Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

In the side hall, the two women sat facing each other.

Carissa eyed the dagger still pressed against Viola's neck, and frowned.

"Are you really going to keep holding that dagger to your throat? If you truly want to die, go throw yourself against the gates of Hell Monarch Estate. All this just makes you look ridiculous." Viola wiped her tears with the back of her hand, her face pale and stubborn. "Carissa, destroying someone's marriage is a sin! You're truly vicious." Carissa sat up straight, her posture as rigid as ever. "When did I destroy your marriage? Whatever happens between you and Barrett is your business, not mine. You've always had a poor sense of right and wrong. When Valor Estate was attacked, I was the one who saved you all." Viola's voice turned cold. "That's beside the point! You didn't save us for my sake. I don't owe you any gratitude." Carissa laughed incredulously. "I don't need your gratitude. Just tellwhat have I done to ruin your marriage?" Viola gritted her teeth, and spat, "Don't pretend to be innocent! You know exactly what you told Thomas. You just can't stand to seehappy! You found out Thomas and I were going to reconcile, so you dug up dirt onand exposed everything to him. Now, he's looking to marry someone else. Are you satisfied?" "Thomas?" For a moment, Carissa had been thinking this was about sconflict between Viola and Barrett. She hadn't connected the dots. But then, she recalled that odd moment between Viola and Silas back at Arcane Sanctum. Suddenly, it all clicked.

Viola had tried to reach out to Thomas, hoping to rekindle their relationship. However, it seemed that Thomas had discovered her secret affair with Silas. So, he made it known that he intended to marry someone else to kill Viola's hopes of getting back together with him. And now, Viola thought Carissa had been the one to expose her secret to Thomas.

Carissa pieced it together, and was genuinely shocked. Viola was pregnant with Barrett's child, but she still wanted to rekindle things with Thomas. What was she thinking? Was she really considering getting rid of the baby and pursuing a divorce? Carissa shook her head. "Viola, I didn't tell Thomas anything about you. And as for this notion that I can't stand to see you happy, it's absurd. Whether you're happy or not has nothing to do with me. Frankly, I'd prefer to keep my distance from all of you." Viola sneered. "You did it but won't admit it? Carissa, you're such a coward! If you'd just owned up to it, I might have actually respected you. I saw you with Silas that day at Arcane Sanctum. You went to snitch, and now, you're here pretending to be innocent? Aren't you disgusting? You're such a hypocrite." Silas? It was just as Carissa had suspected earlier. Well, there were all kinds of people, weren't there? Carissa's voice turned icy. "Not as disgusting as you, and certainly not as hypocritical. You're pregnant with Barrett's child, but now that Thomas has gotten a promotion, you want to go crawling back to him? What do you take Thomas for? Before you chere, I had no idea about you and Silas. But now that you've made such a scene, I do. You had an affair with Silas, and Thomas found out." "Shut up!" Viola's eyes burned red with anger. She suddenly pointed the dagger at Carissa from across the room, her tears spilling over as she broke down.

"What do you even know? Back then, I worried for him every day when he was on the battlefield! I couldn't eat or sleep, and the days were torture. I made one mistake-just once! Afterward, I did everything right net' was dutiful to my mother-in-law, got along with my sisters-in-law and worked tirelessly for the Farrell family. But because of one slip, I'm supposed to be damned for all eternity? Soon, everyone will know. I can't live with this shame! Carissa, you've ruined me. Don't you see? You've destroyed my life!" Carissa flicked her wrist, and Viola's hand went numb. The dagger clattered to the floor. Viola bent down to grab it, but Carissa was quicker and kicked the blade far out of reach.

"I'll kill you!" Viola, humiliated and furious, lunged at Carissa.

However, Carissa twisted her arm and immobilized her. Viola cried out in pain, her eyes flooding with tears.

"It hurts! Letgo!" she yelled.

Carissa said coldly, "Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You're acting like you did everything for the Farrelm family. But not even a month after Thomas' death was reported, you took his death pension and the two shops, and ran back to your parents' house. "After betraying him like you did, how could you take his money?

You're not only shameless, but brainless too. You didn't even bother to figure out who actually told m Thomas before coming here to cause before ascene. Think about it for a second-if Thomas really wanted to expose what he knew, he wouldn't be looking for marriage candidates so soon. He would confront you directly.

"The fact that he hasn't, means he doesn't want to dredge up that ugly matter. He dignity.

skesave you such a fool. Instead of being grateful, you chere to throw a tantrum. Now, everyone will know." X