Chapter 290

+25 BONUS

When Frederick arrived at Valor Estate to collect a debt, the servants informed Rebecca. She immediately summoned Barrett to explain the situation.

Knowing the incident couldn't be concealed—too many servants had witnessed it—Barrett decided to tell his mother everything.

Rebecca's face turned ashen with fury. "A disaster! A truly terrible disaster! How could you choose such a calamitous wife? Is it not enough that she wreaks havoc daily at home; now she's causing trouble at Northwatch Estate? Does she think our family can afford to offend the Duke of Northwatch's family? Has she even looked at herself in the mirror? Did she go there specifically to embarrass us?"

Clutching her chest, Rebecca continued to rage, "A disaster, a complete disaster! She must have deliberately provoked Carissa, trying to interfere with your marriage to the Prince family's third daughter."

Barrett suddenly realized Aurora wouldn't have provoked Carissa without reason; there must have been another motive. Could it be, as his mother suggested, related to his upcoming marriage?

This thought unsettled Barrett. He had already been reluctant about the marriage, feeling pressured into it. Now, with his official duties leaving him little time for home and constant quarrels with Aurora, he felt disheartened. Knowing the truth about the Victory Pass battle had only deepened his disillusionment—he found her frightening.

Furthermore, Amelia was weak and unable to manage the household. With Rebecca's illness, someone needed to handle family affairs. Yet, before the prime minister's wife mentioned it, Barrett had never considered taking another wife.

He was stunned to learn that the prime minister's wife, Natalie Wright, wanted to act as his matchmaker. Her personal involvement meant Jeremiah approved. What did that signify? It meant Barrett had caught the prime minister's attention.

Barrett then discovered his prospective bride was the third daughter of the Earl of Silverstone's family. He learned that Viola was the widow of Thomas, the eleventh son of the Farrell family. After Thomas died in battle, the Farrell family had issued Viola a letter of divorce, and she returned to her family home.

Marrying a woman who had been married before made Barrett uncomfortable. However, her elder brother, Oliver, currently commanded the Hell Monarch Army. It was unusual for Rafael to have relinquished command to someone else.

Barrett was baffled. Why had Rafael relinquished command of the Hell Monarch Army? Why had he agreed to marry Carissa? With his status, he could have chosen any noblewoman.

Chapter 290

No matter how valiant Carissa was on the battlefield, how distinguished her family and master were, or how stunning her beauty, she was still a woman who had been married before.

"Barrett, Aurora must have had ulterior motives. You should find out exactly what she told Carissa. If she used any methods to force Carissa's intervention and prevent your marriage, that would be serious. Carissa despises us, and she will definitely try to sabotage this," Rebecca said with increasing conviction.

"Aurora must have threatened her. Otherwise, considering Carissa's background, why would she bother sending someone to collect fifty silver coins? Forget fifty—even five hundred silver coins wouldn't concern her," Rebecca added.

"Mom, don't worry. Aurora won't be able to coerce Carissa," Barrett replied, trying to calm himself.

Still anxious, Rebecca said, "Even if she can't coerce her, if Aurora says something that upsets Carissa, who then speaks ill of you to the Earl of Silverstone's family, it could ruin the marriage."

Barrett shook his head, though inwardly wincing. If Carissa did intervene, it would mean she still had feelings for him. He genuinely hoped she would intervene.

Abruptly, he snapped back to reality. What was he thinking? Carissa was engaged to Rafael. Even if she still harbored feelings for Barrett, they would likely be tainted with resentment. The uproar during their divorce had been severe. How could she not hold a grudge?

But if she did still have feelings for him…

Amidst his conflicting emotions, Barrett felt a pang of regret. He had always been unwilling to admit it, but he knew better than anyone that he truly and deeply regretted it. The woman he had once fought so hard to marry was now someone he had discarded. Only now, after everything, did he realize how precious she was. Unfortunately, she was about to become someone else's wife. And he was left to marry a widow.

Barrett once believed he felt unwavering love for Aurora. In the end, what did it amount to?