Chapter 429


    Chapter 429


    “Jareth, I appreciate your continued concern for me, a smile of approval gracing Frederic’s lips.


    “Not just me, Mari and Thad are thinking about you too,” Jareth’s eyes curved into crescents, his


    words sweet enough to induce a toothache. This was not just about impressing his future father–in–


    law, but also about earning some brownie points for his best friend.


    “I haven’t seen Mari in a while. You two follow me to the study, let’s sit and catch up. As Frederic


    spoke, a tender smile danced on his face as he beckoned Mari over, “Come Mari,e to your


    dad”


    As Mari grew older, her interactions with her father lessened. But in her memories, her father was


    always the one who doted on her the most.


    “Daddy” Her eyes bright as a doe’s, she released Jareth’s hand and walked towards Frederic.


    For some unknown reason, Jareth’s eyes reddened and a sour feeling rose in him at the sight. He


    knew, no matter how good he was to Mari, no matter how much he loved her, he could never rece


    her family in her heart.


    Perhaps in this world, many people could live without love, but none could bear the pain of losing their


    family, of being tom away from their flesh and blood.


    As Mari approached, Frederic smilingly opened his arms, enveloping her petite frame. Hisrge,


    gentle hand caressed her silky raven hair as he held his long–absent daughter close to his heart.


    She pressed her small face into her father’s chest, and for some reason, her heart fluttered, and a


    bitter emotion welled up. Tear drops trickled down, dampening Frederic’s neat shirt.


    At that moment, Glynnis‘ rage finally hit its peak, and she was on the verge of tears. As Frederic’s first–


    born, she was always the apple of the Abernathy family’s eye. She was proud of her intelligence and


    beauty, and from a young age, herpetitive nature had always made her the center of her parents‘


    attention, overshadowing Mani’s existence. But now, Hamilton, Elspeth, then Jareth. Mari was


    slowly taking away everything that used to be hers!


    Even Frederic’s affection was stolen by her!


    She was filled with rage, unbearable rage!


    On the other side.


    Elspeth, who was confined to the house, had been terrified by the news about Ward and the online


    comments. She was in a state of panic, not knowing what to do.


    Frantically, she found the medication Victor had left her gave herself two shots, and her convulsing


    nerves finally calmed down, allowing her to think a bit.


    She hadn’t expected that Ward, who had fled to country T, would be caught. Even less did she expect


    that the sparks of public opinion about Erica’s death would ssh on her.


    The police hadn’t summoned her yet, which meant Ward hadn’t given her up. But she couldn’t


    guarantee that Ward wouldn’t crack under pressure and spill everything about her hiring him to kill


    Erica. By then, it would be toote!


    Currently, her movements were limited by Frederic’s house arrest and the only person who could run


    errands for her was Glynnis


    Glynnis, her eyes swollen from crying, came to see Elspeth, sitting there sobbing uncontrobly. But


    Elspeth had no time to deal with her messy emotions; she got straight to the point, “Ward’s been


    captured, and he might expose what we’ve done. This man, he cannot be kept alivel


    “What we’ve done? What have I done?” Glynnis sniffed, a cold light shing in her eyes, “Weren’t those


    things all ordered by you? What does that have to do with me? Don’t drag me in


    “You ungrateful girl! Are you trying to wash your hands off this now? Your own mom is in trouble, and


    instead of thinking ways to help. you just want to hide away? If anything happens to me, you won’t


    have a peaceful life either? Elspeth’s fierce gaze made Glynnis tremble with fear!


    They were far from being mother and daughter; they were more like aplices in crime!


    “What are we going to do now? What are you nning?” Glynnis asked, her teeth clenched, her voice


    filled with imitation.


    Elspeth suddenly lost all expression, her face chillingly cold, Tm going to kill Ward.”


    “Kill Ward?! But he’s under police control now; how are we going to do that?!” Glynnis, who had been


    gradually trained by Elspeth, didn’t even blink at the mention of “murder. Her first thought was how to


    do it.


    “There are plenty of people in prison willing to take money to do someone else’s dirty work! And with so


    many people there, it’s easy to find an opportunity to get rid of him without anyone noticing!” Saying


    this, Elspeth tossed a bank card towards Glynnis, “The money in here is enough for you to handle this.


    Deal with it as soon as possible; don’t make me wait too long.”


    Glynnis held the card in her hand, feeling like she was holding a sharp de.


    “Mom, I can do this for you, but I have one condition.”


    “You ungrateful girl, you’re bargaining with your own mom; do you have any conscience left?” Elspeth


    scolded, her left hand on her hip and her right finger pointed at Glynnis’s nose.


    “Mom, forgive me for being blunt, but Dad is starting to get tired of you. Mari, that little hussy, is


    always with Jareth, and she’s getting close to Evadne. She’s not reliable. You only have me to rely on


    now Glynnis said with a smug smirk.


    Elspeth furrowed her brows, realizing that her daughter was too much like her. And because of their


    simrities, she felt a twinge of fear. “What do you want?”


