Melody of Strength novel

hapter 285

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Being called lowly struck a nerve for Aurora. She sprang to her feet and aimed a kick at Carissa’s abdomen. Carissa didn’t even dodge, simply countering with a sharp elbow to the other woman’s shin. Aurora cried out in agony as a bone–shattering pain surged through her leg.

Carissa seized Aurora by the collar and pushed her into a chair, leaning over her with a cold, unyielding

gaze.

“You dare to act up in my house? What exactly are you here for today?”

Aurora struggled with all her might but couldn’t break free. In her frantic efforts, her veil fell off, revealing half of her disfigured face.

Seeing Carissa’s eyes fixed on her, Aurora’s composure broke and she screamed in despair, “It’s you!! came here to hold you accountable. You could have led your troops to rescue me, but you didn’t! You even stopped Barrett from coming to my aid!

“Carissa, you hate me for taking Barrett from you, so you deliberately allowed Liam to humiliate me. You’re bitter, you’re resentful, and you still refuse to admit it? You’re a hypocrite!

“It was you who caused my marriage to fall apart. Barrett won’t even touch me now. If you hadn’t stopped the soldiers from rescuing me, I wouldn’t have ended up like this. Did you conspire with Liam? Did you and he join forces to ruin me? I am innocent–they never touched me. Go and tell Barrett that! Explain yourself, and I might forgive you!

*Carissa, everyone says you’re a hero, but you stood by and did nothing. You’re unfit to be a general. You allowed us to fall into Liam’s hands and become prisoners of war. You let us suffer endless humiliations. They say the Duke of Northwatch’s family is loyal and righteous? Hah! That’s bullshit!”

Carissa’s eyes grew colder and sharper.

Still holding Aurora by the collar, she turned to Lulu and flatly said, “Keep an eye on Ryan. Don’t let him leave his room.”

Lulu, who had been glaring at Aurora, responded promptly, “Yes, my lady. I’ll go at once.”

She hurried out the door, quickly making Amethyst Hall.

or way to

Seeing Carissa’s suddenly intense and fearsome expression, Aurora felt a wave of unease, though she tried to maintain a fierce front.

“What are you planning to do?”

Carissa dragged her out of the hall by the collar. The biting cold wind whipped against Aurora, causing her hair to fly loose. She felt an inexplicable panic but couldn’t escape Carissa’s iron grip.

“What are you going to do? Where are you taking me? Are you going to kill me? Let go of me! Carissa, let

go of me!”

Aurora’s cries were swallowed by the howling north wind. Snowflakes began to drift from the sky, landing softly on Carissa’s shoulders. But the overcast sky promised a heavy snowfall.

Carissa dragged Aurora toward the sanctuary hall. Seeing them approach, Frederick quickly ran ahead to

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Chapter 285

open the door. Carissa threw Aurora into the hall, then strode in herself. Frederick promptly shut the door behind them.

le space

Aurora landed on the floor of the sanctuary hall, her panic mounting as she looked around. The was illuminated by candles, casting a soft glow on the rows of memorial plaques displayed on shelves along the walls.

Before Aurora could let out a scream, Carissa grabbed her by the hair and dragged her to the plaques. Aurora was forced to bow slightly, her gaze falling on one of the plaques in the bottom row, at the very

center.

The pain of having her hair yanked made Aurora feel as though her scalp might tear away. She dared not look directly at the name on the tablet.

Carissa’s cold voice came from behind her, “This is Terry Sinclair, my eldest brother’s son. He was eleven years old, a prodigy in both literature and martial arts.”

Carissa continued to drag Aurora from one plaque to the next, naming them as she went.

“This is my grandmother, this is my mother, this is my elder sister–in–law, this is my second sister–in–law… This is my niece, this is my nephew…”

Aurora trembled uncontrollably, struggling with all her might. “You’re crazy! Why have you brought me here? I have no grudge with your family…

A slap landed hard on Aurora’s face, accompanied by Carissa’s fierce reprimand, “No grudge? At Victory Pass, you slaughtered civilians and destroyed villages. The spies from Westhaven placed the blame for your atrocities on my family. Do you know why they died? It’s because of you–because of your lust for glory, your cruelty! You violated our agreement with Westhaven to not harm civilians.”

“No… Aurora gasped for breath, shaking her head violently. “No, it’s not true!”