Year Five The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 261

“Sir, ma’am, Vianne’s here.”

The butler hesitated to interrupt the family meeting—four of them deep in discussion—but Vianne had been waiting outside for quite some time. After everything that had happened, the butler felt compelled to step in. If he didn’t remind them, Vianne’s presence might only stir up more gossip.

Again?

Silvia’s brow furrowed, her expression darkening. Just earlier, Vianne had fainted and ended up in the hospital, and now she was back already—she must have barely woken up. What was she so desperate to do?

The Ashford Group was already under fire online, and the family’s stock price had taken a hit. Was that not enough for her?

“Let her in,” Silvia said coolly.

If Vianne was so eager to come, then let her come.

The butler brought Vianne into the sitting room. She wore simple, understated clothes and let her hair fall loosely down her back. Her face was pale, the picture of frail innocence. She looked weak, her eyes downcast and her posture meek—almost heartbreakingly so.

“Silvia.”

Vianne looked at Silvia, her jaw clenched briefly. “Everything that’s happened these past few days…it wasn’t what I ever wanted,” she said, voice trembling.

Tears welled up in her eyes, slipping down her cheeks in an instant. She looked so hurt, so wronged.

Online, everyone was saying the Ashfords had mistreated her—that they’d abandoned her outside in the cold, leaving her to freeze and collapse. In the court of public opinion, everything was the Ashford family’s fault.

But if Vianne, the supposed victim, stepped forward and defended the Ashfords, public sentiment might just shift.

She sounded sincere—like she truly wanted to help the family.

Silvia glanced at the others, frowning, weighing Vianne’s words. If Vianne was the one orchestrating this mess, why would she offer to help? But if she wasn’t, then who was behind it all? Laurinda, maybe?

Silvia’s frown deepened, confusion settling in her chest. Something about this didn’t add up.