NovelEnglishChapter 997 +25 BONUS Michael's wife, Lucille, had no love for Barrett at all. She had someone bring out just a couple of snacks to go with the drinks before quickly retreating, taking the servants with her. The room still reeked, and she wasn't about to stay and serve him.
Barrett drank in silence, barely touching the food. He could see the contempt Lucille had for him, and it only soured his mood. The more he thought about it, the worse he felt.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"You should eat something," Michael said, breaking the silence. "Stop just drinking. What's going on with you?" Barrett drained his glass in one go, then suddenly collapsed onto the table, his body shaking with quiet sobs. The sound was muffled, like someone pressing a pillow over his face. The sobs were low and strained, barely escaping his chest.
Michael fell silent, focusing on his drink and food. Maybe Barrett just needed a place to let it out, though Michael couldn't tell what exactly he was crying about.
After a long while, when it seemed no one would offer any comfort, Barrett wiped his tears and looked up. His eyes, red and raw from the tears, were now streaked clean, revealing their dark depths beneath, giving him a strangely comical appearance.
The sight made Michael laugh quietly without meaning to.
"You think I'm a joke, don't you, Deputy Commander Brown?" Barrett's smile was hollow, sad. "I'm nothing but a joke. A complete and utter joke." Michael nodded, acknowledging the truth of it, but then shook his head. He couldn't allow himself to lose all empathy. "Why won't you go home?" Barrett drained two more glasses. "Go home? Why would I? All I'd get is more scolding, more mockery." Michael pursed his lips. "Are you really giving up on even your official position? If you anger His Majesty, you'll have no future left." "Does it matter?" Barrett's voice was flat, defeated. "It was always going to end like this. I never had a future to begin with. Demoted, salary docked for three years... Why go back and waste my time? I'd rather be out here, out of the king's sight." Michael frowned deeply. “You don't have to waste your time. You could still do your job- do it well, show His Majesty what you're capable of." "What can I do? What am I good for?" Barrett laughed bitterly, his voice cracking. “My only talent is disappointing one woman after another. I even gave up my military merits, thinking Aurora and I had something real. In the end, it was all a joke. I even betrayed her. "I can't even sleep at the Ministry of Justice," Barrett murmured, his voice thick with 1/2 25 Brands Chaptersos despair. "Every tI close my eyes, I have nightmares. I dream about her being torn apart by the Westhaven people, her bones shattered, covered in blood, beggingto save her. Sometimes, I dream she's shouting at me, cursing me, asking why I betrayed her." He paused, then continued, "I used to have hope for the future. Back then, I thought I was favored by fate. So many noble families in the capital cto Northwatch Estate to ask for her hand in marriage. Yet, it waswhom Madam Sinclair chose..." "Stop. Enough," Michael interjected sharply, quickly cutting Barrett off when he started talking about Carissa. "Talk about Aurora instead. She's the love of your life. The reason you're so lost right now is because of her." "Love?" Barrett chuckled bitterly, emptying his glass. The alcohol only deepened the sorrow in his chest. “What do I know about love? Back then, I just thought she was different. Different from all the other women I'd known. When she spoke, her eyes would light up. They'd shine." Michael scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. “Oh, do you want to see my eyes? My eyes glow even when I'm silent. If they don't, then maybe I'm dead." Barrett fell silent immediately.
Michael felt no patience for this pity party. The truth was, Barrett couldn't face reality and couldn't bear to admit his weaknesses.
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"Stop whining about nothing. Don't you have a wife? Aurora was just a concubine, even though you called though her a rightful wife. Men shouldn't even have one of those. Now that she's gone, you're talking about betrayal and selling her out? What's the matter? Are you still protecting her?
"You've got enough to answer for already. Also, how do you know who she was working with? If it was an traitor, that's a crthat wipes out entire families. Stop making excuses. Go back, clean yourself up, and go to the palace to beg forgiveness from His Majesty. Since you're a man, you should act like one.
After saying that, Michael ordered Barrett to leave and reached out to take away the leftover wine. But before he could, Barrett grabbed the bottle out of his hand and started drinking it down loudly. whway the overwine
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