Chapter 19
+8 Pearls
After transferring the management of the household, I shut myself away in my penthouse, refusing to see anyone outside of my immediate circle. The world outside could go on without me I was done playing their games.
I even stopped dining at the grand estate, opting instead for home–cooked meals in my private kitchen. Fiona and Bella, my most trusted staff, personally sourced ingredients and prepared my food, ensuring I had no need to rely on anyone from the Warren family.
The moment I withdrew my people from the estate, chaos erupted. Beatrice, scrambling to manage the mess, had to promote inexperienced staff to fill the void left behind. It didn’t take long for the cracks to show. With Adrian’s wedding just around the corner, the lack of personnel was glaringly obvious. Everything was running behind schedule, the mansion slipping into disarray.
When Beatrice reported the situation to Evelyn, the older woman pressed a hand to her forehead, clearly frustrated.
“I never thought she’d be so selfish,” Evelyn huffed. “I must have been blind to treat her so well. She never even had to follow any of the family’s rules.”
Beatrice, though she wouldn’t say it aloud, knew this wasn’t entirely fair. When she had married into the family, she had been forced to follow protocol. But Cassandra’s circumstances had been different she had walked into this family with wealth, handled the household’s finances, and had even personally taken care of Evelyn during her illnesses. Still, Beatrice wasn’t foolish enough to argue with her mother–in–law.
Instead, she carefully changed the subject. “Mother, we’re already short on funds. How are we supposed to hire new staff?”
Despite her anger, Evelyn wasn’t ready to let go of the idea of squeezing more money out of me. She mulled it over before saying, “Ask someone from the second branch of the family to speak with her. She’s always had a good relationship with them.”
“I already tried,” Beatrice admitted. “Aunt refused. She said it wasn’t her place to interfere. Besides, she’s still trying to figure out the betrothal gifts.”
Evelyn’s brow furrowed. “Has she found a solution yet?”
“She says the only option is to sell the remaining properties.”
Evelyn let out a sharp breath. “Sell the properties?”
Over the years, the family had slowly been liquidating assets to keep themselves afloat. Now, only a handful of prime locations remained. Selling them would be a last resort.
After a long pause, Evelyn made her decision. “Then sell them. We’ll buy them back later. Adrian and Vivian will secure more business deals, and with time, we’ll rebuild.”
She said it with such certainty, as if their future was already written in stone. But I knew better. Cassandra had once believed in Adrian’s promises too. And now, She was nothing more than an inconvenient obstacle in his path to a new life.
Wealth and power always had a way of reshaping loyalties, and I had learned that the hard way.
Carrisa’s POV
Sitting in my study, I let my pen glide over the smooth, expensive paper, practicing my calligraphy a habit I had picked up in the early days of my marriage when I thought refinement and patience would earn me a place in Adrian’s heart. Foolish, really. My hand paused for a moment as Bella entered, her expression unreadable.
The Warren family is selling off their properties, she informed me, folding her arms as if bracing for my reaction.
I merely lifted an eyebrow. “Well, they don’t have many other options left, do they?”
Bella’s eyes darkened with frustration. “When they were short on money before, they had no problem dipping into your inheritance. Why didn’t they sell their assets back then?”
I smiled, setting my brush down, the ink still wet. “Because it was easier to take from me. They knew I wouldn’t refuse. Back
12:38 PM ·
Chapter 19
then, I thought I was supporting Adrian helping him build something for our future.”
+8 Pearls
Anna, who had been tending to the small stove in the corner, let out a bitter chuckle. “And what did he do with his so–called success? Instead of repaying you, he used his achievements to secure a marriage with Vivian.”
I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. “I suppose that’s the price of believing in someone who never truly saw me as his equal.”
There was a long silence before I spoke again, my voice quieter this time. “I just want the seperation papers to come through so we can leave this place. I don’t want to hear any more about their struggles or their plans.”
But the days stretched on. Three, four, five… and still, the edict didn’t arrive.
Instead, news came that Evelyn had fallen ill again. Without Nathaniel’s treatments, her condition had worsened. Chest pains, they said. Shortness of breath. The symptoms were getting worse by the day.
I sighed, tapping my fingers against the polished wood of my desk. There had been a time when I would have rushed to her side without a second thought. But I wasn’t that woman anymore.
“If it means we can part on good terms, I might ask Nathaniel to continue treating her,” I admitted finally. “But I won’t pay for it. They’ll have to figure that out on their own.”
Anna smirked. “Let’s see how long they last before they come knocking on your door for another favor.”
I gave her a knowing look. “Let them try.”
Because this time, I wasn’t going to be their safety net.
Send Gifts
