Aurora froze for a moment, then snapped, “Who said that? Who said I was defiled?”
“Just answer the question,” Rebecca said, her face turning dark with anger. “Word has already spread all over town. Who needs to ask? Everyone is talking about it!”
Aurora hadn’t expected news of the Southern Frontier events to reach the capital. Her mind went blank.
She raised her voice defensively, “I wasn’t defiled. Yes, I was captured, but I only endured physical suffering. My purity remains intact.”
Jonathan interjected, “Then, you should find someone to vouch for you. Weren’t there others with you when you were captured? They can testify for you.”
Aurora’s frustration grew as she thought about her cousin and the other soldiers. Barrett had questioned them, but they all claimed ignorance. They had all been locked up together in the wooden hut, so how could they not know?
Their claims of ignorance led Barrett and everyone else to believe that Aurora had been defiled.
Unable to find anyone to prove her innocence, she coldly replied to her father-in-law, “There’s no need to go out of one’s way to prove. one’s innocence to others. People can say whatever they want. I don’t care.”
“You may not care, but we do,” Rebecca retorted, her face flushed with indignation. “We’re the ones who face scorn and ridicule every day. We’ve become a laughingstock in the capital. We allowed your to marry into our family in hopes of you bringing honor to us, not disgrace.”
Rebecca was seething with regret, feeling as if she were in turmoil. With Aurora’s great achievements at Victory Pass, Rebecca had been expecting a bright future. Instead, the disaster at the Southern Frontier had dragged the Warren family into the abyss.
Rebecca still had her young son and daughter to marry off. Bryan and Serena were of marriageable age, but their mother had been delaying making arrangements for their respective marriages, hoping to find more prestigious matches after Barrett and Aurora gained achievements at the Southern Frontier.
Now, with this scandal, who would want to align with the Warren family?
Furthermore, Barrett and Aurora’s names weren’t even on the list of military achievements!
Aurora had already endured countless whispers on the battlefield. Coming home to face criticism from her mother-in-law and father-in-law was the last straw. Her pent-up anger erupted.
“When I married into the family, you were overjoyed and eager to get rid of Carissa. Now, I’ve faced defeat and capture at the Southern Frontier. Do you think I wanted this? You don’t care about the suffering I endured or the injuries I sustained. You’re only focusing on blaming me. Even when I say I haven’t been defiled, you don’t believe me. Is this what family is like? If I had known you were so hypocritical, I wouldn’t have entered your home no matter what!”
Having said that, Aurora stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Rebecca clutched her chest, stunned by her daughter-in-law’s audacity. “She… she still thinks she’s in the right?!”
Jonathan sighed. “It’s done now. Let’s wait until Barrett returns. Although his name isn’t on the list of achievements, he was still invited to the palace for the celebration. That suggests he must
west
eve acted eating tough to be listed
***ring Has Baixa felt stingly reassured. However, the thought
dude staggered h he
To be honest, she’s not even worth a finger compared to Carissa”
*
Jonathan gave his wife a look “Weet youther who had issues with Caness back then? I thought Garises was quite good. At least duning her year here, she served you aligently. She also spent her money without hesitation, and bought a lot of jewelry and clothing for you and Serena Those brocade garments you have-she’s the one who got them for your
Rebecce shot him a cold glance. Why didn’t you say anything back then? What good does it do to bring it up now
Jonathan sat down and patted her back gently. “You’re being silly. The king’s edict was for Aurore to be Barrett’s secondary wife, not the principal one. Although Barrett and Carissa are divorced, she must still have feelings for him.
“Otherwise, winy would she have married him in the first place?
Besides, Carson’s late mother chose Barrett, and Carissa was very respectful towards her mother’s wishes. If we could bring up her mother’s memory and persuade her, there’s a chance she might reconcile with Barrett
