Chapter 603

When Carissa arrived at Gracehold Estate, the servants greeted her. They were mindful of her status as a princess consort.

This attention bothered Carissa, which is why she rarely visited. She waited for the formalities to conclude before seeking out Leona.

Leona's face lit up when she saw her cousin approaching. She waddled out, her prominent belly preceding her, to meet Carissa.

Carissa took Leona's hand, gently placing her other hand on Leona's belly. "How are you feeling with such a big bump? Is it uncomfortable?"

"Not too bad, just a bit restless at night," Leona replied with a smile. "The hardest days are behind me. When I had to stay in bed to protect the baby, I was constantly nauseous from lying down."

"Once the baby arrives, it'll all be worth it," Carissa reassured her.

Inside, Carissa found Alana and Leah in the inner room—one sewing, the other working on a net. They looked up and greeted her.

"You're here, Carissa."

"Hello, Alana, Leah," Carissa replied with a respectful nod.

Another woman, embroidering, quickly stood and bowed upon hearing the Hell Monarch's princess consort had arrived.

"Greetings, Lady Carissa."

Carissa recognized her as Nora Wagner, the concubine from the merchant family who had entered the family with Ruby. She seemed kind and demure.

Carissa nodded slightly. "No need for such formalities."

"She often comes to keep me company," Leona said, looking noticeably more cheerful. "She tells me many amusing stories. Her father took her and her siblings on his business trips, so she's quite knowledgeable."

Nora smiled shyly. "Your Grace, I wouldn't say it's knowledge. Just experiences."

Seeing their rapport and Leona's cheerfulness relieved Carissa. She handed the Evergreen Root slices and medicine to Alana, mentioning their usefulness during childbirth. Alana promptly locked them away in a cabinet.

Samuel, who had been cursing Carissa daily, fell silent upon hearing of her arrival. He hid in his study, not daring to emerge, allowing the cousins to chat uninterrupted.

At the Farrell family residence, Zoey's arrival surprised the family. Her last visit, when she returned the death pension and shop money, led them to believe she wouldn't return.

Chapter 603 (Continued)

After Zoey chatted with everyone for a while, Thomas returned home. Hearing Zoey was there, he greeted her.

Zoey looked at him and skipped pleasantries. "I need to speak with you privately. Is that alright?"

The others exchanged surprised glances, but Thomas seemed to understand. Perhaps it concerned Viola's recent comments. Given his investigation into the assassination attempt at Valor Estate, he nodded.

"Sure, let's go to my study."

Alice felt uneasy. "Is something wrong?"

Zoey smiled reassuringly. "No, not at all. Thomas just returned from the Southern Frontier, and I wanted to ask about… the situation there. It's not something I can inquire about with anyone else."

Her deliberate hesitation was meant to suggest she was curious about Oliver's potential infidelities—a wife's natural concern.

Alice understood and smiled knowingly. "Alright, you two go ahead."

Thomas's study was simply furnished: a large black desk, matching black chairs, two towering bookshelves filled with books, a few swords on the walls, and a long axe in the corner.

Four chairs sat before the desk, two on each side. Thomas gestured for Zoey to sit while he sat opposite her.

Zoey got straight to the point. "Viola has contacted you, hasn't she?"

Thomas, an upright man, had no intention of hiding anything. "Yes, she mentioned the assassination attempt at Valor Estate. She also told me Julia and Yvonne are dead. I've been investigating and uncovered some details. The assassin killed several people at Valor Estate, but their real target was Aurora."

Zoey shifted the conversation. Fixing her gaze on him, she asked, "Did she tell you she plans to divorce Barrett and rekindle things with you?"

"She did mention that," Thomas acknowledged with a nod.

"If she divorces him, are you really going to marry her?"

Thomas fell silent, then looked up. His eyes held a sense of resignation.

"I initially thought I was at fault. If she can't make it work with Barrett and decides to return to me, then I should take responsibility. But I've learned some things that complicate matters. I believe you know this as well. You're here to tell me, aren't you?"

Zoey was taken aback. "You know? What exactly do you know?"