Chapter 284
Carissa stood and walked through the puddle on the floor, each step bringing her closer to Aurora. She bent down and whispered in Aurora’s ear, “Has Liam’s revenge not made you see the truth yet? You still think you’re the greatest female general in the world? Aurora, you’re nothing. Barrett married you out of novelty. If he truly loved you, he would have made you his primary wife, instead of a secondary wife.”
Aurora’s face turned pale. “That’s because he still wanted to preserve your dignity. As for me, I don’t care about the title.”
Carissa grabbed the other woman’s collar—a touch that carried a bone-chilling coldness—then released it before smoothing out her neckline.
“Do you think I care about the dignity he preserved for me? And what do you gain from not caring about titles? You came here today and flaunted your power. Did you think I might be concerned about my reputation and let you make a scene?”
Carissa gripped Aurora’s chin, pressing hard enough that her jaw felt like it might crack. The pain made tears well up in Aurora’s eyes.
“It would be easy to kill you, but I want you to live well. You look down on women and belittle their struggles in the household, but I’m certain that one day you’ll become just that kind of person.”
Aurora struggled fiercely. “Let go of me.”
Carissa held firm, forcing Aurora to look up at her. “What makes you think I’m so easy to provoke? Is it because my divorce came quickly, making you think I’m weak and easily bullied? Or do you think that just because I’m a woman, I would be sentimental about Barrett? Do you think I must still love him, so you’ve come to humiliate me and vent your anger? You dare not confront the woman Barrett will remarry, but came to me instead. Did you know that the matriarch and third daughter of the Earl of Silverstone’s family came here the other day, and even they had to treat me with utmost respect?”
“What…?” Aurora murmured in disbelief.
Aurora saw the cold, ruthless glint in Carissa’s eyes. Had she misjudged? Had Carissa really not hoped Barrett would come back to her after the divorce? No, Carissa must have been longing for Barrett, but had been fortunate enough to meet Rafael, who was willing to marry her.
“The matter at Victory Pass has nothing to do with the destruction of your family,” Aurora said defiantly, though her demeanor had weakened slightly.
Her presence as cold and imposing as ever, Carissa released Aurora and said, “Whether it is related or not, you know in your heart. Leave the fifty silver coins and get out of here. If you come to trouble me again, I’ll break both your legs.”
Aurora’s jaw ached with a pain so severe it felt like it might shatter. Even opening her mouth was difficult. At that moment, Carissa looked genuinely terrifying.
Chapter +25 BONUS
After sitting there for a while, Aurora finally asked coldly, “Back at the Southern Frontier, you could have led your troops to rescue me, but you didn’t. You allowed the soldiers to remain at the base of the mountain, leaving me to endure endless humiliation. Carissa, I’ve always believed it was out of hatred for having your husband taken from you.”
Carissa stood tall, the light casting a cold glow on her exquisite, icy face. She spoke in a tone as frigid as the winter wind, “A man who is heartless and unfaithful—I’ve discarded him like a worn-out shoe. In my eyes, he’s not even worth as much as a dog. Only you still value him.”
“It’s impossible… That can’t be! How could you not care about him? After a year of working like a servant in Valor Estate and spending all that money, how could you not love him? I don’t believe it!”
As her attitude shifted, Aurora grabbed Carissa’s arm. “You must have once loved him, right? So, I’m sure you can’t bear to see him sell himself for his career and marry a discarded woman! She’s an old woman! If you go to him and tell him not to marry her, he won’t!”
Carissa looked at Aurora’s suddenly humble demeanor and sneered. “Aurora, look at yourself. You’ve truly become the person you despised the most.”
Aurora shook her head. “No… it’s different!”
She took a deep breath, her eyes glazed. “I can’t accept him marrying the third daughter of the Earl of Silverstone’s family. She’s a lowly woman!”
Carissa’s lips curled into a smirk. “Aurora, believe me, she’s not as lowly as you. At least she adheres to proper etiquette, while you, on the battlefield, submitted to Barrett and had an affair before even talking about marriage. You are truly the lowly one. In terms of personal virtue, you and Barrett are equally despicable.”