Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair)
Chapter 290

However, when Frederick came to Valor Estate to collect the debt, the servants reported it to Rebecca. She immediately summoned Barrett to explain the situation. Knowing that the incident couldn't be hidden any longer, as too many servants had seen and heard what happened, Barrett decided to tell his mother everything in detail.

ve chosen such a

Rebecca's face turned ashen with fury. "A disaster, truly a disaster! How could you have calamity for a wife? Is it not enough that she wreaks havoc every day at home, now she's even going to Northwatch Estate to cause trouble? Does she think our family can afford to offend the Duke of Northwatch's family now? Has she even looked at herself in the mirror? Did she go there specifically to embarrass us?" Her hand clutching her chest, Rebecca continued to curse, "A disaster, a complete disaster! She must have gone there to deliberately provoke Carissa, trying to interfere with your marriage to the Prince family's third lady."

Barrett suddenly realized that Aurora wouldn't have provoked Carissa without reason-there must have been another motive.

Could it really be, as his mother suggested, related to his upcoming marriage?

This thought left Barrett feeling unsettled.

He had already been somewhat reluctant about this marriage, feeling like he was being pushed into it. Now, with his official duties leaving him little time for home, and the constant quarrels with Aurora, he felt disheartened. Knowing the truth about what happened at the Victory Pass battle had only deepened his disillusionment with her-in fact, he found her frightening.

Moreover, Amelia was weak and unable to manage the household. With how ill Rebecca was, it was crucial for someone to handle the family affairs.

Yet, before the prime minister's wife mentioned it, Barrett had never considered taking another wife.

He was stunned to learn that the prime minister's wife, Natalie Wright, wanted to act as his matchmaker. The fact that she was personally involved meant Jeremiah approved of her actions. What did that signify?

It meant Barrett had caught the prime minister's eye.

Barrett then discovered that his prospective bride was the third lady of the Earl of Silverstone's family. He had learned that Viola was the widow of Thomas, the eleventh son of the Farell family. After Thomas died in battle, the Farell family had issued Viola a letter of divorce, and she returned to her natal home.

Marrying a woman who had already been married once made Barrett uncomfortable. However, her elder brother, Oliver, was currently commanding the Hell Monarch Army. It was strange for Rafael to have handed over control of the Hell Monarch Army to someone else.

Barrett was baffled by many things.

Why had Rafael relinquished command of the Hell Monarch Army? Why had he agreed to marry Carissa? With his status, he could have chosen any noblewoman he desired.

.25 BONUS

No matter how valiant Carissa was on the battlefield, how distinguished her family and master were, or how stunning her beauty might be, she was still a woman who had been married before. "Barrett, Aurora must have had some ulterior motive. You should replace out exactly what she told Carissa. If she has used any methods to force Carissa into intervening and preventing your upcoming marriage, that would be serious. Carissa despises us, and she will definitely try to sabotage this," Rebecca said with increasing conviction.

"Aurora must have threatened her. Otherwise, considering Carissa's background, why would she bother sending someone to collect fifty silver coins? Forget about fifty silver coins-even five hundred silver coins would not be a concern for her," Rebecca added.

"Mom, don't worry. Aurora won't be able to coerce Carissa to do anything," Barrett replied, trying to calm himself.

Still anxious, Rebecca said, "Even if she can't coerce her, if Aurora says something that upsets Carissa, who then speaks ill of you to the Earl of Silverstone's family, it could ruin the marriage." Barrett shook his head, though he was inwardly wincing.

If Carissa did intervene, it would mean she still had feelings for him. He genuinely hoped she would

intervene...

Abruptly, he snapped back to reality.

What was he thinking?

Carissa was already engaged to Rafael. Even if she still harbored feelings for Barrett, it would likely be tainted with resentment. Also, the uproar during their divorce had been so severe. How could she not hold a grudge?

But if she did still have feelings for him...

Amidst his conflicting emotions, Barrett felt a pang of regret. He had always been unwilling to admit it, but he knew better than anyone that he truly and deeply regretted it.

The woman he had once fought so hard to marry was now someone he had discarded like old rags. Only now, after everything that had happened, did he realize how precious she was. Unfortunately, she was about to become someone else's wife. And he was left to marry a woman who had been widowed.

Barrett once believed he felt an unwavering love for Aurora.

In the end, what did it amount to?