Reba looked at Carissa, taking in thetter''s entire appearance. Carissa exuded an undeniable air of luxury and authority now-she was truly different.


    Reba''s gaze was filled with anger, regret, resentment, and frustration; a mix of emotions that made her teeth ache.


    Serena shared those feelings, but hers wereced with even more hatred and jealousy. She had been so close, just a step away from bing the Hell Monarch''s concubine. "What bad luck!" Violet muttered coldly.Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Carissa only nced at them briefly before turning her attention back to the smiling young heir of The Golden Tower.


    Business people really did have sharp eyes. Even on the day when she lookedpletely disheveled, he had still recognized her.


    Well, it wasn''t that surprising. She and her mother had visited The Golden Tower before, and had met him.


    Carissa smiled and said, "Nathaniel, there''s no need for such formalities. We''d like to go up to the third floor to pick out some jewelry. Would that be alright?"


    "Of course!" Nathaniel replied excitedly. "Pleasee this way. I''ll personally attend to you all."


    The Golden Tower often hosted many distinguished guests-members of the royal family, powerful officials, noble families, and wealthy merchants from the capital. Nathaniel asionally attended to them himself, but such enthusiasm as he showed toward Carissa was rare.


    As Carissa, Kiera, and Violet ascended the stairs, Serena suddenly spoke up. "Some people who used to be so eager to please my mother now act like they don''t even know me. It''s really disappointing." Kiera was too wrapped up in the excitement of shopping to hear the remark, but she noticed Violet''s grip on her wrist loosen. Before she could even process what was happening, Violet had already leaped down the stairs.


    What was going on?


    Violet marched straight up to Serena. "Who are you talking about? Just say the name instead of being vague."


    Serena was startled by Violet''s fierce expression, and she instinctively took a step back to hide behind Vi.


    On the other hand, Vi was thoroughly exasperated.


    Could her sister-inw not just keep quiet and pretend not to see them? Everyone had witnessed what had happened at Helen''s birthday banquet. After doing something so shameless, one would logically think that Serena would avoid Carissa at all costs, right?


    At the very least, Serena shouldn''t be provoking them.


    Reba''s face darkened as she said, "Serena, enough. Her status has changed, and we can''t afford to offend her. Besides, there''s no real past rtionship to worry about. It was all just for show to earn a reputation."


    After her remark, Reba stepped forward and bowed toward Carissa, who was standing halfway up the stairs.


    "Please forgive her, Your Grace. My daughter is ignorant and still thinks of you as a sister-inw, which is why she made such inappropriatements. I beg you not to take offense."


    As Carissa stood on the middlending of the staircase between the second and third floors, all the guests on both floors began to look her way. Among them were a few of thedies who had attended the birthday banquet that night.


    "Your sister-inw? She''s my sister-inw! Don''t just go randomly iming that you''re rted to her!" Kiera immediately reacted, tightening her grip on Carissa''s arm as she raised her chin and red at Serena.


    "And besides, when have you ever treated my sister-inw as your own? The whole capital knows you wanted to be my sister-inw instead! How can you still have the nerve to say such things?" Kiera''s sharp words drewughter from many of those present, causing Serena''s face to turn ashen with rage.


    Having been taught by the queen dowager to be poised and proper, Kiera always carried herself with grace and liveliness. However, there was a touch of Helen''s sharpness in her nature as well. She wouldn''t normally resort to harsh words, but these two-Reba and


    Serena-were truly despicable.


    How dare they publicly make trouble for her sister-inw and act as if she didn''t exist?


    Carissa watched Kiera with a deep


    sense of satisfaction. It wasn''t


    because Kiera was defending her. Initially, she had worried that Kiera, with a personality simr to Leona''s, might turn out the same way. But now, it was clear Kiera wouldn''t.


    Kiera was akin to a delicate flower, but she was a flower with thorns.


    Without sparing Reba or Serena another nce, Carissa turned to Kiera and said, "Let''s go. I brought some Mystic Pearls today and was thinking ofmissioning a pearl and gem-iid tiara for you. wonder if the shop can


    UA


    amodate us, Nathaniel."


    "Of course!" Nathaniel nodded eagerly, his face bright with excitement. "Whatever your wishes are, Your Grace, The Golden Tower is at your service." Carissa yfully tapped Kiera on the nose. "Come on, let''s pick out some jewelry. Whatever you want today, your sister-inw will gift it to you." The two of them linked arms and headed up to the third floor. Violet shot Serena and Reba a cold re before turning away as well. Serena was seething with jealousy, practically on the verge of losing control.