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.

his sister called Carissa trash. That one word had ignited a fire in his mind, driving him to slap Serena without thinking. When

much they cherished something once it was lost, but by then, it was too

frustration. He had been wrong, but he also felt Carissa had never truly loved him. If she had, she wouldn't have so ruthlessly gone to the palace to request a

need anyone to secure my future for me. I'll work for it myself." He pulled his arm away from Viola. "If you say things like that again, I won't

held onto his arm again. "Okay, I won't say it anymore. I know you're ambitious,

arm, but his heart felt cold

had once been

Now, look at what he had become. His legitimate wife was a woman who had been married

had been the legitimate daughter of the then-Marquis of Northwatch, the most

had such a promising future. But through all his efforts, he lost so much

because he had taken Aurora as his

men took concubines, so why had he paid such a steep price? The bitterness gnawed at him. He was utterly unwilling to accept

it, nor did she inquire or comment. She knew Serena was an ungrateful woman. No matter who Serena married,

the marriage was settled, Amelia decided she would only prepare a dowry for Serena and leave the