Chapter 570

The Earl of Silverstone's family received a letter from Oliver. Addressed to his wife, Zoey, she shared it with Evelyn, Caspian, and his wife, Luna. Caspian, Oliver's younger brother, held a comfortable but stagnant position as a junior official in the Ministry of Infrastructure for four years. Luna, the daughter of a merchant, had married up, a fact that Viola, Evelyn's daughter, disliked, often criticizing Luna's perceived materialism.

Evelyn's face changed upon reading the letter. "My son-in-law is still alive? And has achieved merit? That's—"

Zoey gently corrected her. "Mother, you can't call him your son-in-law anymore."

Evelyn sighed. "It was a slip of the tongue. Who would have expected him to still be alive?"

Caspian also read the letter. "Mom, Zoey, this is good news. We should be happy. After all, the fact that he's alive is more important than anything else."

Zoey nodded sympathetically. "When Thomas died, our in-law… Oh, even I have often addressed her wrongly. Alice fainted repeatedly from grief, requiring regular medication, and her health deteriorated significantly. Thomas' return might restore her."

Evelyn recalled weeping with Alice upon hearing of Thomas' death. He was a man of unwavering integrity—a son-in-law any mother-in-law would cherish, though Evelyn avoided direct comparisons. His survival was truly cause for celebration.

"I told you because Viola will learn eventually," Zoey said. "It's best she return home to discuss this."

Zoey knew her sister-in-law was unhappy. A former maid of Zoey's, now serving Viola, kept her informed of the Warren family's affairs. A recent quarrel had strained Viola and Barrett's relationship, making their life far from idyllic. Zoey feared that upon learning of Thomas' survival, Viola might divorce Barrett and attempt to reconcile with Thomas.

Zoey wouldn't allow this. She believed Viola unworthy of Thomas. Viola needed to be recalled and reminded of this to prevent any rash decisions.

"There's another issue," Zoey continued. "Thomas' war pension. Viola recently used some to buy wedding gifts for her younger sister-in-law. Though returned, continued use is inevitable if she remains with the Warren family. We should withdraw ten thousand silver coins from our family funds to repay the Farrell family, along with the equivalent value of the two shops they gave Viola. What do you and Caspian think?"

"I agree," Caspian said. "In fact, when Viola remarried, I suggested returning the pension and shops. Viola cried and swore she'd stay loyal to Thomas. The Farrells gave her these things fearing for her future. But now she's remarried; it's time to return them."

Zoey nodded. "I remember you saying that. Mother?"

Evelyn considered. "Returning funds from family resources is unreasonable. My personal funds should suffice. The ten thousand coins and the shops' value must be returned. Viola benefited greatly. Those shops generated rent for years. Even if Thomas returned and they didn't remarry, the return wouldn't have mattered. But now, she's remarried, and he's back. He'll likely marry again, and we can't have his new wife learn his pension was squandered. It's wrong."

Zoey turned to Luna. "Luna, what do you think?"

Luna replied, "Zoey, Viola never listens to me. You and Mother decide."

Luna understood. Had Viola not acted as she did, the return of Thomas' pension and shops would be irrelevant, as Viola suffered during his supposed death. However, because of her actions, she shouldn't have possessed them in the first place.

"Then let's have someone bring Viola home," Zoey concluded.