Chapter 1143
Riley had arrived to cause a scene for two reasons. First, the relentless rumors surrounding Silas's dismissal from the Arcane Sanctum had made the situation unbearable. The Sanctum, instead of treating patients, was besieged by people hurling insults at Silas. The constant commotion severely disrupted operations, preventing sick patients from even entering. Sebastian, having just returned from gathering herbs, was forced to publicly announce Silas's termination.
Second, the Farrell family's carefully arranged match for Thomas had fallen apart. Alice, Thomas's mother, was delighted with the prospective bride, and both families had initially agreed. Only Thomas's consent was needed to finalize the engagement. However, the young woman's family abruptly withdrew their proposal, claiming it had never been seriously considered, despite a seemingly amicable initial meeting.
This enraged Alice, prompting her to seek her parents' support. The Lewis family elders reprimanded Silas harshly for his recklessness and disregard for family ties. They criticized his failure to resolve his problems privately, thus damaging the Lewis family's reputation and ruining Thomas's prospects with the Farrells.
Silas, already furious over his dismissal from the Arcane Sanctum and his damaged reputation, reacted angrily to the Lewis family's rebuke. He declared his intention to divorce his wife. Whether spoken in the heat of the moment or genuinely intended, Riley found his words incendiary.
Her family, though not particularly powerful—her father was only a sixth-rank official—felt compelled to act. Several brothers-in-law confronted Silas, delivering a beating before sending their wives to find Viola. Riley believed Viola had deliberately sought out Silas, convinced it wasn't a coincidence but a calculated action with malicious intent.
More than twenty members of Riley's large Claude family—aunts, uncles, and servants—marched to Silverstone Estate. Initially, they merely demanded Viola explain herself to Riley. However, Viola, terrified of confrontation, hid inside, wishing she were already at their country villa. With Zoey running a high fever and Evelyn in poor health, Luna was left to manage the situation, but she was unprepared for the escalating tension.
Fearing a public disturbance, a servant alerted the authorities, encountering the Garrison Unit on patrol. This commotion reignited the recent gossip, drawing a crowd eager to witness the unfolding drama. The Claude family, seeing the Garrison Unit, demanded justice, threatening further escalation. The crowd swelled, and tension mounted. With Max away on duty and Carissa stationed at Capital Guard headquarters, she arrived to handle the situation, as the Garrison Unit could typically manage such disputes without official intervention.
Upon arrival, Carissa learned of Zoey's two-day-long, worsening fever, concerned that the commotion would further distress her. With a sharp crack of her whip, she silenced the crowd, her authority undeniable. She commanded them to cease their shouting and to take their grievances inside, demanding an end to the public spectacle.