Chapter 30

Carissa bowed deeply, her shoulders relaxing as she sighed in relief. The royal edict had finally arrived.

“I thank His Majesty for his grace,” she said gratefully.

Barrett’s face turned pale; he was frozen in shock. He hadn't expected this. Carissa had gone to the palace seeking permission to divorce him? Not to obstruct his marriage to Aurora? Had she planned this divorce ever since learning about his and Aurora's marriage? He had thought she'd done everything to possess him exclusively, seeing her as jealous, petty, selfish, narrow-minded, intolerant, and even despicable. But it wasn't like that at all.

A wave of indescribable emotion washed over Barrett as he watched Carissa receive the edict. A warm smile bloomed on her face, radiant and captivating. Suddenly, he remembered their first meeting; captivated by her beauty, he'd even forgotten how to breathe. But then he met Aurora…

Rebecca was also taken aback. She had never expected Carissa to actively seek a divorce. With the king's permission, Carissa could take all her dowry. Valor Estate was already a shadow of its former self. If Carissa took everything, how would the estate survive?

“Carissa, it was all a misunderstanding!” Rebecca hurried over, grabbing Carissa’s arm. “I misunderstood you. I thought you were deliberately trying to sabotage Barrett and Aurora’s marriage! That’s why I agreed to Barrett divorcing you, because of your presumed jealousy.”

Carissa withdrew her hand and stepped back. “If it was a misunderstanding, it should have been clarified.”

She turned to Derek. “Mr. Walker, I won’t ask you to stay. In a few days, when you have time, come to Northwatch Estate. Let me treat you to Lulu’s cooking.”

“Very well!” Derek replied. “Officials from the Ministry of Housing have been renovating Northwatch Estate. They’ve been working day and night, and the work is finally complete. That’s why His Majesty took a while to issue the divorce edict. You can move back anytime you wish, Lady Sinclair.”

BONUS

“I thank His Majesty for his grace,” Carissa said, her voice thick with emotion, her eyes reddening with unshed tears.

“Everything is in the past now. Things will get better,” Derek continued. “The Queen Dowager also mentioned that she hasn’t seen you in a long time and misses you dearly. Please visit her in the palace whenever you’re free.”

After speaking, Derek led the royal guards away without another word to the Warren family.

Rebecca still clung to Carissa’s sleeve. “Carissa, have you gone to pay respects to the Queen Dowager lately? Mr. Walker said she misses you. Why didn’t you visit her this year? Why didn’t you tell me how well the Queen Dowager treats you?”

“I used to,” Carissa said, pulling her arm free. “But I married into the Warren family and was no longer a lady of the Marquis’s family. Without a proper title, visiting the palace wouldn’t have been appropriate. So I didn’t go.”

She stepped back and nodded respectfully. “Thank you for your care this past year.” Indeed, Rebecca had treated her well before their falling out. But now, Carissa saw clearly that what she’d thought was kindness had been purchased with her heart and soul.

Barrett approached, his eyes filled with a complex mixture of emotions and a hint of anger. “Since I told you about the king’s edict to marry Aurora, you’ve been planning to divorce me, haven’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“I don’t understand. You’re the legal wife, and she’s just a concubine. Why couldn’t you accept it? Why did you insist on a divorce?”

“A concubine?” Carissa chuckled. “That wasn’t how you described her initially. Do you remember your exact words? About how there would be no distinction in rank between us? You told me to treat her as an equal and not to provoke her. Do you remember?”

“I…” Barrett was speechless.

After a moment, he asked, “Just because of that? Am I not worth anything to you anymore?”

Carissa’s tone was resolute. “No. Since you broke your promise and pursued Aurora based on your military achievements, you’ve been worthless in my eyes. Do you remember when both you and Aurora accused me of using dirty tricks and playing mind games? She said she was above such things. In truth, I despise them even more. I couldn’t even be bothered to tell you how much I despised them.”

She turned and knelt before Theodore. The old man had been weeping uncontrollably. Carissa bowed low for a long time. When she lifted her head, her eyes were red with tears.

“I’m sorry to have worried you, Granduncle Theodore. Once I’ve settled back home, I’ll come to visit you!”