Chapter 429

Barrett advanced and grabbed Aurora’s wrist. “Let’s go. We’re going to Jadehill Estate.”

Aurora pulled her hand away forcefully. “I’m not going!”

Barrett’s expression darkened as he stood in the courtyard. “If you don’t come willingly, I’ll drag you there! You can either walk, or I’ll tie you up and make you carry thorn branches on your back.”

Carrying thorn branches on one’s back was a traditional act of penance, where an individual who had committed a serious offense would bear thorny branches as a symbolic gesture of remorse and submission. The practice was a way to visibly demonstrate their sincere repentance and willingness to atone for their wrongs.

“You wouldn’t dare!” Aurora’s anger flared, her voice trembling with indignation. “All I did was say a few words—what crime have I committed that’s so unforgivable I need to beg for forgiveness with thorn branches on my back?”

Barrett gritted his teeth in frustration. “You know what you’ve done! Your crimes are so severe, those thorn branches would be a mercy! You deserve to be executed!”

He glanced at the maids nearby and roared, “Get out!”

Terrified, the maids scrambled to leave.

Aurora stared at him with reddened eyes. “You don’t treat me with even a fraction of the kindness you once did! You clearly loathe me. If that’s the case, why did you marry me?”

Barrett was on the brink of breaking down. He shouted at Aurora in frustration, “I was a fool! I was blind! I mistook you for someone honorable and courageous, but you’re not!”

Aurora covered her ears. “Shut up! Clearly, you misjudged. You thought Carissa would accept me, which is why you married me. But when Carissa refused to accept that you were marrying another wife, you revealed your true colors. Your affection for me was nothing but a passing fancy! You’re heartless and unfaithful! Barrett, I was wrong about you.”

Barrett’s face turned ashen, as if her words had struck the very core of his being.

Standing upright, he said coldly, “I won’t dwell on the past with you, but you must come with me to Jadehill Estate today. And as for the person you broke the limbs of yesterday, you need to compensate him. If not, you’ll be thrown into prison.”

“Stop talking nonsense! I didn’t hurt anyone yesterday!” As Aurora spoke, she suddenly recalled what had happened the previous day and asked, “Did Viola claim I did it?”

Barrett’s anger flared. “Don’t play dumb! The person who pelted the estate with dung yesterday—you were the one who caught him and broke his limbs. He’s already reported the incident to the Royal Citadel. You’ll be visited by their officials soon enough. This morning, the inspectors presented a case against me, accusing me of poor household management and allowing my servants to harm civilians. Besides you, who else in the household is so violent?”

Aurora’s face turned pale with anger. “It wasn’t me! I didn’t even step out of the courtyard yesterday! If you don’t believe me, go ask the steward or anyone who was with me.”

Chapter [The "+25 BONUS" section seems out of place and unrelated to the narrative. It should be removed or explained separately.]

Her agitation suddenly ceased as she fixed him with a cold stare. “Why don’t you ask Viola? Maybe it was she who had people do it.”

Barrett raised a hand dismissively. “Impossible! Viola is gentle and virtuous. She wouldn’t do something so brutal.”

Aurora’s heart sank with cold despair. “So, in your eyes, only I am capable of such cruelty, while Viola is a saint. Barrett, oh, Barrett, you’re absolutely right—you’re truly blind.”

Barrett refused to believe that Viola could have given such orders. He was adamant that it must have been Aurora.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve done something like this. We both know what you’re capable of. You dare to act cruelly, but can’t face the consequences. You have no one to blame but yourself for being despised.”

Aurora, seething with rage, shouted, “Bring Viola to Forsaken Hall and have her recount everything that happened yesterday!”

A trembling maid entered, her lips quivering as she said, “G-General Warren, if you’re referring to the person throwing dung at the estate yesterday, it was indeed… indeed Madam Viola who ordered his arm to be broken.”

Another maid stepped forward and added, “She’s right, General Warren. It was Madam Viola. But she only instructed that his arm be broken, not his leg. It was his own foul mouth that led to…”

Barrett took a deep breath, his eyes filled with disbelief. Viola was behind this?

Aurora watched his reaction, feeling no satisfaction but instead an increased sense of grievance. Her expression was filled with bitter sarcasm as she said, “That’s the so-called dignified and virtuous wife you speak of.”