Melody of Strength novel

“Fifty percent!” Barrett declared.

He was standing in the doorway, avoiding Carissa’s gaze as he looked at everyone else in the

room.

“We’ll return fifty percent of her dowry. Lord Sinclair, if you and Mr. Sinclair disagree with this, you can take it up with the authorities and see if my actions are fair.”

“Fifty percent? How dare you! When Carissa married you, she brought a dowry so grand it stretched for miles! Do you know how much money, how many estates, shops, and businesses that were included? How dare you people be so greedy?!” Solomon exclaimed angrily.

Clenching the crumpled letter in his hand, Barrett spoke in an icy voice, “I said, take it to court if you want. I’ve prepared the divorce agreement. You can review it first.”

He gestured for the steward to present the divorce agreement to Carissa, who reached out and took it. The steward sighed almost imperceptibly as he stepped back.

Carissa had been a wonderful mistress. Why did Barrett have to divorce her?

Carissa glanced through the document, recognizing her husband’s handwriting from the letters she’d received from him over the past year. The divorce agreement was brief. It cited her disobedience and jealousy as grounds for the divorce, and ended with a wish for her to find a good husband.

“I hope that when you remarry, you won’t resort to such tactics and will be sincere with others. That’s the only way you’ll find happiness!” said Barrett in a complex tone.

As he handed over the divorce agreement, he felt an unexpected pang of sorrow.

“Thanks for your advice on how I should live.” Carissa waved the divorce agreement. “It still needs the official seal.”

Barrett avoided his wife’s eyes. “I’ll take it to the office myself. As for the dowry, we’ve been generous. By law, a woman divorced by her husband can’t take her dowry. Don’t blame me. This is your own fault.”

Carissa had already secured most of her dowry, so there wasn’t much they could actually take. She just didn’t want to continue being involved with the Warren family. Given that the king’s edict for an amicable divorce hadn’t come yet, she feared he might wait until Aurora had married Barrett before issuing it.

“There’s nothing to blame you for. Spending a bit of money to see the true colors of the Warren family was worth it,” said Carissa.

Stung by her words, Barrett responded coldly, “Watch your mouth, or else…”

Chapter 27

Carissa met his eyes calmly. “Or else what? You’ll take seventy percent of my dowry? Fine, take seventy, even ninety percent–leave me just enough to avoid starving. Does that satisfy you, General Warren?”

Barrett felt deeply embarrassed. He hadn’t intended to argue further, but her relentless words were infuriating.

“I said it’ll be fifty percent. I do feel a bit guilty for wasting a year of your life, but it’s all because you-”

Carissa interrupted him, “Spare me the guilt. Your guilt over taking half my dowry is cheaper than dirt. Let’s just stop here.”

Rebecca was livid at Carissa’s words.

“Do you hear her? Does she show any respect befitting a wife?” asked the older woman, turning to Theodore.

“She’s about to be thrown out. Do you expect her to kneel and thank you? It’s a miracle she’s not cursing you all out,” Theodore replied icily.

Despite his age and wisdom, the situation was testing Theodore’s patience to its limits. The Marquis of Northwatch’s family had suffered a harsh fate. All its men had fallen in battle, and the rest of the family had been slaughtered. Carissa was left all alone to endure this.

Though incredibly angry, there was nothing Theodore could do about this, as his side of the family lacked the strength to protect Carissa from being treated like this. All he could do was watch helplessly.

Furious, Rebecca went on a tirade, ranting, ‘How dare you speak like that? Just because you’re old, don’t think you can say whatever you want. We’ve never mistreated Carissa. She brought this on herself.

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“Ask her if she could accept Aurora, why did she go to the palace to ask the king to the marriage edict? What’s wrong with us keeping half her dowry? It’s allowed by law. We aren’t the villains here! It’s your family who’s being narrow–minded. 1.

“Mark my words! The Sinclair family will never produce anyone notable again, but my son will become one of the most prominent generals in the kingdom!”