Chapter 1240  +25 BONUS  Carissa rode swiftly toward Hell Monarch Estate, her horse’s hooves echoing against the cobblestones. As she reached the gates, she dismounted and handed the reins to the stableman, not even slowing her pace as she hurried inside.  “Her Grace has returned!” someone called out.  Violet had probably stationed someone at the gate, ready to report as soon as Carissa arrived.  As she rounded the white partition screen, a flash of red came into view. Just before reaching her, the figure leaped a few steps ahead. Carissa quickly reached out to catch her, and they spun around several times in place as Cynthia’s delighted voice rang in her ears.  “You’re finally back, my great noble lord, Commander Sinclair!”  Carissa set her down, her hands immediately reaching up to squeeze Cynthia’s round, soft cheeks in pure joy. “Thia, you’ve gained weight!”  Cynthia pushed her away with a playful pout, her lips curving upward. “Couldn’t you say something nicer? You see me for the first time in ages, and you go straight for the jugular.”  Carissa grinned. “You’re not fat, just a bit more… rounded. You’re still as beautiful as ever.‘  “The truly fat one hasn’t appeared yet,” Cynthia teased, looping her arm through Carissa’s as they strolled forward.  Just then, Violet and Bun appeared, leisurely walking toward them. Bun was no longer as plump as before, but he was definitely more solid, giving him a more steady presence. When he saw Carissa, his face lit up with a big smile.  “Cari, what took you so long to get back? Is work really that busy?”  “Bun!” Carissa dragged Cynthia forward and playfully punched him in the chest. She felt the firm muscles under his tunic. “Good lad, are you close to joining the ranks of first–rate martial artists?”  Bun beamed proudly. “I don’t know about first- or second–rate, but I’ve improved a lot. If I spar with you now, I might not lose.”  “Oh?” Carissa raised an eyebrow. “We should definitely have a match, then.”  Cynthia scoffed, giving Bun a playful shove. “Are you serious? A couple hundred moves, and you’d be crawling on the floor, looking for your teeth. Do you think two years of training makes you invincible? Don’t embarrass yourself.”  Carissa chuckled softly, knowing the playful rivalry between them had always been a part of their friendship. Cynthia especially liked to tease Bun.  Violet let out a snort. “Bun, remember, we fought last night. You were no match for me.”  1/2  +25 BONUS  Chapter 1240  Bun pouted, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “I was holding back. If I had gone all out, I wouldn’t have lost.”  The group laughed as they continued walking inside. Jacob had already arranged a meal for them, and Lily had personally prepared a nourishing soup. After a night of working, how could they not feel concerned for Carissa’s wellbeing?  Lulu emerged with a warm towel, gently wiping Carissa’s face and hands before leading everyone to the dining room to catch up over food and drink.  “Jasper wanted to come see you too, but he didn’t want to face your husband, so he decided not to come,” Bun said in a deep voice.  Carissa shot him a glare. “Stop making things up. Jasper only sees me as his martial sister.”  Carissa once had admirers at Meadow Ridge, with one of them being Jasper from the Crystal Bloom Guild. This was widely known, even to Adrian.  Back then, Jasper had come every day for a month, carrying flowers and waiting for Carissa outside the Pathfinders Guild. His persistence eventually pushed Adrian, who was usually indifferent to such matters, to explode in fury.  Pointing at Jasper, he shouted, “You’re an 18–year–old man. How dare you fancy a 14–year- old girl? You’re a disgrace!”  His outburst became legendary. In the Crystal Bloom Guild, everyone knew the fiercest person wasn’t Everett, but Adrian.  Utterly crushed by Adrian’s words, Jasper had considered hanging himself. For weeks, he suffered from the pain of unrequited love, but it was Adrian’s scornful words that shamed him  the most.  Back then, Carissa had been too innocent to understand matters of the heart. She had even tried to defend Jasper, thinking it was kind of him to bring flowers every day. She had felt Adrian was too harsh, cruel even, for shaming him so thoroughly.  Adrian practically knocked some sense into her, making her too afraid to speak up for Jasper again.  C