Chapter 898

Aurora was roughly dragged to her feet, her hands shackled behind her back. When she was slammed to the ground, her face scraped against the sharp stones, drawing a few thin lines of blood She first shot a look at Barrett, her eyes filled with nothing but disappointment. Then, her gaze turned to Carissa, sharp and unrelenting Canssa’s official uniform was everything she had ever dreamed of, yet here she was, never even having the chance to touch them, let alone wear them. Canssa pulled the whip back and stood directly in front of Aurora. The two locked eyes–one pair filled with resentment, the other brimming with unabashed hatred For the first time, Carissa’s hatred for Aurora was unmasked. Even in front of her parents‘ memory plaques, Carissa had tempered her feelings, unwilling to let the spirits of her family see her consumed by such hatred. But now, with everything coming to a head, there was no holding back. The resentment that had festered in Carissa’s heart boiled over. Aurora had destroyed her family and dragged her grandfather down with her- this grudge was something she could never forgive. more In the face of such hate, Aurora’s jealousy and unwillingness to accept her fate seemed like nothing: than a pale shadow. After just a moment of meeting Carissa’s gaze, the weight of the anger was enough to crush her. She turned her eyes away and glanced at Barrett, this time genuinely seeking help, her expression pleading for mercy. Barrett’s heart twisted, caught in a turmoil of emotions. Earlier, he had purposely let Alistair stop him when in truth, it was him who had been standing in Alistair’s way. Aurora couldn’t have truly taken Barrett hostage–it wouldn’t have worked, and Barrett knew it. However, holding the Ministry of Justice’s deputy minister hostage would make the entire ministry’s forces step back. He understood Aurora’s intentions. They had always had an unspoken understanding between them. During their time at Victory Pass, it wasn’t just about Fawnrun City. Before that, they had fought side by side, killing enemies together. Their bond was forged in that shared danger, and it had led to moments where their hearts and minds had aligned Barrett remembered the time when, during the mission to burn the supply depot in Fawnrun City, Aurora had asked him what he would do if she found herself in mortal danger. He had answered, without hesitation, that he would risk everything to save her–even his life. And now, when Aurora had looked at him earlier, he had felt that same struggle, but his promise still held. No matter the cost, even if it meant losing his title or facing punishment, he was willing to keep that promise. Yet, Carissa’s appearance was like a slap in the face. While he had kept his promise to Aurora, why hadn’t he upheld his vows to Carissa at the start? At that moment, Barrett felt as if he was being torn apart from within. A sharp pain in his foot brought him back to reality. He looked up to see Alistair, who had just stomped on him, face twisted with anger. Alistair had seen through Barrett’s intentions. “Wretch Alistair muttered under his breath. Chapter 898

To him, anyone who acted in a despicable manner, regardless of their gender, was a wretch. Those present all assumed Alistair was insulting Aurora, Though they found the words harsh, they knew Alistair’s volatile nature, so none of them said anything It took a while for Cyrus to regain his composure The blade had been just inches from his throat. Had Aurora miscalculated even slightly, the sword would’ve sliced his neck open. That was a near–death experience. Even if he survived, being taken hostage by Aurora would ruin his position. There was no way he could keep his title if she managed to escape. He felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward Carissa, and bowed deeply to her. “Thank you for saving my life, Commander Sinclair ” Canssa nodded. Take her back and lock her up properly, Mr. Zellner. Remember to search her thoroughly and ensure there are no weapons on her “Yes, I understand,” Cyrus replied, still bowing. He quickly led his men away, his steps heavy. Before he left, he glanced at Barrett. Cyrus was suspicious. He noticed that Aurora had only asked Barrett one question, and their exchange had been full of strange, unspoken understanding. Without any concrete evidence, however, he could do nothing about it Barrett stood there, pale and lost in thought. Without missing a beat, Alistair turned to Carissa and reported, “Commander Sinclair, he was trying to help Aurora escape.” “Don’t talk nonsense!” Viola snapped, finally coming to her senses Hearing Alistair’s accusation, she immediately chided him, “Alistair, stop being ridiculous. He’s your family by marriage.” Though Alistair was from a branch of the Prince family, he always had a strained relationship with the Earl of Silverstone’s family. When he heard Viola refer to Barrett as family, he sneered “You expect me to acknowledge him as my family when you can’t even address me properly? Watch your mouth, Viola,” he snarled. Chapter 899