    “I know that Jareth despises me. There’s no chance of us being together anymore. Since that’s the


    case, I want Mari to not be able to marry him either!” Glynnis said through gritted teeth, Tonight,


    Jareth brought Mari to see Dad. They were all so happy together. It’s clear that Dad has already


    tacitly agreed to their rtionship! You have toe up with a way to prevent her from marrying into


    the Fairhaven family!”


    “A n? Jareth’s heart ispletely set on Mari now, he’s smitten with your sister. What can I do?


    Elspeth scoffed, not immediately agreeing to her request.


    “Well, I’m afraid I won’t be able to help you get rid of Ward then.” Glynnis lifted her wine–red lips in a


    predatory smile, “Mam, you know as well as I do that we may be in the same boat, but what can you do


    stranded at home? Who else can you rely on if not me?”


    Elspeth’s eyes zed with anger. This ungrateful wretch, daring to challenge her own mother!


    Seeing her mother’s silence, Glynnis continued to outline the pros and cons, “Mom, I get it. You want to


    be Jareth’s mother–inw, to ride his coattails to a better standing. But have you considered even if my


    sister does marry into the Fairhaven family, what can she do to help you? Jareth is Thaddeus’s buddy


    after all, and Mari is tight with Evadne. You’ve seen how she’s sided with that woman. Since your fall


    from grace, it’s been me looking after you, me caring for you. What has Mari done for you besides


    frolicking around with Jareth? Mari has not even a Fairhaven yet, and she’s already forgotten all


    about you who raised her!”


    Elspeth was thunderstruck, speechless.


    Whether or not Ma marrying Jareth would actually be beneficial was beside the point. Right now, she


    was stuck at home, barely able to fend for herself, let alone worry about Mari’s romantic affairs


    Even if children were mother’s flesh and blood, they eventually be someone else’s wife or


    husband. Only by being strong and surviving can one truly matter.


    “Fine. I agree!” Elspeth’s eyes were dark and hollow, her teeth grinding audibly, “As long as you help


    me get rid of Ward, I swear the Fairhaven family will never ept Marilia!”


    At her words, a fierce and exhrating light sparked in Glynnis’s eyes.


    Even if Jareth insisted on marrying that fool, so what? If she couldn’t enter the Fairhaven family’s


    doors, she’d never be legitimate, forever just a mistress!


    In the study, the atmosphere was unusually warm and harmonious.


    Frederic and Jareth chatted about trivial matters. As the elder, Frederic asked him about his business.


    Jareth, having prepared for this meeting with his future inws, responded smoothly.


    He’d hung around with Thaddeus since they were kids, and was more familiar with the Windermere


    Estate than his own home. But now, facing his future father inw, even the usuallyposed Jareth


    felt a little nervous.


    “Mr. Fairhaven, your tea. Miss Mari, your favourite orange juice, Dennis approached with a tray.


    “Thank you, Dennis, Mari picked up the ss, her smile innocent and pure, as radiant as spring


    flowers, unchanged from her.


    childhood.


    A warm feeling welled up in Dennis’s heart.


    Glynnis and Mari, though both Frederic’s daughters, were as different as night and day. Simply put,


    Glynniscked the grace and elegance expected of ady of her standing. Even Elspeth, at home, put


    on airs of ady of the house. But Glynnis couldn’t be bothered, she was more like a wild child.


    In the past, he’d worried about Mari’s future, worried that her autism would condemn her to a lifetime


    of loneliness, unable to experience love, marriage, and motherhood like other girls. But now it seemed


    he was worrying over nothing.


    Belonging to N?velDrama.Org.


    With Jareth, the son of the Fairhaven family, adoring and loving her, Mari’s future was secure, and


    she’d never be bullied again.


    Mari took a satisfying sip of her orange juice, her lips glistening.


    Jareth chuckled lightly, pulling out a clean handkerchief from his pocket to gently wipe away the


    droplets on her lips. His practiced movements suggested he did this often.


    “Ahem. Jareth” Frederic, having had his fill of the sweet scene, cleared his throat seriously, “After all


    that has happened, it’s clear that you truly care for Mani. And I’ve watched you grow up since you


    were a boy. Now that you wish to date my daughter, I won’t stand in


    your way. However, Mari is young and has always been shielded from the world’s harsh realities.


    She’s innocent and inexperienced This is her first rtionship, and the first time she’s spent a couple of


    nights away from home. Mari has never been out at night, and Jareth, you’ve broken our family


    rules.”


    “I apologize, Mr. Abernathy. I didn’t think it through. But with Mari staying at my ce, I can’t possibly


    let her go out at night. There are too many bad people out there, and Mari is so pretty. What if she’s


    targeted by some man? How can I be at ease?” Jareth responded with a cheeky grin.


    Frederic shook his head, Tm not talking about going out or not, but the fact that even though you’re


    dating, you’re not legally married. If word gets out about you two living together, it won’t affect you,


    Jareth. But my daughter, she’s a virtuous girl. It could harm her reputation”