
As soon as they entered the door, Viola raised her hand. She used every ounce of strength she had and slapped Serena hard across the face.
Ignoring any sense of decorum, Viola shouted angrily, “How could the Jaffe family produce such a disgraceful woman like you? You completely ruined the family’s reputation tonight! Come, let’s go see Mother. She’ll deal with you!”
Serena had already been humiliated at Hell Monarch Estate. She hadn’t gotten what she wanted, and even had her body touched by the Marquis of Ironridge. Now, she had become the laughingstock of the town. Panic and fear were already gnawing at her.
Now, as soon as she stepped through the door, Viola had slapped her.
For a moment, Serena was stunned, but then she completely snapped.
Was everyone just here to bully her now?
In a fit of rage, Serena slapped Viola right back and snarled, “Who are you calling disgraceful? You think you’re any better? Weren’t you disgraceful when you married my brother? Weren’t you disgraceful when you went to Lady Helen’s birthday banquet tonight? You went to laugh at others, but in the end, they laughed at you!”
Viola never expected that after everything Serena had done, the girl would have the audacity to strike back.
Blinded by fury, Viola ignored the searing pain on her face and grabbed Serena’s wrist.
“Come with me to see Mother, now!”
Serena forcefully shoved her away, sending Viola sprawling onto the floor. Standing tall and looking down coldly, Serena sneered, “You really think I would’ve dared to do what I did tonight without Mom’s approval?”
Viola sat on the ground, her face filled with shock. “What? Mother knew? Are you saying Mother knew you were going to try and seduce the Hell Monarch?”
Serena’s eyes were full of resentment. “You were there, and you were completely useless! You offered no help at all. Why do you think I tried to cozy up to the Hell Monarch? It was for Blake! Because you broke the limbs of the man who threw dung at our estate, Blake was reprimanded and demoted! Mother was worried about his future, and that’s why tonight happened.”
The more Serena spoke, the more aggrieved she became. She acted as if everything she had done was truly for Blake’s sake, and that she had sacrificed herself in the process.
Tears fell from her eyes.
“Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I wanted to become a concubine? Even if I became a secondary wife, I’d still be just a concubine. I’m a proper young lady from the Jaffe family, and yet you think don’t feel humiliated being reduced to this? But who did I do it for? I did it for all of you! And you, ungrateful wretch, you dare to hit me!”
Viola was utterly stunned. Her whole world seemed to collapse, though she couldn’t quite explain why. She had always believed that, despite her mother-in-law’s sharp tongue, Rebecca was at least an upright person, and that the Jaffe family was a respectable family
But now…
Slowly, she got to her feet, her face pale as she stared at Serena. “Does your brother know about this?”
Serena snapped, “What difference does it make if he knows or not? I did it for him. Even if he knew, he would have agreed to it, unless he doesn’t care about his future! But if he didn’t, he wouldn’t have cast aside Sophie when she lost her family, or begged to marry Freya in hopes of building a great future with her. His career and ambitions are everything to him-more important than anything else!”
Their argument had drawn the attention of the household, and some quick-witted servants immediately went to report to Blake and Rebecca.
Soon after, everyone was gathered in Rebecca’s quarters, listening to both Serena and Viola recount their sides of the story. Seeing the red and swollen marks on their faces from slapping each other, Rebecca felt as though the world was spinning.
Blake looked at Serena and Viola in utter disbelief, waves of shame flooding his heart. “You went to Hell Monarch Estate for Lady Helen’s birthday banquet?”
He pointed at Serena, his hand trembling with rage. “You tried to become the Hell Monarch’s concubine? You hate Sophie the most, yet you wanted to become her… How could you be so shameless?!”
Viola’s numb mind finally started to clear. Her husband hadn’t known about this.
He hadn’t approved of any of it.
Thank God.
Serena’s voice trembled with frustration as she shouted at Blake, “Blake, your accusations are so unfair! If you hadn’t been demoted, would I have been forced to do this?”
Blake’s reply was sharp, his tone unforgiving, “Since when does my future need you meddling in it? I will fight for my future on my own! You did this for yourself! You have feelings for Prince Rafael-what’s so special about him that all of you keep chasing after him?”
Serena had been putting on an air of self-righteousness, but she was now completely exposed. Hearing her brother disparage the man she loved, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment.