Year Five The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 280

She looked at Silvia with a faint smile playing on her lips.

Then Vianne spoke up. “Starting today, I’ll be moving back home. Silvia, I’m sure you won’t object—after all, you’re with Mr. Parsons now and barely at the house these days.”

At Vianne’s words, Silvia’s brow furrowed. She glanced over at Lola for guidance.

Lola gave Silvia a subtle nod, signaling her not to refuse outright.

Though Silvia was deeply unhappy about Vianne’s sudden return, she bit back her protest. If this was what Lola wanted, she would go along with it—for now.

She kept her thoughts to herself.

As the family sat together, Vianne seemed determined to make herself the center of attention. Whatever the conversation, she found a way to steer it back to herself.

After a while, Lola pressed her fingers to her temple, clearly weary. She turned to Silvia. “Silvia, I’m not feeling well. Would you help me upstairs to rest?”

“Of course.”

Silvia nodded and stood to help her mother, but before she could, Vianne suddenly stepped in.

She was surprisingly quick, almost as if she’d been waiting for just this opportunity.

Sliding in beside Lola, Vianne offered her arm with a gentle, obedient smile. “Silvia, you just got back. You should take it easy. Let me help Mom upstairs—it’s no trouble.”

Lola shot Vianne a sharp glance, lips pressed together. Then, with a deliberate motion, she pulled her hand free and placed it firmly into Silvia’s.

She looked at Silvia with quiet resolve. “Silvia, you take me up. Vianne should check her room and settle in. She must be tired.”

Silvia’s answer was quiet, but her smile grew a little sharper. “Because… there are things I still need to settle with her.”

She didn’t elaborate, and Lola didn’t press.

Silvia sat back, a faint, knowing smile curling at the corners of her mouth.

Truthfully, Vianne’s scheming return to the Ashford family had its advantages. At the very least, it gave Silvia the chance to keep investigating Wilhelmina’s death.

Once she found the answers she was looking for, she’d make sure Vianne paid for every last thing. And this time, Vianne wouldn’t be able to run.

Lola, unaware of her daughter’s true intentions, only felt a surge of pity as she looked at Silvia.

She reached out, gently smoothing Silvia’s hair, her gaze full of warmth. “Don’t worry, Silvia. We won’t let her hurt you. That girl’s always had a twisted mind—her birth mother spoiled her long before we realized what was happening.”