Chapter 380


    Chapter 380


    Jareth was summoned to a meeting by Barry Fairhaven, but halfway through, he received a call from


    Thaddeus, urging him to rush over to Sunset Ridge immediately This caused him to leave the


    Fairhaven meeting prematurely, under the surprised stares of his colleagues, Jareth raced to


    Thaddeus‘ vi.


    “What the heck!”


    Before he even reached the gate, he noticed a thick cloud of smoke billowing above the house, causing


    his face to turn pale in fear. He sprinted into the house without any hesitation.


    Eventually, he found Thaddeus in the backyard, burning items in a metal barrel.


    Thaddeus stood next to the mes, his handsome face pale and strained. The ze reflected off his


    face, making him look like a deste statue standing amidst a battlefield.


    Jareth,pletely taken aback, quickly walked up to him and asked anxiously, “Thad, what’s going on?


    What are you burning?”


    Before his voice trailed off, Thaddeus threw another item into the fire.


    Upon a closer look, Jareth realized it was a picture of him and Acacia!


    “Did you bring me here after I was drugged?” Thaddeus suddenly asked.


    “Yeah, I only knew this ce. Didn’t you used toe here often before?” Jareth replied, still trying to


    grasp the situation, “I couldn’t possibly take you back to Windermere Estate in that state, and it


    wouldn’t have been convenient to take you to my house either, so I figured this was the best ce for


    you.”


    Thaddeus opened his eyes, “Did you call Evadne here?”


    “Yeah, when you were delirious, you kept calling out for Evadne. I felt obligated to help, so I tricked


    Evadne intoing here.”


    Jareth looked around, questioning in surprise, “Hey, where’s Evadne? Did she leave?”


    Suddenly, there was a loud bang!


    In a fit of rage, Thaddeus kicked over the burning barrel, his eyes strikingly red!


    Sparks flew,nding on Jareth. He tried to shield his face with his arms, but the hot sparks burned


    holes into his expensive suit, even singeing his hair!


    “What the heck! Thaddeus, have you lost your mind?! Were you trying to burn me as well?! I’m not


    made of paper!” Jareth eximed, trying to put out the sparks on his clothes.


    Thaddeus, still not fully recovered, was panting heavily, his shirt soaked with sweat. He red at Jareth


    with fury in his eyes.


    “How could you bring her here, how could you!”


    “What’s wrong with this ce?” Jareth asked, confused and oblivious to the severity of the situation.


    “This vi was a gift I gave to Acacia. You brought Evadne here. Were you trying to break her heart?


    Did you want her to hate me?!” Thaddeus was shaking uncontrobly, his voice hoarse with


    desperation.


    This scene terrified Jareth.


    They had been best friends since childhood. Thaddeus had never lost control like this before, and


    never directed his anger at him.


    He truly cared for Evadne. All he thought about was her.


    “Thad, I genuinely didn’t know.”


    “This vi, I had asked Gordon to sell it a long time ago, but it hasn’t been sold yet. The things in the


    vi, including these pictures of Acacia, I asked Gordon to get rid of them as soon as possible.”


    Thaddeus was shaking uncontrobly, his hands tightly clutching his hair. He was filled with regret, “It’s


    all my fault. If I had known this would happen.”


    Suddenly, Thaddeus copsed to the ground!


    All of a sudden, as if the entire energy was drained, Thaddeus‘ straight body copsed on the ground


    with a thump!


    “Thad!”


    Jareth quickly rushed over to help him, “What’s going on? Why are you shaking so much? Are you


    cold, Thad?!”


    “Jareth, do you know,” Thaddeus‘ hands tightened on the ground, his dark eyes filled with tears, “the


    thing that hurt Evadne the mast were the memories of me and Acacia. The moment she saw the


    pictures, I knew it was over. We were over.”


    “It’s not over! Who said it’s over?!”


    Jareth watched as Thaddeus tortured himself over his feelings, his heart aching, “This is all my fault!


    You’ve been so busy and your health isn’t great. How could you have the time to deal with these trivial


    things? It’s all my fault! I’ll go exin to Evadne now. I’ll go exin!”


    Thaddeus held him back, shaking his head with a bitter smile, “In the end, it all started because of me.


    What’s the use of exining? Even if I exin, can it erase the past where I hurt her?“,


    “Thad.” Jareth took a sharp breath, barely able to hold back his tears.


