Chapter 276

The elderly woman wore a stone-blue brocade coat with cloud patterns and held a small metal hot-water bottle. Appearing to be in her fifties, streaks of gray threaded her neatly styled, immaculate updo. Her demeanor exuded authority and respect.

In contrast, her daughter was simply dressed. Beneath a white fur coat, she wore an apricot-yellow gown. In her twenties, she was quite beautiful, but her face held a faint, melancholic air. Without the color of her dress, her overall demeanor might have seemed even more aged than her mother's.

After inviting them to sit, Carissa explained, “A few days ago, Ryan was undergoing treatment when you sent the invitation, Madam Prince. I was unable to meet with you then and worried about being impolite, so I asked someone to decline on our behalf. Now that he is much better, I wanted to invite you both to the residence and express my gratitude for your concern for Ryan.”

Evelyn inquired, “How is the young lord now?”

“He is much improved. Thank you for keeping him in your thoughts,” Carissa replied.

Evelyn smiled and said, “I know your family has everything it needs, but we’ve recently acquired a rare herbal tonic and thought it would benefit the young lord’s health.”

As she spoke, one of the maids brought forward a brocade box and bowed to Carissa.

“I hope you will accept it.”

Carissa responded, “How can I accept such a precious gift? I am already deeply grateful for your visit to see Ryan. I cannot possibly accept such an expensive medicine.”

“Please, accept it as a small token from the Earl of Silverstone’s family,” Evelyn insisted, with a hint of both resignation and joy. “Though our two families seldom interacted in the past, we have always respected the Duke of Northwatch. Hearing that the young lord is still among us brings us great happiness. If you do not accept it, it will seem as if you are looking down upon our family.”

Seeing Evelyn’s earnestness, Carissa stopped refusing. She thanked Evelyn and instructed Lily to accept the tonic.

Evelyn seemed inclined to say more, but Viola, evidently impatient, directly addressed Carissa: “Lady Sinclair, could you tell us why you parted ways with Barrett? Is there an issue with his character or conduct?”

Evelyn’s expression darkened. “Viola, don’t be rude.”

Viola stood up and gave a slight bow but remained stubborn. “I know I am being presumptuous, but I still ask Lady Sinclair to speak frankly.”

“Oh, Viola? Does your name also mean ‘yew’? How interesting,” Carissa responded with a smile, trying to deflect the pressing tone of the question.

“My name actually comes from the violet flower, which symbolizes modesty and faithfulness, similar to the symbolic nature of the yew tree. You mentioned ‘also.’ Who else in your family has the name that means ‘yew’?” Viola said.

Carissa smiled. “Oh, that’s not quite the same, then. I was talking about my late sister-in-law. Her name was Yvette, and it meant ‘yew.’”

At the mention of Carissa’s deceased sister-in-law, Viola’s attitude softened considerably.

She said quietly, “I see.”

She sighed lightly and sat back down.

Seeing that Viola was no longer as agitated, Carissa continued, “Earlier, you asked about my separation from Barrett. The reason is simply that he wishes to take another wife, which I couldn’t accept.”

“A man taking a concubine is a common matter,” Viola said, clearly skeptical. “Did you really leave him over this?”

“That’s right,” Carissa affirmed.

Viola’s eyes showed confusion. “Why? It’s just another wife. A second wife is, at most, a favored concubine. It shouldn’t threaten your position as the primary wife.”

Carissa thought differently. How could it not have threatened her position? Barrett had made it clear that his heart was only for Aurora.

However, Carissa couldn’t express that to Viola. The situation then was very different now.

Instead, Carissa said, “When he married me, he promised not to take any concubines. He broke the promise he made to my mother.”

“I see,” Viola considered this for a moment. “Breaking a promise is indeed wrong, but to divorce over this alone seems a bit hasty. After all, a div…