Chapter 744
Chapter 744
Thaddeus squeezed his phone, “Evadne, I’ll just take this call from Jareth.”
“Go ahead, Evadne urged softly.
In front of her, Thaddeus took every call openly, without any hint of secrecy or evasion. He had no secrets from
her.
But at this moment, Evadne knew it was time for some brotherly talk. Thaddeus rose and walked to the living room, standing by
the window with concern in his voice.
Jared, how are you? You doing okay?”
“Thad.”
It took a moment before Jareth spoke, his voice as raspy as a traveler parched from too long in the desert, “I miss my girl; I miss
Marilla.”
Thaddeus caught his breath, managing only, “Don’t worry; Marilla’s safe with Grandpa. We’re all keeping her company; she’s
doing well.”
Thad, will I ever be with Marilla again? Can I still marry her?” Jareth asked sentimentally.
Thaddeus‘ throat tightened, and he fell silent. He knew Jareth was head over heels for Marilla, but whether Marilla would still
choose Jareth, he too was uncertain.
“Is it that if I clear up all the mess with the Fairhaven Group, you’ll let me take Marilla away?”
S
Jareth’s tone suddenly darkened, “Thad, help me.”
Thaddeus‘ eyes narrowed, “You’re my best man, no need for words.”
“In the next few days, help me dig up all the dirt on the Fairhaven Group, as much as we can get. Especially on
Barry.”
Thaddeus‘ heart clenched, he hurriedly said, “Jareth, Barry is your grandfather, the real power behind the Fairhaven Group; don’t
do anything foolish!”
“Frederick is your dad, and I’ve seen you don’t pull punches when it comes to Evadne.”
Thaddeus was silent.
Indeed. He was a man who put justice before family ties, a bad example in the eyes of his friends.
“I’ve made up my mind. Anyone who’s crossed Marilla, anyone who stands in the way of our marriage, won’t be able to stand
before me.”
Jared’s voice was dark and resolute in the night, “Barry is the foundation of the Fairhaven Group. Without taking him down, Gary
can’t be uprooted, and that wretched hound can’t be beaten.”
“Jareth, you might get burned doing this!”
Thaddeus was genuinely worried, “Wait a bit longer; we’ll find the right solution!”
‘I can’t wait...Every second away from Marilla is extreme agony for me!”
Jareth’s voice became increasingly uncontrolled, his hysterical roar breaking through his heavy breathing, “If you were forced
apart from Evadne, could you bear it? Could you?!”
A sharp pain stabbed Thaddeus‘ chest, “Jareth.”
“For Marilla, I’d turn the Fairhaven Group upside down if I have to!”
With that, Jareth hung up, leaving Thaddeus with a sigh. He looked up at the cold moonlight on his face, the chilly glow painting
the silent night.
1/3
12-23
Chapter 744
Tonight, sleep would be elusive.
Seeing Marilla settling down, Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy left Grandpa’s house for their respective duties.
THE
Thaddeus, with no time to rest, headed straight back to the Abernathy Group premises. After chairing the morning conference
and meeting a key foreign delegate in the afternoon, Thaddeus was about to sweet–talk his darling wife when Mr. Murray’s call
came through.
“Mr. Murray, what’s going on?” he asked warmly.
“Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy, are you free right now?” Mr. Murray’s words were evasive.
“Speak up.”
“This morning, Mr. Frederick Abernathy came and took Ms. Marilla Abernathy back to Windermere Estate.”
Thaddeus‘ expression darkened, “Wasn’t Grandpa supposed to spend more time with Marilla? Why so soon?”
“After Mr. Frederick Abernathy arrived, he and Grandpa went to the study. Something they said must have set them off because
they ended up arguing.”
Mr. Murray sounded worried, “Ms. Marilla Abernathy heard it all, of course. She’s always been the most obedient child in the
house. When Mr. Frederick Abernathy wanted to take her, she agreed without fuss.
I’m just a secretary; it’s not my place to interfere too much. I hope you can look out for Ms. Marilla Abernathy when you return
tonight.”
Thaddeus sensed there was more to it and pressed, “Did you hear what Grandpa and Mr. Frederick Abernathy were arguing
about?”
“It seems...it was about Ms. Mary Abernathy’s marriage. Mr. Hamilton Abernathy and Mr. Frederick Abernathy must have
disagreed, leading to the conflict. But I don’t know the details.”
The man rose abruptly from his chair, his face stern, “Understood. Don’t worry; I’ll take good care of Marilla.”
Marilla returned to Windermere Estate.
Now, with her mother gone, the servants saying Glynnis was to be sent abroad, and her brother hardly ever home, preferring to
be with his wife, the sprawling estate felt more like a golden cage trapping her alone.
Marilla hugged her teddy bear, sitting on the living room couch, closing her eyes in exhaustion. Everything with Jareth felt like
warm, happy dream. Now that she was awake, it was time to return to her place.
It was fine; being alone was fine. But why was it that even though she thought she had moved on, the mere mention of that
man’s name, the memory of his stunning blue eyes, and the lingering passion of his k*sses on her lips still brought unbidden
tears to the corners of her eyes.
In the still air, a cacophony of erratic footsteps echoed.
Marilla slowly opened her eyes to see Glynnis, lugging a cumbersome suitcase, clumsily descending the stairs. In this moment,
Glynnis was dressed in sweatpants she would never normally be caught dead in, her hair a wild mess, an unprecedented picture
of defeat.
As the eldest daughter in the family, Glynnis had stayed at her parents and grandfather’s side the longest, and grown up
showered with more love and attention from her parents and grandfather than Marilla ever received.
But how the tables had turned.
Now, not only had she been cast out from the Abernathy family, but she didn’t even have someone to carry her luggage for her –
a truly pitiable sight.
Marilla had already learned of all the things Glynnis had done to her from her brother and sister–in–law.
She could neither forgive this so–called sister nor did she want to entangle herself with her any longer. So she cast her eyes
downward, hugging her teddy bear, and tried to leave as if she hadn’t seen a thing.
212
12:23
Chapter 744
“Stop right there!”
Glynnis‘ voice suddenly erupted, a screech that was shrill and hoarse, the volume tenfold from her usual tone! Marilla halted,
lifting her gaze to meet the twisted face filled with hatred. But this time, she did not shrink back. She faced down the woman who
had used her status as an elder sister to oppress her for too many years. “Heh, so you know I’m deaf now, and you can’t even
call me ‘sis“?” Glynnis spat out with the exhausted fury like a mule after a hard day’s work, panting heavily, her eyes red with
venomous rage, “Idiot! Because of you, Grandpa and Dad, they’ve abandoned me! I’ve been thrown out of the Abernathy
family...and my hearing was ruined by Thaddeus! All thanks to you, you bitch! I fricking hate you!”