Chapter <b>829 </b>


    At Valor Estate, Vi gradually calmed down as her pregnancy <b>progressed </b>


    However, Reba’s health continued to decline with the onset of winter. The more medicine she <b>took</b>, the more wan she appeared.


    Sebastian still refused toe. Whenever Reba felt particrly unwell, she wouldin that Vicked the skills of Carissa, who had truly vast connections.


    Vi refused to indulge her mother–inw. Not only did she not attend to Reba’s needs, she didn’t even bother to check on her. She left the older woman’s <b>care </b>entirely to Amelia, the eldest daughter–in-


    Rebamented to Barrett, “You’re now the Crown Guard’smander, yet you can’t even manage your own wife? She’s disrespectful and rebellious, and is always contradicting me. A poor choice in a wife can bring disaster for three generations!”


    Barrett was in the midst of his career’s ascent, and he didn’t want to quarrel with Vi. Every argument left him drained and exasperated, so he had tofort his mom while also asking Amelia to take better


    care of her.


    Amelia found herself in a bind.


    “Taking care of Mother is my duty, Barrett. I’d do it even if you didn’t ask, but I’m not well myself. Plus, the household finances are really tight. Your wife is running things without a care in the world, and the money is disappearing fast. We don’t even have enough to buy the Snowdrop Pills for Mother next month. Maybe you could talk to your sister about it? After all, she’s part of the Marquis of Ironridge’s family now. Surely she has some funds?”


    Barrett replied, “I’ll find a way to get the money. There’s no reason to have Serena manage our household


    affairs.”


    Amelia sighed. “If that doesn’t work out, let’s sell some of our servants. With so many people to support, we need quite a sum of money for food every month. We also have to ensure everyone has appropriate clothes for every season.”


    “Please discuss that with Mom, Barrett said.


    “If it were that easy, I wouldn’t need to bring it up with you. Mother won’t agree to sell off any servants, especially now that you’ve be Crown Guard Commander. It wouldn’t be proper for the household tock a certain level of decorum.” N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    After a pause, Amelia continued, “Aurora’s monthly allowance is non–negotiable. If she doesn’t get it, she’ll throw a fit–her tantrums can be worse than Vi’s. We’ll have to figure out how to cut expenses. To be honest, I’ve already sold everything I can.”


    Amelia felt a deep sense of helplessness. Each person was more formidable than thest, and she couldn’t possibly confront them all.


    Barrett waved his hand, his brow furrowing slightly. “Don’t mention her <b>and </b>don’t worry about her. As long as she doesn’t cause any trouble <b>and </b>stays in Blessed <b>Haven</b>, that’s all that matters.”


    “Well, she’s lucky then, but I’m the one suffering,” Ame retorted, unable to suppress her frustration. “If it


    weren’t for her, Carissa would still be here. Carissa could handle any burden on her own. She wouldn’t require as much effort as me to handle things.”


    Barrett tried to keep the peace. “Please be understanding. Amelia. Now that Vi is pregnant, you’re the only one who can manage the household affairs.”


    “Then, you’d better make sure I get the money to manage it,” Amelia replied, knowing she shouldn’t mention Carissa but was unable to contain her frustration. “Don’t me me for speaking harshly, Barrett. When Carissa was here, everything at Valor Estate ran smoothly. We nevercked money. When Mother was ill, we had the best medicine and Sebastian was always avable. And now? I truly don’t understand how Aurora canpare to Carissa in any way.”


    As Barrett’s mind conjured up Carissa’s graceful features, his heart raced. He shook his head violently as if to dispel the thoughts.


    “Let’s not dwell on the past. From now on, you’ll manage the family finances. I’ll turn over my monthly sry to you and you can oversee everything in the household.”


    With that, he hurried away, desperate to escape.


    He knew what he had lost, and understood that it could never be reimed. Yet, after taking office, his gaze would inevitably follow Carissa whenever he saw her in her official uniform.


    Barrett couldn’t even face his own heart. It was only after losing Carissa that he felt regret and learned to cherish what he had. But by then, it was far toote.