Viola knew that Alana had misunderstood, but she wasn't in a hurry to explain. Her mind was too clouded with confusion.

She closed the door and carried the medicine over. "Mom, drink the medicine first. We'll figure out the rest slowly."

Evelyn shook her head and looked at her daughter with weary eyes. "Viola, be honest with yourself. How has your older brother treated you all these years?"

Viola furrowed her brow slightly. "Mom, we don't have the means to help him. We're still living at Skye Embroidery, and the money for your medicine is all from Ms. Spencer."

"You're wrong. That money came from Isaac. He may not acknowledge us, but he has been working tirelessly for us these past days," Evelyn replied.

"Even if the money came from him, we have no right to ask him to give it to Oliver," Viola said.

Evelyn's face tightened, and with clenched teeth, she finally spoke the truth, "That money... it isn't his. When he returned, Zoey suggested giving him some compensation. So, we transferred some estates and shops to him."

"Since we've already given it to him and he has been looking after us in secret, do we really expect him to give it back? That wouldn't be fair to him, Mom," Viola countered.

Evelyn's face grew pale. "We've already wronged him enough. He resents us, but let him resent us, then. Your older brother may have made mistakes, but is now at the end of his rope. Am I supposed to stand by and watch him die?"

Viola looked down sadly and set the medicine aside. "Mom, perhaps you should tell Zoey. She's always the one with the most ideas."

"Absolutely not," Evelyn snapped immediately. "He's already made a fool of himself with his thoughts of divorce at the Southern Frontier, breaking your sister-in-law's heart. If she finds out, she'll definitely tell Lady Carissa. Do you know what the punishment is for running away like that? It's a death sentence. Do you want your brother to die?"

Evelyn's voice trembled from fear as she continued, "He's in grave danger right now. We need to get the money together and send him away as soon as possible. He only needs 3,000 silver coins. Find a way to get it to him.

"Go to Isaac and tell him that I can't stay at Skye Embroidery anymore because my condition has worsened. We need to buy a place for me to recuperate. I know he may seem indifferent, but he still misses me, and has been dutiful in his own way."

Viola sat down, remaining silent for a long while.

"Why are you sitting there? Go quickly," Evelyn urged.

Viola finally looked up. "I've made many mistakes in my life, Mom. Every time I return to our family, someone has to cover for me."

"You know that, don't you? Your older brother has always been good to you," Evelyn said, her voice softening a bit.

Viola shook her head, her eyes suddenly clear and determined. "Mom, the one who has always covered for me isn't my brother-it's Zoey. Oliver only ever talks. When I returned home after Thomas died in battle, Oliver resented me and didn't accept me back.

"It was Zoey who said, 'What else can we do now? Should she just be left out in the cold?' She told him that if I'd made a mistake, I could change. It's her who gave me a chance, again and again. I was the one who wasn't up to the task. I was the one who wasn't mature enough."

Evelyn froze, then sharply replied,

"So what? Your brother still accepted you. Without his word, Zoey couldn't have done anything. And you,

child, have always had a strained

relationship with your sinet

Why are you defending her now? Don't forget, she's scolded you plenty."

"She scolded me because she cares about me." Viola's eyes reddened with unshed tears. "I almost died once, in Astral Prison. That battle between life and death taught me the difference between sincerity and falsehood.

"It made me realize that Zoey,

though not my sister by blood, is the

one who has always stood up for me when it mattered. Even when she spoke harshly, she was there when it counted. Mom, you could've stepped in, but you didn't. Why? Because you feared being embarrassed. Did you think Zoey didn't feel the same way?"

For a moment, Evelyn was silent.

Then, she said, "You're right to feel grateful to her. You'll have plenty of chances to repay her. But this time, don't tell her about this. She'll sacrifice your brother for her children's future, you know she will. Your brother didn't go to her for reason. You need to listen to me. Go to Isaac, just like I told you."

Viola remained seated, unmoving. Something about the situation didn't sit right with her, though she couldn't quite place what it was.

"Go!" Evelyn's anger flared. She reached out and knocked the medicine bowl from Viola's hands. "If you won't go, then I won't drink the medicine. Let me die!"

Viola's tears burst forth, her red, burned hands only adding to the flood of emotions. She felt utterly wronged, overwhelmed by the injustice.

So, this is what it felt like the humiliating and painful feeling of being forced to do something against your will. How many times had Zoey done things she didn't want to do for the Earl of Silverstone's family? How many times had she lowered herself to beg others?noveldrama