After the night of Ashley’s party, Melanie won’t hear any words of apology from Scarlett. She trusts her sister-in-law to be innocent of any wrongdoing. Melanie also expresses this same sentiment to all her circle of friends. Doing so creates controversy in Atlanta parlors. Some believe the gossip that India Wilkes spread about Ashley and Scarlett having an affair. Others, who side with Melanie, believe India is lying. As the dispute rages, Scarlett realizes the clash isn’t about her at all:

Her words and her actions rankled in too many hearts for many people to care whether this scandal hurt her or not. But everyone cared violently about hurting Melanie or India and the storm revolved around them, rather than Scarlett (1224).

Scarlett is also humiliated to realize that the only reason she is still accepted in society is because of Melanie’s staunch support: “Except for Melanie’s championship and her quick action, the face of the whole town would have been set against her and she would have been an outcast” (1228).

While Rhett is away with Bonnie, Scarlett tries to establish a maternal bond with Wade and Ella, but her previous brusque behavior has made both children fearful and mistrustful.