Aurora had never been one to give up on her life so easily. Even clinging to a wretched existence was better than dying.


    She firmly believed that no one could remain unlucky forever. As long as she stayed alive, there was always a chance to rise again. If she couldn''t be a female general, she would find another path to make her mark. The world was vast, and she was determined to carve out her ce in it.


    So, she couldn''t die.


    Barrett looked at her, incredulous. "What good is your escape n? Do you even know how many people Westhaven brought with them this time? Over a hundred, with at least 60 or 70 guards! There''s no way I can save you." "You''re not doing it alone," Aurora whispered, her voice barely audible.


    Barrett had to strain to hear her as she continued, "The people from Hell Monarch Estate will help you. Once I''m in Westhaven''s custody, I''ll make sure they demand for Dominic as well. The people from Hell Monarch Estate won''t abandon him. You just have to follow their lead. When they rescue him, they''ll have no choice but to save me too."


    Barrett felt a chill run through him as her words sank in. "What are you saying? How could you possibly get Westhaven to demand General Sullivan? What are you nning to tell them?"


    Aurora shot him a sidelong nce and scoffed. "That''s none of your concern. All you need to do is agree to help. Save me, and we''re even. After that, whether I live or die has nothing to do with you anymore."


    "No. I can''t promise you that." Barrett drew in a deep breath. "I just can''t."


    "Barrett Warren," Aurora''s voice turned icy as she stared fixedly at him. "You''ve never truly forgotten Carissa, have you? You''ve been unfair to me from the start. Yet even knowing that, I still altered my testimony to protect you. Are you seriously telling me you feel no gratitude at all?"


    "Then, tell me, what''s your n? What guarantees do you have—"


    Aurora frowned and cut him off sharply, "Whether you help me or not, Dominic is getting dragged into this. He''s going with me to Westhaven no matter what! So, stop wasting time and answer me will you repay the favor I did for you or not?"


    Barrett stared at her, a mixture of doubt and disbelief in his eyes. "You''re still scheming? After everything, you won''t stop?"


    "What nonsense are you spouting? Am I supposed to wait to die?"


    Aurora stretched out her swollen fingers, one by one, in front of Barrett''s face. Her expression twisted with anger.


    "I''ve endured so much-taking beatings and saying I did what I did on Dominic''s orders. I changed my testimony only because you got involved. Barrett Warren, if you don''t save me, you''re a heartless bastard who''s betrayed not just Carissa, but me as well!" Barrett looked as though he had been struck in his weakest, most vulnerable spot. His face turned pale and his lips parted slightly as he stared at her in shock.


    Meanwhile, at Hell Monarch Estate, the study was bustling with activity. People came and went in waves, each bringing updates or reports. Jacob and Kyle were stationed inside, alongside Winona.


    Tonight, there was a new


    addition—an imposing figure who had just arrived in the capital, Everett. He had entered Hell


    Monarch Estate after dinner, his


    expression dark and stormy. His presence sent chills down


    everyone''s spine. Everyone quickly stepped aside to avoid his wrath. Property of N?)(velDr(a)ma.Org.


    Kyle and Winona, seasoned martial artists with notable reputations, were thoroughly terrified.


    In the eyes of their martial uncle,


    they were nothing more than unruly children who needed discipline. Worse still, the two had avoided returning to the Pathfinders Guild precisely to escape Everett''s grasp. Now that he was here, didn''t that mean their long-dreaded reckoning had arrived?


    Inside the study, Everett sat calmly sipping coffee with Jacob. As for Kyle and Winona, they were being punished forced to hold a horse stance while bncingrge water jars on their heads. The jars were so massive that their heads seemed to disappear beneath them, leaving only their struggling, unsteady legs visible.


    Kyle''s usual schrly grace was nowhere to be found, while Winona''s confident and graceful figure had turned into a clumsy, bent-legged mess. They had already endured this punishment for an hour. Those who entered the room with updates caught sight of the scene, but wisely kept their reactions in check. They dared notugh aloud, even though their amusement was evident in their fleeting nces.


    However, Dn wasn''t as restrained. He stifled hisughter so hard that his stomach hurt. Since no one dared enter the study, reports were delivered to him outside, and he passed them along to Jacob inside. "I''ve got an update on Hartstone Estate," Dn announced, snapping out of his amusement.


    He kept his gaze downward, avoiding any more nces at theical sight of Kyle and Winona as he prepared to deliver his report.