The elderly woman wore a stone-blue brocade coat with cloud patterns, and held a small metal hot water bottle. She appeared to be in her fifties, with streaks of gray in her hair, which was neatly styled in an immacte updo. Her demeanor exuded a sense of authority and respect.


    In contrast, her daughter was dressed simply. Beneath a white fur coat, she wore an apricot-yellow gown. In her twenties, she was quite beautiful, but her face carried a faint, mncholic air. Without the touch of color in her dress, her overall demeanor might have seemed even more aged than her mother''s.


    After inviting them to sit, Carissa exined, "A few days ago, Ryan was undergoing treatment when you sent the invitation, Madam Prince. I was unable to meet with you then and was worried about being impolite, so I asked someone to decline on our behalf. Now that he is much better, I wanted to invite you both to the residence and express my gratitude for your concern for Ryan."


    Evelyn inquired, "How is the young lord now?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    "He is much improved. Thank you for keeping him in your thoughts," Carissa replied.


    Evelyn smiled, and said, "I know your family has everything it needs, but we''ve recently acquired a rare herbal tonic and thought it would benefit the young lord''s health.”


    As she spoke, one of the maids brought forward a brocade box and bowed to


    Carissa.


    "I hope you will ept it."


    Carissa responded, "How can I ept such a precious gift? I am already deeply- grateful for your visit to see Ryan. I cannot possibly ept such an expensive medicine."


    "Please, ept it as a small token from the Earl of Silverstone''s family," Evelyn insisted, with a hint of both resignation and joy.


    "Though our two families seldom interacted in the past, we have always respected the Duke of Northwatch. Hearing that the young lord is still among us brings us great happiness. If you do not ept it, it will seem as if you are looking down upon our family."


    Seeing Evelyn''s earnestness, Carissa stopped refusing. She thanked Evelyn, and instructed Lily to ept the tonic.


    Evelyn seemed inclined to say more, but Vi, evidently impatient, directly asked. Carissa, "Lady Sinir, could you tell us why you parted ways with Barrett? Is there an issue with his character or conduct?" Evelyn''s expression darkened. "Vi, don''t be rude."


    Vi stood up, and gave a slight bow but remained stubborn. "I know I am being presumptuous, but I still ask Lady Sinir to speak frankly."


    ?


    "Oh, Vi? Does your name also mean ''yew? How interesting," Carissa responded with a smile, trying to deflect the pressing tone of the question.


    "My name actually takes after the violet flower, which symbolizes modesty and faithfulness, simr to the symbolic nature of the yew tree. You mentioned ''also''. Who else in your family has the name that means ''yew?" Vi said.


    Carissa smiled. "Oh, that''s not quite the same, then. I was talking about myte sister-inw. Her name was Yvette, and it meant ''yew"."


    At the mention of Carissa''s deceased sister-inw, Vi''s attitude softened considerably.


    She said quietly, "I see."


    She sighed lightly and sat back down.


    Seeing that Vi was no longer as agitated, Carissa continued, "Earlier, you asked about my separation from Barrett. The reason is simply that he wishes to take another wife, which I couldn''t ept." "A man taking a concubine is amon matter," Vi said, clearly skeptical. "Did you really leave him over this?"


    "That''s right," Carissa affirmed.


    Vi''s eyes showed confusion. "Why? It''s just another wife. A second wife is, at most, a favored concubine. It shouldn''t threaten your position as the primary wife." Carissa thought differently.


    How could it not have threatened her position? Barrett had made it clear that his heart was only for Aurora.


    However, Carissa couldn''t express that to Vi. The situation then was very different now.


    Instead, Carissa said, "When he married me, he promised not to take any concubines. He broke the promise he made to my mother."


    "I see," Vi considered this for a moment. "Breaking a promise is indeed wrong, but to divorce over this alone seems a bit hasty. After all, a div