Chapter 31

“Alright!” Theodore replied, wiping tears from his eyes. Though he couldn’t see the young girl clearly, he could feel her spirited determination and was deeply relieved.

“Let’s not linger here any longer. You might pick up some bad luck. I’m leaving now; you should also depart soon,” Theodore added.

“I will, Granduncle Theodore,” Carissa replied respectfully.

Standing, she walked her great-granduncle and Solomon out of the manor. Beatrice also decided to leave. Initially, she had planned to speak with Carissa, but since the older woman had remained silent while the Warren family harassed Carissa, Beatrice lacked the nerve to say anything now. So, she pretended she hadn’t come.

The Warren family remained rooted in place, seemingly unable to accept the outcome. Carissa was suddenly the legitimate daughter of a duke, and her husband could even inherit the title. This was unprecedented. How could someone with a different surname inherit the title? But the king’s edict was clear—it was permissible.

If Barrett hadn’t divorced Carissa, he could have inherited the title. This unexpected wealth and glory had slipped through their fingers. After everything they had done, the Warren family had gained nothing. They hadn’t even secured a penny of Carissa’s dowry.

While they were frozen in place, Carissa returned to her room. Lily, Holly, and the other maids had packed everything neatly. Lulu was also with them. Carissa hadn’t allowed them to accompany her earlier, instead instructing them to stay behind to pack.

“The dowry items include many tables and cabinets that we can’t move right now. We’ll send someone to take them away tomorrow,” Holly said.

“That’s right. Even if it’s a spittoon, we must take it with us. Don’t leave anything for them!” Lily said vehemently.

Carissa nodded. “Let’s go back to Northwatch Estate!”

Her dowry included two carriages. After loading everything onto them, a servant hired two more. They departed Valor Estate in a grand procession.

Everyone from the Warren family hid in the main hall, none daring to come out and stop Carissa from leaving. The king had issued a divorce edict, severing the connection between Carissa and the Warren family. Moreover, she was now a duke’s daughter and had the queen dowager’s support. The Warren family couldn’t afford to offend her.

After a while, Jonathan quietly said, “Actually, this was a very good match. Carissa would have been a great daughter-in-law. It’s just that our family wasn’t lucky enough to have such a match come to fruition.”

+15 BONUS

“Barrett, what do you see in Aurora? How is she better than Carissa?” Amelia asked, looking at her brother-in-law.

Barrett opened his mouth, but then remembered the letter he received from Aurora before he divorced Carissa. He couldn’t find a single word to say. Instead, he recalled Carissa’s indifferent remark about how he wasn’t as honorable as he claimed to be.

Amelia sighed. “Even after Aurora joins our family, I’m afraid we still won’t be able to call Sebastian over to treat Mom. Also, I doubt Aurora will care for Mom like Carissa did. She used to sleep in the same room as Mom because she was afraid Mom might fall ill at night.”

“Was she really so attentive?” Barrett asked, unwilling to admit his disappointment. “Maybe she was just pretending.”

“If she was pretending, she did a good job of it. I hope Aurora can learn a thing or two from Carissa,” Amelia said with some annoyance. She was irritated because she didn’t think Aurora would take care of Rebecca. That meant it would fall to Amelia to care for the older woman.

“No, Aurora will also care for Mom after she marries into our family,” Barrett declared firmly.

“We’ll see,” Amelia replied.

A displeased Serena remarked, “Amelia, why are you saying these things now? If you like Carissa so much, why don’t you leave with her?”

Amelia glanced lightly at her younger sister-in-law and said, “Carissa treated me well. Many of my clothes and jewelry were gifts from her. Is there anything wrong with me speaking up for her? Unlike some people who take so much from others and then badmouth them.”

Having said that, she ignored Serena’s dark expression and walked away. Amelia was upset. She was now in charge of a household that had no money or goods. Despite that, they would still have to spend a lot of money on Rebecca’s medicine, as well as sell the remaining shops they owned to afford the engagement gifts for Aurora. The Warren family was truly destitute.