The first snowfall lasted less than an hour before stopping.
Carissa was dressed in her usual plain white attire with a white flower pinned in her hair, and moved gracefully through the estate. She had worn white since her parents‘ passing, observing the traditional three–year mourning period and avoiding bright colors.
She entered the room, her steps steady and unhurried, and greeted Charlotte with a respectful bow.” Hello, Aunt Charlotte.”
Carissa then nodded politely to Amelia, acknowledging her presence.
Charlotte stood up and took Carissa’s hand, examining her closely. Carissa’s complexion was smooth and pale, her overall appearance even more refined than during her time at the Valor Estate.
Satisfied that Carissa looked healthy and well, Charlotte’s eyes welled with tears as she recalled Carissa’s difficult days with the Warrens.
“Carissa, how have you been?” she asked.
“Thank you for your concern, Aunt Charlotte. I’m doing well,” Carissa replied with a gentle smile as she guided the older woman to sit down. “How have you been?”
“Good. Everything’s fine,” Charlotte reassured her, relieved to see that Barrett and Aurora’s marriage hadn’t affected Carissa.
Standing nearby, Amelia was anxious to speak. “Carissa, it’s about-*
Charlotte cast a sideways glance at Amelia, and interrupted, “Why are you in such a hurry? Your mother–in- law isn’t going to die right this moment. Let me have a few words with Carissa first.”
Carissa understood immediately that the issue was related to Rebecca’s illness flaring up again.
However, she chose to focus on the conversation with Charlotte instead.
Charlotte clasped her hands. She wore a blue patterned top that Carissa had ordered for her last autumn. The white fox fur scarf beside her was also a gift from Carissa.
“Don’t pay any attention to the rumors outside. People forget easily. By the time the new year comes around, they won’t even remember what was said about you. So, don’t let those falsehoods upset you, Charlotte advised.
Carissa nodded, appreciating Charlotte’s comforting words.
“I don’t concern myself with what people outside are saying,” Carissa replied.
Hearing this, Charlotte felt even more at ease and changed the subject. She didn’t ask about the royal guards stationed outside, but inquired about Carissa’s daily activities and what Carissa did for leisure.
The two chatted for about the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Meanwhile, Amelia grew increasingly anxious as she listened to their casual conversation. Finally, unable to contain herself, she interrupted them.
“Carissa, I came here today with a request.”
Charlotte took a sip of her tea with an indifferent expression. She had already asked everything she
+15 BONUS
needed to, and learned what she wanted to know.
From this point on, she had no intention of offering any help to Amelia.
Carissa looked at Amelia, noticing her chapped lips and the cold sore at the corner of her mouth. It was clear Amelia had been under a lot of stress lately.
*Please, go ahead, ma’am,” Carissa said gently.
Hearing Carissa call her that made Amelia feel a pang of sadness.
“You used to call me by name…but never mind. I shouldn’t dwell on that. I’m here because my mother–in- law’s illness flared up last night. By this morning, she was so angry that she fainted. Although she’s awake now, without Sebastian’s Snowdrop Pills, the doctor says she won’t last long. I came to ask you to speak. to Sebastian on our behalf.”
Amelia knew it was shameless to come asking for help now, but she had no choice. Tears welled up in her eyes.
“My mother–in–law said that if I can’t get Sebastian, she’ll get Benjamin to divorce me. You know that in the four years since I married into the family, I’ve only had one daughter. When you were there, you took care of her. If Mom gets Benjamin to divorce me for being disrespectful and negligent, I’ll be thrown out!! have no other option but to beg you.”
“She fainted?” Carissa remembered that Rebecca had taken Snowdrop Pills just over a month ago. Even if her illness flared up, it shouldn’t have been severe enough to cause fainting. “Why did it suddenly become so serious?”
Amelia’s face flushed with anger. “It’s because of Barrett and Aurora’s wedding yesterday.”
She stopped abruptly, realizing she had said too much, and quickly fell silent.
Carissa made a small sound of acknowledgment, her expression calm. She remembered the wedding was at the end of October, but she didn’t know the exact date.