    Was there anyone in the world who suffered more in love than him?


    Jareth helped Thaddeus upstairs, and he fell asleep quickly.


    His post–traumatic symptoms were much more severe than he had imagined. If this happened in front


    of others, the consequences were unimaginable.


    Without a doubt, Thaddeus could lose everything he had worked so hard for over the past decade.


    As Jareth wasing downstairs, he bumped into Gordon who had just walked in.


    “Mr. Fairhaven.” Gordon had heard about the incident over the phone on his way, and he was filled with


    remorse, flushing in distress.


    “We can’t me you entirely for this.” Jareth wished he could p himself, regretting his actions


    deeply.


    “I’ll go exin to Ms. Ashbourne tomorrow. If she really can’t forgive Mr. Abernathy, I’ll resign. Gordon


    decided, rubbing his eyes


    “Don’t be ridiculous! You’ve been with Thad for almost a decade. Without you, he won’t even feel like


    eating.”


    Jareth rubbed his forehead helplessly, “I’m the one who caused the mess, I should be the one to settle


    it down. But for that to happen, Evadne needs to agree to see me. During this time, take good care of


    Thad. Don’t tell anyone about his illness, especially Hamilton!”


    Gordon clenched his teeth and nodded solemnly.


    After setting things straight, Jareth dragged his exhausted body back to the love nest he shared with


    Mari.


    On the way, he reminisced about Thaddeus‘ room when he had helped him back, the subtle scent


    lingering everywhere.


    Being an old hand at love, he could tell at a nce that they must have done somethingst night.


    If they could sleep together, it meant Evadne still loved Thaddeus. Was it because of some old photos


    that she couldn’t ept him?


    Was this jealousy?


    This was beyond jealousy.


    “Jareth!”


    Upon seeing Jareth return, Mari ran up to him, throwing herself into his arms, wrapping her arms and


    legs around him like a cute little ko.


    “Call me honey.” Jareth corrected gently.


    “Um, honey.” Mari obediently changed it, her face flushing.


    “Good, honey, I will give you a kiss.”


    Jareth’s big hand supported her small buttocks; his cool lips kissed her rosy lips, making a sizzling


    sound.


    After making out on the living room couch for a while, Jareth carried Mari back to the bedroom,


    helped her undress, and took her to the bathroom for a bath.


    “Um, I want to bathe by myself.” Mari hugged his neck and voiced her opinion.


    “Why bother when I can help you?” Jareth’s eyes sparkled with mischief, his smile wicked.


    “No, no, bathing with you is too exhausting, there’s too much…exercise.”


    “Oh? You don’t want to exercise with me? You don’t like it?” Jareth feigned surprise, raising an


    eyebrow.


    “No, I like it.” Mari, her face as enticing as a ripe peach, admitted bashfully.


    Jareth, who was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open, suddenly became vigorous and full of


    vitality at the sight of his petite wife.


    The two soaked in therge, steam–filled bathtub, Jareth holding Mari’s slim waist, his hands and


    actions demanding.


    Mari had grown bolder since being with Jareth, and her bust had also grown substantially.


    Their sexual harmony was surprising. Being with Mari allowed Jareth to forget all his worries and


    indulge himselfpletely.


    Naturally, Mari was a woman Jareth had personally trained, and he was enjoying the fruits of his


    labor.


    Afterward, Jareth held his petite wife as they left the bathtub. He ced a soft towel under her, his big


    hand gripping her slender waist as he ced her on the bathroom counter, helping her dry her hair and


    clean her body.


    Mari enjoyed being pampered by Jareth. Every time she would close her eyes infort and sway


    her feet happily.


    Tonight, Jareth didn’t talk much; even during their lovemaking, he didn’t tease her with his usual flirty


    remarks.


    It seemed he had something on his mind.


    “Honey?” Mari called him softly.


    Jareth snapped out of his thoughts, immediately asking with a smile, “What is it?”


    “Are you upset? Did something unpleasant happen?”


    Seeing Mari’s considerate behavior, Jareth couldn’t hold back, and honestly replied, “Yes, it’s about


    Thaddeus, and your former sister–inw.”


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    “Evadne? What happened to her? And to Thaddeus?” Mari asked anxiously.


