Chapter 355


    Mrs. Fairhaven choked abruptly, her heart pounding erratically in her chest.


    Evadne snorted, “You can’t even outtalk Elspeth, and yet you dare to challenge me?”


    “Evadne!” Edith protested, clutching Barry as if her life depended on him. “How dare you disrespect my


    mother like that? She’s your elder!”


    Thaddeus‘ eyes hardened at the sound of Edith’s voice, his disdain for her evident.


    “Just because she’s older doesn’t mean she’s an elder,” Evadne shot back, her cold gaze causing


    Edith to shrink back in fear.


    Edith trembled, her lips quivering as she decided it would be best not to retort, for fear of invoking


    Evadne’s wrath.


    Mrs. Fairhaven knew that Barry wouldn’t cause a scene over something so trivial, but she couldn’t help


    but express her dissatisfaction to Jareth through her gaze, urging him to step in.


    Jareth coughed awkwardly, and began to speak. “Evadne, I…”


    Evadne’s icy gazended on him, causing Jareth to stutter and quickly change his statement. “I’ll drive


    you home. It’ste, and it’s not safe.”


    “No need. I have my car.”


    With that, Evadne left the mansion, the clicking of her high–heels echoing as she walked away.


    Jareth scratched his head awkwardly, much to the annoyance of Barry, who grumbled about how his


    grandson was so submissive before the Ashbourne family’s girl. “Let’s go.” Jareth announced, and the


    Fairhaven family followed suit.


    “Oh, my head. I feel so dizzy,” Elspeth moaned, leaning onto Frederic as if she were boneless.


    “Always ying the victim or the damsel,” Alva muttered, rolling her eyes at Elspeth. “With your acting


    skills, I’m surprised Myra kept you under her thumb for so long.” Elspeth heard every word and was


    fuming, smoke practically escaping from her ears.


    Frederic, his face pale, whispered to Alva, “Help her to her room.”


    “Sorry, Mr. Frederic.” Alva responded, “I only take care of Mr. Thaddeus‘ needs. And I believe Elspeth


    wouldn’t want me to assist her.”


    Then Alva turned and left, leaving Frederic speechless.


    Thaddeus was left standing there, a mix of anger and regret on his face.


    “Thad! What are you still doing here?” Jareth approached him, pping him on the shoulder. “Evadne’s


    leaving, and it’s not every day you get to see her. Go exin the situation between you and my sister to


    her.”


    Thaddeus’s breath hitched, and he felt as if his feet were made of lead.


    On the drive home, Mrs. Fairhaven was still seething. She had always been protected by her husband


    and son, and had never been so humiliated.


    “Don’t worry, Edith.” she reassured her daughter, “We won’t let this go. I’ll make sure you get your


    revenge.”


    “But how?” Edith cried. “Jareth controls everything, and he’s so close with Thaddeus and Evadne.”


    Mrs. Fairhaven spat, “If he won’t let you be with Thaddeus, then he can’t be with that Abernathy girl.


    Your grandfather won’t let the Fairhaven family’s reputation be tarnished. He’ll make sure you marry


    Thaddeus.”


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    “But Jareth’s so guarded!” Edith protested. “And he protects Mari like she’s his heart. How can we


    get to her?”


    “There will be a chance,” Mrs. Fairhaven assured her. “He can’t keep her by his side 24/7. There will be


    times when he can’t watch her.”


    1


    As Evadne exited the Windermere Estate and got into her car, she felt a sense of relief, as if she had


    escaped a poisonous environment. But as she drove away, her hands tightened around the steering


    wheel.


    Under the dim glow of streetlights, amidst the chilling wind, Avery leaned against his electric blue


    sports car, standing there with grace and poise. There was no telling how long he had been waiting, but


    there was not a hint of impatience on his face.


    As Evadne’s car pulled up, his deep–set eyes lit up. He separated himself from the car, waving eagerly


    at her like a bashful teenager.


    Her car screeched to a halt in front of him.


    “What are you doing here?” Evadne asked, stepping out of her car, eyes wide with surprise.


    “Waiting for you,” Avery replied, a soft look in his eyes, like the rippling circles on a pond’s surface.


    “Waiting for me? For what?” she asked, confused.


    “I pulled some strings and found out you were headed to the Abernathy’s,” he exined. “I didn’t mean


    anything by it, just didn’t want you to be alone, without someone to help.”


    With a bitter smile, he added, “I guess I was being silly. I couldn’t even get inside. But seeing you


    makes this trip worthwhile.”


    Evadne blinked, her feelings a mix of emotions. She had always been an independent soul, preferring


    her ownpany over others. The thought of someone silently tracking her movements made her


    ufortable.


    “I’m fine, just handling some personal matters,” she said, forcing a smile. “The Abernathys aren’t a den


    of lions. I lived here for three years, after all. I cane and go as I please.”


    A pang of sorrow hit Avery as he was about to speak, his face darkening.


    Off in the distance, Thaddeus stood, his handsome face filled with mncholy. He was so still, so


    white, that he seemed to blend into the cold night.


    “Ave, I…” Evadne began, only to be cut off as she was abruptly pulled into a firm embrace.


    All of a sudden, she was pressed against Avery’s chest, feeling his ragged breath on her skin. His arm,


    wrapped around her slender waist, tightened.


    “Ave! What are you doing?” She pushed against his shoulders, panic rising.


    To Thaddeus, however, her struggle seemed more like a teasing invitation.


    Avery didn’t respond, only pulling her closer, his gaze meeting Thaddeus‘, a mocking smirk on his lips..


    Regardless of Evadne’s struggles, he refused to let go.


    Thaddeus felt as if a thousand knives were piercing his heart. He watched as Evadne and Avery held


    each other, a sight more painful than any wound he had ever received on the battlefield.


    Pale–faced, Thaddeus turned and staggered away, as if he had drunk too much whiskey.


    As he left, Avery loosened his hold and Evadne quickly pulled away, her eyes reddening with anger.


    “Mr. Avery, don’t do this again. Otherwise, we can’t even be friends!” she warned.


    “I’m sorry, Evadne,” he quickly apologized, his hands awkwardly hanging in mid–air. “I know you see


    me as a friend, and I’m trying to respect that, but I lost control. I won’t do it again, I promise, Evadne.


    Can you forgive me this time? I was just worried about you.”


    Evadne sighed, frustrated. “I really hate it when men other than my brothers touch me. I hope you can


    remember that.”


    Avery clenched his fists, his heart aching. Can’t you ept other men? What about Thaddeus? Even


    Jason, your secretary, gets closer to you. Is it just me you can’t ept, Evadne?


    “Thanks for your concern. It’ste. I should go,” Evadne said, feeling a familiar yet unsettling presence.


    She turned around, only to find no one behind her.


    Dragging his heavy feet, Thaddeus returned to the mansion.


    “Thad!” Jareth called, worried about his friend. He had stayed behind instead of leaving with the


    Fairhavens. Seeing Thaddeus return alone, he rushed up to him.


    But Thaddeus walked past him, his mind seemingly elsewhere.


    “Thad! Thad!” Jareth shouted, grabbing his arm. “Where’s Evadne? How did your talk go? Did she


    forgive you?”


    “Why do I need her forgiveness? I’ve done nothing wrong.” Thaddeus replied, his red–rimmed eyes


    filled with exhaustion and despair. “I’m tired, Jareth. If she doesn’t want to stay, if no amount of chasing


    can catch her, then let her go.”