Chapter 967

Barrett's eyes instinctively flickered toward the door. It wasn't a conscious action; he simply felt uneasy, as if his actions were underhanded. This made him cautious.

His nervous, furtive behavior further lowered Aurora's guard. To her, he seemed transparent—what was there to fear?

"The thing you mentioned that day…" Barrett's voice was a whisper. He avoided her gaze. "I've thought about it a lot since then. I can't help but feel the chances are slim. And you never said how you would ensure the Westhaven envoys will take General Sullivan. Without that certainty, I can't be sure the people of Hell Monarch Estate will intervene, or that we'll get the right chance at all."

His voice was low, his gaze evasive. He still cared for her as his wife, and asking these questions felt like a betrayal. He was deeply troubled, but to protect the Warren family, he had no choice.

Aurora frowned. "If I said it will happen, it will. What are you worried about? You can leave; just prepare yourself."

"You make it sound easy. How am I supposed to save you by myself? Don't I need more people and money? But without a guarantee, how can I justify spending that money? Don't call me stingy. You know the estate's situation."

The mention of their financial troubles made Barrett sigh deeply.

"More people?" Aurora's voice sharpened. "What kind of people can you find? You can't just pick anyone for this."

Finding people would be too risky.

"You just need to take advantage of the situation while they're rescuing Dominic. Your martial arts skills are enough," she added.

"Don't blame me for being heartless," Barrett said. "I can't rescue you directly. I can only help from the outside. I'm willing to take risks for you, but I can't put my own life at stake."

Aurora's expression changed. "You…are you really that cold-hearted and ruthless?"

"Your life matters, but mine doesn't?" Barrett felt a flash of resentment. "His Majesty has pardoned me. If I reflect on my actions and keep to myself, I can still find a way out. But if I try to save you, I'll sacrifice my future and position. All I can hope for is to survive. The truth is, this isn't my fault. Helping you is a kindness, not an obligation. If you can't accept that, then we're done."

Chapter 967 (continued)

Aurora's laugh was cold, almost mocking. "You're such a spineless coward! We're husband and wife, and we've been through a lot. How can you just stand by and watch me suffer?"

Barrett's temper flared. He hated being called a coward, and his face darkened. "If you keep talking like that, I'll walk out right now."

Aurora's anger flared, but she reached out and pulled him back. "Who are you thinking of asking for help? I need to know if they're reliable."

Barrett explained, "When I was with the Capital Guard, I met some down-and-out martial artists. They're skilled fighters, but their pride prevents them from accepting orders easily. They prefer dangerous jobs, even if it means risking their lives. If the pay is good enough, they'll do it.

"I'm thinking of gathering seven or eight of them. The cost won't be small, though. If you're not sure about this plan, I can't waste the money. I need you to tell me how confident you are. I've been thinking it over, and I just can't believe you'll be able to convince Westhaven to take General Sullivan without more than just your word."

Aurora gave him a cold, calculating look. "Why would you need to know the details? You just have to trust me. If I say I can handle it, I will."

Barrett shook his head, doubt clouding his eyes. "I can't take that gamble. You want me to spend all that money and risk my future based on nothing but your word? You know the estate's situation. We've lost everything. We don't have money, and my mother's belongings have been sold. I'll have to borrow from Viola."

A red flush of shame appeared on his face as he spoke, continuing bitterly, "I don't have a good relationship with her. Borrowing from her means I'll have to humiliate myself, and you can imagine how difficult that is for me."

Then, he seemed to remember something. "Don't you have any savings? How much do you have? If you can contribute, I won't have to borrow from her and deal with her attitude."

Chapter 968