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 drama 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 tell me what 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 see me happy! You found out Thomas and I were going to reconcile, so you dug up dirt on me and 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 some conflict 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.

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.

Viola was pregnant with Barrett's child, but she still wanted to rekindle things with

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

Silas?

earlier. Well, there

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 came here, I had no idea about

dagger at Carissa from across the room, her tears

do you even

I couldn't eat or sleep, and the days were torture. I

did everything right

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,

dagger clattered to the floor. Viola bent down to grab it, but Carissa

Viola, humiliated and

immobilized her. Viola cried