Leona''s maids, Hazel and Kate, were also crying in sorrow at Dorothy''s words.


    When Hazel saw Carissa preparing to head outside, she hurriedly spoke up, "Your Grace, Mr. Samuel was trying to convince Lady Leona to speak on his behalf to the king. He hoped to restore his position and title. Lady Leona refused, saying he didn''t deserve it. In a fit of rage, he pushed her-it''s not Lady Leona''s fault! Madam Dorothy''s words are deeply hurtful to Lady Leona."


    Carissa was furious. She pushed aside the curtain and stepped out, her cold gazending squarely on Dorothy''s face.


    The older woman was momentarily taken aback by the sharpness of Carissa''s eyes, but she quickly straightened up, reminding herself of her seniority and status. Even as a princess consort, Carissa had no right to meddle in the affairs of the Earl of Gracehold''s family. "What do you intend to do, Your Grace?" Dorothy asked in a defensive tone.


    Carissa fixed her with an icy stare. "If I hear one more word from your mouth that insults the duchess, I will have you arrested for disrespecting the royal family."


    "How dare you-"


    With a swift kick, Carissa sent a chair flying. It crashed against the door, splintering into pieces on the floor. The sound of the break echoed ominously alongside her cold voice. "Just watch me. If anything happens to Leona, your precious grandson will follow her into the grave."


    Her words silenced everyone in the room. A chill ran down Dorothy''s spine, and she found herself unable to scold Carissa for interfering with the affairs of her family.


    Abigail sighed. "Right now, we need to focus on Leona. Your Grace, please calm down."


    Kate had finished brewing thebor-inducing medicine and brought it over. Carissa took it from her, turned sharply, and reentered the delivery room.


    Violet followed her inside and nced at everyone present before addressing Abigail. "Your daughter-inw is inside giving birth. Aren''t you going to support her as her mother-inw?"


    Abigail had initially hoped to keep Dorothy calm to prevent her from saying something that would further provoke Carissa. But upon hearing Violet''s words, Abigail instructed her sisters-inw to "look after" Dorothy before following Violet into the room. Though Abigail had indulged her son, she had genuinely cared for Leona. Seeing Leona in such agony brought tears to her eyes.


    "I''ll help feed her," Abigail said, taking the medicine from Kate.


    She sat beside Leona and began to spoon the medicine into her mouth, tears dripping down onto her wrist. "Leona, listen to me, okay? Don''t think about anything else. Just focus on bringing this child into the world."


    Leona gritted her teeth, and forced herself to drink the bitter concoction.


    After finishing, the pain intensified. She cast a pleading nce at Carissa, her tears soaking the pillow beneath her. "Cari, help me."Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Carissa felt a sharp pang in her heart as she grasped Leona''s hand.


    "How is she doing?" she asked Ivy urgently.


    Ivy peeked beneath the quilt, and quickly removed all the needles. Then, she sighed and said, "Give her an Energy Pill and let her chew on some thousand-year-old Evergreen Root."


    After administering the Energy Pill and the Evergreen Root, Carissa looked at lvy, who looked worried. "I hope na can bring my mentor here soon."


    However, Leona''s pain continued to


    escte. It felt as though a massive hand was twisting her insides repeatedlypressing everything with a relentless grip. She arched her back, trying to curl up, but ker belly was too swollen to allow any refief. Ivy wouldn''t let her twist and turn, warning that it would only worsen the baby''s suffocation.


    The difort was unbearable. The pain consumed her thoughts, and all she wanted was for it to end as quickly as possible. She couldn''t find anyone to help her. The only thing she could do was grip Carissa''s hand tightly. In her desperation, she wed at Carissa''s delicate wrists, leaving several angry red lines.


    Unable to contain herself any longer, she let out a piercing cry as she writhed on the bed. Both Carissa and Violet were frozen in fear, helpless as they watched her suffer. "Can''t you do something to ease her pain, Ivy? She''s going to die at this rate!" Carissa''s voice was filled with urgency and dread.


    Wiping the sweat from her brow,


    Ivy''s face had turned pale. "There''s nothing I can do. We''ve already tried acupuncture and medication, but the pain hasn''t subsided. I''m afraid the centa has detached. It''s very dangerous."