Her Graceful War Song by Summer's Blaze

Serena covered her face, and threw herself into Rebecca's arms. "Mom, Barrett hit me!"

Rebecca patted her back, comforting her, and looked at Barrett with disappointment.

"You hit her just because she said a few words? As her brother, how could you not see how that would hurt her? Even if her intentions weren't purely for your sake, in the end, you still stood to benefit from her actions," she said.

"Mom, I hit her because she spoke disrespectfully of her sister-in-law," Barrett said angrily.

Viola's heart swelled with emotion. Seeing how fiercely Barrett defended her made all her sacrifices feel worthwhile.

Rebecca glanced at Viola and said, "Enough. All of you leave for now. I'll talk to her myself."

Feeling suffocated by the toxic atmosphere, Barrett turned and strode out of the room, still fuming.

Viola noticed his frustration, and hurried after him. She took his arm and said, "Honey, after seeing how you defended me tonight, I swear I'll do everything to protect your future." Barrett stiffened.

A wave of sorrow quietly rose within him.

called Carissa trash. That one word had ignited a fire in his mind, driving him to slap Serena without thinking. When he had shouted, "How dare you talk about her like

often say a person only realized how much they cherished something once it was lost, but by then, it

too late. He wasn't even sure what he felt for Carissa anymore-maybe guilt, maybe frustration. He had been wrong, but he also felt Carissa had never truly loved him. If she

me. I'll work for it myself." He pulled his arm away from Viola. "If you say things like that

won't say it

his arm, but his

had once

who had been married before. His other rightful wife, a former captive of Sandorian soldiers, was

of the then-Marquis of Northwatch, the most favored apprentice of the

through all his efforts, he lost so

he had taken Aurora as

he paid such a steep price? The bitterness gnawed at him. He was utterly unwilling to

was "recovering" in her chambers. She didn't say a word about it, nor did she inquire or

once the marriage was settled, Amelia decided she would only prepare a dowry