Filed To Story: Queen of the Battlefield Her Return to Glory Novel Online Free
“What’s wrong?”
Through her tear-filled eyes, Viola saw her husband, Blake’s face.
She threw herself into his embrace, crying even harder and more pitifully.
Blake had never seen Viola 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, Viola 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, Blake could piece together the situation. Viola had used Thomas’s death benefits to buy a tiara for Serena, which was worth 36,800 silver coins.
“Enough. You’re dismissed,” Blake said.
Then, he released Viola, 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 Viola. 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.
Blake grabbed Viola’s hand and dragged her along. “Come on, we’re going to Mom’s room.”
Viola stumbled a few steps as he pulled her, nearly losing her balance. She pleaded, “Honey, please slow down.”
Blake 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 Viola had used Thomas’s pension to buy a tiara for his sister’s dowry, any remaining dignity of the Jaffe family would be completely destroyed.
Meanwhile, Serena was still in Rebecca’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 become
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.
Rebecca said, “But in the beginning, you must heed Lady Jessica’s advice and oppose the marquis’s secondary wife. You need to become useful so that she will trust and favor you. Until then, you must not flaunt 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 Blake’s face contorted with anger and Viola’s expression filled with resentment, Serena instinctively asked, “Viola, 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!” Blake glared at Rebecca, 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.” Blake’s gaze was sharp and mocking. “You’re a concubine. That tiara is covered in dazzling red rubies, and it’s too extravagantnet 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 Jaffe family a laughingstock?”
“What?!”
Rebecca hurriedly threw off the cover. With Jade’s help, Rebecca hobbled over to Viola. 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?” Viola was utterly dumbfounded and froze in place. She trembled all over, her lips moving but unable to utter a single word.
Rebecca’s vision went black. She lurched forward, and fainted.
Blake 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 Viola. “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?!”
Viola 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 blamed for everything?
In the middle of the night, the commotion of calling the physician created a chaotic scene. Viola had to wipe away her tears and use a handkerchief to clean Rebecca’s face and hands.
The physician diagnosed Rebecca 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 Rebecca regained consciousness, Blake’s anger had completely 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.”
Rebecca looked at Viola weakly. “About the ruby tiara…make sure no one knows it was bought with Thomas’s pension. Keep it a secret.”
Viola looked at Blake, 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-in-law to faint.
Even though she was full of grievances and resentment, she had no choice but to accept 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.
Rebecca took a deep breath and said, “Enough. You all leave now. Just Serena will stay here to look after me.”
Blake said, “Mom, let Viola stay here to take care of you. She has always been the one looking after you.”
“No, send her out.” Rebecca 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 blame for this incident would fall on the Jaffe family.
Viola felt a deep, bitter sorrow. She stood up and walked out like a lifeless doll. Blake chased after her and tried to pull her back, but she shook him off and continued to move forward numbly.
Even if Blake had only come after her and held her hand the way Rafael intertwined his fingers with Sophie’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.
Blake watched her leave after brushing his hand off. Thinking about how she had used Thomas’s pension, Blake felt a deep sense of discomfort and irritation. He retreated to the study alone. Viola waited in the room for a long time, hoping he would return to offer some comfort. Instead, Julia informed her that Blake had already retired to the study.
She covered her face with her hands, tears slipping through her fingers.