Chapter 283

After Carissa finished speaking, Aurora burst into wild laughter.

“You can’t even speak the truth, Carissa. Where is your so-called bravery? It’s nothing but hypocrisy!”

Carissa ignored her and continued, “I remember the arrogant way you spoke when you came to see me. You demeaned women and reduced them to dust. I don’t envy you; I only despise you. As a woman yourself, you have no pity for your own kind, and your character is questionable.”

Aurora snorted coldly. “Is that so? But even then, you had impressive martial arts skills. Since you found me displeasing, why didn’t you take the chance to fight me?”

“Because it was beneath me!” Carissa’s eyes darkened. “To me, you were nothing more than a buffoon. I had no interest in engaging with you. Besides, your offenses against me were only verbal, so I retaliated with words. The one who betrayed his promise was Barrett, so my ire was directed solely at him.”

“Beneath you, huh? I don’t believe you didn’t want to kill me back then.” Aurora snorted again. “I know your noble ladies are hypocritical and pretentious, but your minds are as narrow as a needle’s eye. You didn’t make a fuss with me to preserve your virtuous reputation, thinking the Warren family would support you. Who would have thought they were planning to have Barrett divorce you instead?”

Aurora lifted her chin, the black veil over her face swaying with the motion. “At that moment, you must have felt utterly hopeless, right? And enraged?”

Carissa laughed aloud. “What was there to feel hopeless about? With a family like that, it’s being trapped with them that’s truly despairing.”

“You’re still pretending. You’re really good at it.” Aurora swept a vase off the table, sending it crashing to the floor with a loud clatter. “Look into your own heart and ask yourself: Have you never harbored any resentment toward me?”

As the vase shattered on the floor, the orchids inside scattered everywhere. Their petals spread out, stained pale by the water.

Carissa glanced at the broken vase and calmly said, “Lulu, ask Frederick how much this vase cost. Have the Yates family reimburse us for it.”

Lulu spoke up loudly, “I know this vase wasn’t very expensive. It cost fifty silver coins. It’s a new design from the shop, and there are only about ten in the entire capital.”

Aurora’s voice rose sharply, laced with anger. “You would dare ask me for compensation? Carissa, it was already exceptionally generous of me to let you take your dowry with you back then. Since you married into the Warren family, the dowry belongs to them. What right do you have to take it all away?”

Carissa sneered. “How were you a general if you didn’t understand the law? No wonder you were dismissed. I was granted a divorce by the king, so naturally, I was entitled to take my entire dowry. I even have the right to reclaim the portion the Warren family spent, but I haven’t pressed them about it. Did you come here today hoping I would retrieve that money? I could accommodate your request, but isn’t the Warren family preparing for another wedding? Would they do the same as they did when Barrett wanted to marry you, and ask me for a loan? You asked for so many gifts back then. Now, in order to uphold your virtuous reputation, why don’t you use those gifts to help Barrett get a new wife?”

The mention of Barrett remarrying, along with being dismissed and stripped of her military rank, was a deep wound for Aurora. Carissa’s words were like a direct stab to her heart.

Aurora erupted in fury, pointing at Carissa and shouting, “You’re just a discarded woman! What’s there to be so proud of?”

“And you’re just a concubine. What’s there to be so arrogant about?” Carissa replied with calm indifference.

“I am a general’s wife! I married with the full honors of a rightful wife. I will not let go of my position, no matter what!” Aurora retorted sharply.

Carissa lifted her head, her eyes icy with a piercing coldness. “Then go tell the Earl of Silverstone’s family about it. Why come here to talk to me? Are you trying to preserve your dignity before me? Aurora, you say I hate you, and it’s true—I hate you to the core. I’m well aware of what you did at Victory Pass. The destruction of my family is inextricably linked to everything you did there.”

Aurora froze, clearly shocked by how much Carissa knew.