Chapter 21

The lamp in Rebecca’s room stayed lit through the night.

When Barrett suggested divorcing Carissa, Jonathan immediately opposed it. “If you divorce her,” he said, “the court officials will criticize you before the king. Doing so will undoubtedly ruin your future.”

Benjamin chimed in, “Barrett, Dad’s right. Do you know how many generals in the army were once her father’s men? You relied on their support for your recent achievements. If you lose their backing, your position in the military will be unstable.”

Barrett’s face turned cold. “But she’s using Mom’s health to threaten me. I can’t bear it!”

Rebecca had calmed down, but the earlier discomfort made her intensely resent Carissa. Suddenly, she raised her head and said in a hoarse voice, “Divorce her! Once divorced, she can’t take her dowry with her.”

“I have no intention of taking her dowry,” Barrett replied.

“Why not? Since you’re divorcing her, her dowry naturally belongs to our family,” Rebecca said, touching her still-slightly-aching chest. “With those coins, we could afford Sebastian’s treatment.”

“Barrett, you know how difficult it is to borrow money now that you’re a hero, don’t you? We sold all our shops just to gather enough money for your wedding. We’ve exhausted our savings.”

Jonathan urged, “Dear, what’s more important—the dowry or Barrett’s future? You must consider these things.”

Rebecca’s face looked exceptionally grim in the lamplight. “Darling, you said it yourself. The king needs new generals now. Even if the court officials investigate and find Barrett at fault, the king will likely only give him a light punishment. We need to consider the bigger picture.”

Barrett spoke up, “Everyone, deciding to divorce Carissa might have been impulsive, but I can’t tolerate such a narrow-minded and manipulative woman as my wife. I’ve thought this through. I may face criticism and the court’s scrutiny. But considering the dire situation at the Southern Frontier, I predict the Hell Monarch won’t prevail and will need reinforcements. Aurora and I can go as reinforcements. We won the battle against Westhaven, and we’ll surely win at the Southern Frontier. Recapturing the area would be an extraordinary achievement.”

Chapter 21 + 25 Bonus

Barrett’s gaze was fervent. The battle at the Southern Frontier had dragged on for years without success. Even Hector and his sons had perished on those battlefields. That’s when the Hell Monarch had marched out. Now, over two years later, he still hadn’t reclaimed the Southern Frontier.

If Barrett and Aurora could reclaim the area, it would be a true accomplishment. Moreover, it could be seen as Barrett successfully avenging Hector and his sons. Who would dare accuse him of betraying Carissa then?

“I’ll endure the humiliation for a while. Trust Aurora and me. We’ll definitely return victorious from the Southern Frontier,” Barrett declared confidently.

His words persuaded Jonathan and Benjamin.

Rebecca, even more stirred up, urged, “If that’s the case, just divorce her! She’s so jealous and can’t accept that Barrett will take another wife. She even defied the king’s marriage edict! She’s being disrespectful out of envy. If the royal physician hadn’t been summoned, I might have died tonight.”

Greed coiled in Rebecca’s heart like a venomous snake. She had forgotten how her daughter-in-law had set aside her noble upbringing and personally cared for her heart ailment. She had forgotten how caring and obedient Carissa had once been. Rebecca had also praised Carissa’s virtue and decorum many times before other ladies, saying it was a blessing for her to be part of the Warren family.

“She can’t leave with her dowry. It must stay with us. Barrett, don’t be foolish, understand?” Rebecca warned. “Send her back to Northwatch Estate. The properties she has will earn enough for her to live comfortably, but we need those coins from her dowry to pave the way for your future.”

Barrett shook his head. “No, I don’t want her dowry. I just want to divorce her.”

“Absolutely not! Not a single penny of her dowry will leave this place! Get someone to bring me the list of her dowry items!” Rebecca exclaimed furiously.