    Jareth pondered for a moment, thinking that even though they were not yet married, he had already


    treated her as his wife, and he should not hide anything from her. Moreover, she was a woman now,


    and she should know some of theplex rtionships involved.


    “Mari, to be precise, it was my fault. Because of me, Thaddeus and Evadne had a big fight, and I


    don’t know how to help them reconcile.”


    He then spilled the beans about Thaddeus being drugged, and him bringing Evadne to take care of


    Thaddeus.


    Mari listened quietly, her eyes sparkling, but she didn’t say anything.


    “I was too hasty and careless in this matter.”


    Jareth grimaced, feeling increasingly guilty the more he thought about it, “They never shared a bed


    while they were married, and now that they’re divorced, I’ve pushed them together. It’s so unfair to


    Evadne. I really deserve to die!”


    “Evadne and Thaddeus have done it before.”


    Mari suddenly blurted out.


    Jareth was taken aback and asked, “Done it before, what do you mean?”


    “About two years ago.”


    Mari bit her lip, her eyes downcast as she said softly, “One night two years ago, I couldn’t sleep and


    was wandering around the house. I saw Evadne entering Thaddeus‘ room alone. At that time, my


    brother didn’t like her. They rarely shared a bed, often sleeping in separate rooms. Evadne had a hard


    time during the three years she was married to Thaddeus. I could tell she loved him, but she didn’t dare


    to get close to him. She could only silently stay by his side, and when he was not home in the middle of


    the night, she would lie on his bed for a while, secretly wear his shirts, spray his cologne, but she never


    let him find out. Evadne loves my brother so much; her love abased her Sometimes even I feel


    heartbroken for her.”


    Even Jareth felt sad for Evadne


    The most painful thing in the world might not be two people forgetting each other in the world.


    But the person you loved was right within your reach, but you could never have them.


    “That night, I saw Evadne go into Thaddeus‘ room. Not muchter, Thaddeus came back drunk,


    reeking of alcohol; his face was so red, like he was running a fever.”


    Jareth seemed to remember a bit now. That day was the anniversary of Thaddeus mother’s death. To


    apany and ease him, he had gathered a bunch of friends for a get–together.


    That night was exceptionally chaotic, Thaddeus drank countless sses, to the point where he cked


    out.


    Later, he sent him back to Windermere Estate, and the butler helped him inside. He didn’t know what


    happened after that.


    “Then what happened?” Jareth asked in a hurry.


    “Then, Thaddeus went back to his room, and he and Evadne didn’te out of the room all night. I


    was worried and curious, so I pushed the door open. Through the bedroom door, I heard…I…”


    Mari pressed her pink lips together, her cheeks rning as if they were on fire, too embarrassed to


    speak.


    Jareth’s pupils contracted, his shock rendering him speechless.


    Could it be that they had had sex already?


    And his clueless, drunk buddy had slept with his own wife and didn’t have any recollection of it?!


    What the hell, men really did turn into heartless creatures the moment they released their desire!


    “Have you never brought this up with Thaddeus in all these years?”


    “How could I? And it’s pretty clear that Evadne doesn’t want him to know.”


    “How do you know that? If you’d told him back then, maybe he would have treated her better! After all,


    they’re married!” Frustrated, Jareth raised his voice a bit high. Mari shrugged, a hint of fear in her


    eyes.


    Quickly, Jareth pulled her into his arms, patting her back gently as he apologized, I’m sorry. I should


    have been kinder with my words. I just really hope they can be together.“” “Evadne was always


    cautious around Thaddeus back then. She knew he didn’t like her, even hated her. She was afraid that


    if he found out they’d slept together, he would despise her even more, thinking she took advantage of


    him.”


    As she spoke, Mari’s eyes welled up with tears, “So I could only keep this secret for her. Jareth, do


    you think I did something wrong?


    “No, not at all. You were only thinking about Evadne.”


    Jareth gently kissed her reddened earlobe, his voice filled with resentment towards Thaddeus, “The


    one who’s wrong is your brother. He wronged her and he doesn’t even know.”


    “What can I do? I really want Thaddeus and Evadne to reconcile.” Mari sighed sincerely.


    “They will, and they’ll get back together.“::


    Jareth sighed, not fully convinced himself, “I believe that Evadne still has feelings for Thaddeus. They’ll


    find their way back to each other someday.”


    Ashbourne Hospital.