Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Thomas met Zoey's gaze, feeling a knot in his throat. It was a matter of a man's dignity, and he wasn't sure how to articulate his thoughts.

"Do you know everything?" Zoey asked, studying his expression.

"I can't say I know everything." He sighed deeply before asking outright, "After I left for the Southern Frontier, did she develop feelings for my cousin? Did they exchange tokens of affection?" "Tokens of affection?" Zoey wasn't aware of that detail.

Thomas stood and walked to the drawer behind his desk, pulling out an emerald pendant. "I found this under the bed where she used to sleep. It was wedged between the foot of the bed and the wall. I recognize it. It belongs to my cousin." He laughed bitterly.

"It was under her bed. She must have taken it out at night to look at as she thought about him. When did she start liking my cousin? I always thought we had a loving marriage, but it seems she was hiding someone in her heart all along. You knew about this, didn't you?" Hearing him speak like that, Zoey felt a pang of bitterness. Here was a man so pure-hearted, he couldn't even bring himself to consider the darker implications of finding that pendant. He could only imagine Viola had pulled it out during a sleepless night. He was a man who had escaped captivity and helped build a spy network-someone who had fought through hell. He should have been capable of the most meticulous and skeptical thinking about everything.

Yet, he had never once questioned Viola.

Zoey didn't dwell on the sorrow in his eyes. She took a deep breath, and laid it all out.

Silverstone Estate for a

birthday banquet, she had drunk too much and went to rest in her room. Your cousin was also present at the residence at the time. He had gotten drunk as well, and accidentally stumbled into the backyard. Viola felt dizzy and went out looking for Julia, since all the servants were busy in the front yard. Somehow, the

mistook him for you.

what she told us."

specifics either. She had just given a

Thomas. She knew exactly who he was. She had been feeling so lonely for so long, and the alcohol clouded her judgment. She had seen Silas' handsome face and had drunkenly tumbled into his arms, calling out for Thomas in a daze. She

completely blank, and

tightened the ache in Zoey's chest. Yet, some truths had to

she weren't planning to divorce Barrett and remarry you, Iè would've never said a word. Do you know she returned to Silverstone Estate

there's no hope from

with the abortion."

to form any words. It was as if something