Chapter 396
Yuvan's face went ashen. The divorce agreement was still in existence? Everyone responsible was unreliable!
Randall took the letter with trembling hands. How could he not recognize his father's handwriting? He lifted his gaze to Yuvan, clenching his fists. “Dad, how do you explain this?”
Yuvan pursed his lips, his displeasure evident. The once gentle and unassuming expression on his face had been replaced by a cloud of gloom.
Fiona quickly intervened. “How could your father have written that? It’s clearly an imitation of your father’s handwriting. Why would your father divorce your mother?”
She looked around but did not dare directly address Carissa. Instead, she turned to Violet. “You must have produced this document, right? Do you have some deep-seated grudge against Yuvan and his family? Why use a fake divorce agreement to provoke Lady Avis and cause her to fall ill?”
Violet replied coldly, “Don’t you know who I am? If you don’t, why did you ask for my hand in marriage? I’ve never even met Prince Yuvan. How could I imitate his handwriting? If anyone were to imitate it, it would be you, the secondary concubine who’s with him day and night. Perhaps it’s you who used his handwriting to send this letter to Lady Avis, hoping she would die sooner.”
Both Yuvan and Fiona’s gazes fell sharply on Violet. Yuvan’s eyes suddenly brightened. So, this was Violet? Fiona’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of dark light appearing. So, she was Violet?
Carissa looked at the people from Yuvan’s family. Except for Randall, no one else showed any sign of sorrow. It was as if, from the moment Avis was sent to Verdant Monastery, they had already considered her dead in their hearts. Randall, whether genuine or not, at least shed tears.
Carissa’s heart was cold. Her aunt, such a kind person, had met such a tragic end. For a woman to end up with an ungrateful husband was truly heartbreaking.
Carissa cast a cold gaze at the two young women. “She was your mother. She’s dead, and not a single tear from either of you?”
Stephanie’s face showed sorrow as she gracefully stood and lowered her head. “Today is New Year’s Eve. Even though I am deeply saddened, I can’t shed tears on this day, or it would bring ridicule.”
“That’s truly laughable. Losing one’s parents is the greatest sorrow of all. Even court officials, when they lose their parents, must observe three years of mourning. Does being devoted to one’s parents mean less than celebrating the New Year?” Carissa snapped.
“Even if you criticize, I can’t cry in someone else’s home. Besides, not shedding tears doesn’t mean I’m not grieving. How could you understand the sorrow in my heart?” Stephanie retorted.
“Such eloquence, but what an ungrateful daughter you are,” Carissa said, deeply disappointed and furious. “You’ve just returned to the capital. You should be paying respects to the queen dowager, not coming to Hell Monarch Estate. I won’t entertain you. Please leave.”
Carissa’s direct dismissal of her elders, especially a royal relative, was quite impudent and disrespectful in the capital.
But while Yuvan was livid at Carissa’s dismissal, he didn’t show it. Instead, he turned to Rafael. “Rafael, are you going to drive your uncle away?”
Rafael replied, “My wife is right. You should have first gone to pay respects to the queen dowager and the king before coming to my estate. Furthermore, there is mourning in your family. Regardless of circumstances, respect for the deceased takes precedence. You should have informed the queen dowager and the king and rushed back to Valken.”
Yuvan’s face turned an ashen green with anger. Standing up, he looked at Rafael coldly. “Rafael, now that you’ve accomplished much, are you so bold as to disregard even your uncle? Aren’t you afraid people will say you’ve become arrogant because of your achievements?”
Rafael raised his chin proudly, and his gaze was cold. “I speak the truth and reason; I don’t care what others say.”
“Fine!” Yuvan’s lips quivered with rage as he shouted, “Let’s go!”