Chapter 443

• Lately, I’d been watching Viola from the sidelines caught in the exhausting whirlwind of managing both the family’s sprawling estate and its increasingly complex business affairs. She was dipping into her own funds just to keep things afloat, and every evening, I could see the toll it took on her like her shoulders carried the weight of the world, threatening to buckle the moment she allowed herself to rest.
• Meanwhile, Cassandra seemed to glide through life untouched, carefree and radiant. It was hard not to feel a sharp pang of resentment watching her effortless grace while Viola struggled beneath the surface.
• One afternoon, I overheard Chloe talking quietly, a flicker of anticipation in her voice. “I heard Lady Helen once publicly admitted she dislikes Cassandra. Their relationship has always been tense. At the birthday gala, Helen might even impose some restrictions on Cassandra’s behavior. Knowing Cassandra’s temper, it could get very interesting.”