Chapter 306
Chapter 306
The banquet hall was a ghost town, with barely a handful of guests scattered around. It was a sad,
lackluster scene.
Aside from the few waitstaff and the pianist, there wasn’t a single woman in sight! All those high society
women, who would usually fawn over Elspeth and the power of the Abernathy Group, were noticeably
absent. It was as they had all conspired to avoid this party.
Elspeth was livid, and if it weren’t for the gaggle of reporters watching with keen interest, she might
have lost her cool fight then and there.
Frederic gave a slight frown, his lips pressing into a thin line, but otherwise, he was hard to read.
Their daughter, Glynnis, looked shocked. She knew her mother wasn’t the most liked person in their
circle, but she hadn’t realized the extent of it until now.
The reporters were having a field day with the deste party. “Quick, take more pictures! This is
headline material!” they chattered amongst themselves.
The reporters probed their heads and shot wildly at the deste banquet hall.
“The title is ‘The Abernathy Group Chairperson’s Wife’s Birthday Banquet is So Empty, Is the Beauty
No Longer Beautiful?”
“She just said that she invited a lot of people, so she immediately pped herself in the face. It’s really
funny!”
Elspeth was so angry that both legs under her gorgeous skirt shivered. She red hard at Glynnis and
let her be her mouth instead.
Glynnis hurriedly faced the reporters and said with a smile, “Dear reporters, my mother’s birthday
banquet will start soon. We are going in to greet the guests. Everyone, take your time. We will give you
gifts at the doorter!”
The bodyguards coaxed and hurried the reporters out.
Some reporters alsoined when they received the gift, “Hiss, we were asked to rush over in the
heavy snow before, but now we are asked to leave. Obviously, they feel ashamed and don’t want to be
seen!”
“You still greet guests? Where are there any guests?
The birthday party had just begun, but it was so depressed that it seemed to be over.
Elspeth was seething. Her anger was barely concealed by her borate makeup, and her face was
tense with rage.
And to add salt to the wound, the few guests that were present were mostly Frederic’s friends, who
merely gave her a cursory birthday wish before engaging in jovial conversations with Frederic,
completely ignoring her.
How could this be happening?
“Mom! Mom!” Glynnis rushed in, her face pale. “I just found out that all our invited guests are now at K
Orld Hotel, attending Evadne’s party!”
Elspeth, though she had suspected as much, was still taken aback and nearly fainted from shock.
“That cheeky little minx! Why is it always her causing trouble?”
Mari, who had been quietly ying with her teddy bear, looked up, her eyesplicated as she
heard her sister–inw’s name being mentioned.
Glynnis continued, “Half of them are there because of the Ashbourne family, and the other half because
of the Chambers family. And since the Ashbournes and Chambers are close, it’s only natural for these
social climbers to flock to them!“.
Glynnis was on a roll now, her anger fueling her intelligence. “And some guests who weren’t invited by
the Ashbournes, somehow received invitations from Evadne and changed their ns to attend her
party instead!”
Elspeth was livid, her face contorting with anger. “She thinks she can ruin my party and degrade me
like this? Does she think I am a pushover?”
Just then, the hall’s doors swung open. All eyes turned to the man striding in with confidence and
composure.
“Jareth.”
Mari’s eyes welled up with relief and happiness as she looked at Jareth. His eyes, shining like a
hawk’s, were holding her gaze steadily, not letting go, not wanting to let
1. go.
Even though she was always dressed inly and barely noticeable, he could always spot her instantly.
Even in a crowd.
“Hold on, Mr. Jareth?” Elspeth and Glynnis were utterly bbergasted.
Frederic, who was busy chatting with the guests, also showed surprise as he saw Jareth strut in, d
in a burgundy velvet suit, looking as dashing as a groom.
Glynnis quickly withdrew her poised–to–attack hand, her feelings a whirlpool of emotions at the sight of
Jareth.
Despite all the hurt he had caused her, she couldn’t help but be smitten by his devilishly handsome
face. She wished nothing more than to be with him, even if it meant enduring his harshness. She knew,
however, that Jareth would never be interested in her.
So why did hee?
“Oh, Mr. Jareth, we are so happy you coulde! We have been waiting for you!” Elspeth was
delighted as Jareth approached and hurried to amodate him. “Quickly, get Mr. Jareth some
champagne!”
His presence, regardless of whether he was here for Mari, added color to her birthday party.
“No need, I am not here for the party,” Jareth said, his hands in his pockets, grinning slyly and oozing
with irresistible charm.
“Then, why are you here?”
“I came to take my girl.”
Everyone was stunned.
With a hint of a smile ying on his face, Jareth walked towards Mari without hesitation.
The faces of Elspeth and her daughter were a picture of shocked embarrassment as though they had
been doused with cold water.
Mari’s cheeks flushed, and she stood there, her teddy bear in hand, looking like a bride with a
bouquet of flowers, as Jareth confidently approached her.
Passing by Glynnis, Jareth bumped into her dismissively, as if she were an obstacle.
“Ouch!” Glynnis winced in pain, almost losing her bnce.
“Mari.”
Jareth stood in front of Mari, gazing at her flushed face. “You look beautiful today.”
Mari’s heart raced.
“This ce is dull, why note with me?” Jareth extended his hand, his eyes full of tenderness.
“Go where?”
“Anywhere. Wherever you want to go, I will take you.” His eyes were filled with sincerity.
Mari felt like crying, her eyes welling up with tears.
She had always been the most obedient and naive child in the family. This was the first time she was
treated with such affection.
“I want to find my sister–inw. I want to find Thaddeus.” Mari’s voice choked, barely above a
whisper.
All rights ? N?velDrama.Org.
“Okay, I’ll take you to them.”
Then Jareth took her hand and they walked away together.
The room fell silent.
At the door, Jareth paused, almost causing Mari to bump into him. He turned slightly, bowed to
Frederic, and left with Mari. Frederic was taken aback.
He had been slightly displeased when Jareth took his daughter away, but he couldn’t stay mad at
Jareth, who had the decency to acknowledge him before leaving. “Mom! What should we do?”
Glynnis, her face twitching, tugged at Elspeth’s arm in panic. “Jareth just took her away? What is he
ying at?mYou can’t let Mari go! You must bring her back!” “Bring her back? Why should I?”
Elspeth shook off her hand, looking at her with contempt, a look she usually reserved for Mari. “This
birthday party is already a disaster, does it matter if your sisteres back or not?
Besides, why should I bring her back? Can’t you see? Mari and Jareth are in love. You should stop
dreaming and meddling in your sister’s affairs. Just stay put!” Glynnis felt a chill in her heart and let go
of Elspeth’s arm.
“Evadne, do you think I’ve lost? You’ve ruined my birthday party, but tonight I won’t let you have your
way!” Elspeth picked up her champagne ss, her eyes teary, and downed the drink.
Outside the banquet hall.
Glynnis found a secluded spot, took out her phone, and dialed Edith’s number with a clenched jaw.
“Well, you’ve got some nerve calling me.”
Edith answered after several rings, her tone revealing her annoyance with Glynnis.
Glynnis despised this woman for her past schemes but knew she needed Edith’s help to deal with
Mari.
So sheposed herself and said coldly, “I’m not in the mood for a fight now. I think you’ll feel the
same once you know what happened tonight.”