Chapter 617


    Chapter 617


    Hamilton’s words were like an emotional grenade, detonating without warning and leaving shockwaves


    in their path.


    Not only did Frederic’s face look like it had taken a hit, but I bet even a fly buzzing by would have


    swelled up from the st. Only his dad knew how to handle this ck sheep of the family,


    Glynnis shrunk behind Frederic like a quail in hiding, too scared to even show her face.


    Evadne hurried over, her voice soft and soothing, “Mari, honey, don’t be scared. I’m here, your


    brother and granddad are here too.”


    Mari lifted her tear–stained face from Jareth’s embrace; her cheeks were swollen as if soaked by the


    moon’s glow, dampening his shirt with her tears.


    “Evadne.”


    That term of endearment brought a swell of emotion to Evadne’s eyes, a numbing pain to her heart.


    Mari, choking back sobs, clung to Jareth’s shirt, her delicate hands gripping tight, “I don’t want to be


    apart from Jareth.”


    In that moment, Jareth felt a sharp pain in his chest, pulling her in closer as if to crush her into his


    being, “We won’t be apart, Mari, no matter what happens, I won’t leave you,”


    Evadne stood speechless, her heart brimming with empathy.


    In Mari, she saw her own past self- the one who had been locked away at home by Emeric, the one


    who had leapt from her window on a stormy night, frantic to find Thaddeus.


    She too had been held in his arms, insisting over and over that she couldn’t bear to be apart from him.


    But she had been luckier than Mari.


    Emeric was all bark and no bite, his harsh words belied a tenderness and a willingness topromise


    for the love of his daughter.


    But Frederic was different. Self–serving and cold–hearted, how could he truly have Mari’s best


    interests at heart?


    To him, his reputation and the Abernathy family’s interests trumped everything, even family ties.


    “I’m not going to waste my breath on you, boy, because you’ve never understood a word I’ve said! I


    came here today to back these young lovebirds!” Hamilton’s gaze was steely as he stared down


    Frederic, “Didn’t you just say you’d rather die than agree to this match? Well, go ahead and die then.”


    “Dad! What are you saying?”


    Frederic was fuming, his eyes bloodshot with anger, his words almostughable, “Why should I die?”


    “Yeah, why should a man like you die? Especially since you’re the esteemed chairman of the


    Abernathy Group. You’ve just managed to push me into retirement; you wouldn’t want to die now,


    would you?”


    Hamilton let out a bitter chuckle, “Since you don’t want to die, stop threatening the younger generation


    with such nonsense! Jareth respects you for Mari and Thaddeus‘ sake, but you’re acting as if you’re


    the center of attention. Using your own life as a bargaining chip, my face is red with embarrassment


    because of you!”


    Frederic felt dizzy, his hand gripping the stair’s railing, veins bulging with tension.


    For years, his father had berated him with harsh words in


    But this time, it wasn’t just in front of his children, but they were tearing his dignity to shreds!


    Glynnis suddenly realized. which he never took to heart. and Jareth as well. Hamilton’s actions were


    beyond shaming him;


    How did Hamilton know every detail of their conversation with Jareth? He had just arrived, hadn’t he?


    But half an hour earlier.


    Hamilton’s car had quietly parked outside Windermere Estate.


    Inside the vehicle.


    Thaddeus sat opposite Evadne und Hamilton, watching hisdy love openly disy her skills in front of


    Hamilton, hacking into the vi’s surveince cameras with ease, her eyes filled with adoration.


    “Grandpa, we’re all set.” Evadne handed the tablet to Hamilton.


    “Is it done?” Hamilton looked at her in amazement.


    “Yes.”


    “My goodness. Evadne, you are so talented! Not like Thaddeus, good only for making money!”


    Hamilton said, yfully pinching Evadne’s nose with affection.


    Thaddeus turned silent.


    That cheeky old man, not only was he putting him down, but he was also getting handsy with his


    woman.


    The trio huddled together, intently watching everything unfold on the screen.


    Evadne, seeing the young couple being bullied, clenched her fists in anger.


    “Grandpa, should we go now?” Thaddeus asked, his voice strained.


    Hamilton’s face was grave, “Let’s wait.”


    Both youngsters were surprised.


    “If Jareth wants to marry my granddaughter, this is undoubtedly a tough test for him.”


    Hamilton cherished his granddaughter but was also rational, “They’ve just taken the first step and faced


    such a huge obstacle. There will be more trouble ahead. This time, I need to see just how much Jareth


    loves Mari and whether he has the strength to protect my little granddaughter. The Fairhaven family,


    as far as I know, isn’t much stronger than the Chambers family, which is a den of wolves. If Mari is to


    be with Jareth, I must be sure that Jareth has the ability to provide a safe haven for her before I can


    entrust her to him.”


    Evadne and Thaddeus exchanged looks, deeply moved.


    This was the true love of an elder for the younger generation.


    And Jareth, with his actions, had thoroughly earned Hamilton’s approval.


    “If your father won’t give his blessing, I will!”


    Hamilton turned away from Frederic, his face breaking into a warm, friendly smile as he beckoned the


    young couple over, “Mari, Jareth,e to me.”


    Jareth took a deep breath and, with his arm around his petite wife, approached Hamilton.


    “Grandpa.” Mari’s eyes were nearly swollen shut from crying, but her sweet demeanor made the


    scene even more heart–wrenching.


    “Ah.”


    Hamilton responded, his voice thick with emotion as he took his granddaughter’s hand in his, “My dear


    girl, you’re my favorite. Have you been wronged?”


    Mari shook her head through her tears, “No, Grandpa.”


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    Glynnis staggered, her features contorted with rage!


    Hamilton’s words hit her like a nuclear bomb. All those years she’d spent ying the sweet and dutiful


    granddaughter, fawning over Hamilton, were a waste.


    She had lost, utterly andpletely, in the game of love and family. She’d been beaten by the very


    ‘fool‘ she’d scorned, crashing down in total defeat.


    Hamilton’s heavy gaze settled on Jareth once more. “Jareth, my granddaughter is in your hands now.


    You’ve got to take good care of her, spoil her rotten. Just like Thaddeus loves na, be ready to move


    heaven and earth for her. Can you do that?”


    “Grandpa, I can.”


    Jareth raised three fingers, his voice trembling as he began to speak, tears brimming in the corners of


    his reddened eyes, “I swear to you, and I swear to God. I will love Mari for all my days, till death do


    us part. Otherwise, I…”


    Before he could finish, Mari tiptoed up to him, her hand gently covering his mouth, silencing his


    ominous vow.


    “I know what you mean, Jareth. You don’t have to say a thing. I understand.”


    Evadne dabbed at her tears secretly, while Thaddeus wrapped an arm around her slender waist and


    whispered into her ear, “Finally”


    Evadne squinted her beautiful eyes, echoing, “Finally.”


    *Jareth, I hear from Thaddeus that you’ve cleared things with Mr. Fairhaven regarding your


    engagement to Mari. Hamilton


    Jareth immediately responded, “Not just my granddad, I’ve informed the Whe and my mother has no


    objections.”


    Evadne and Thaddeus exchanged a knowing nce.


    They were aware that Jareth was sharing only the good news, not the difficulties he must have faced


    convincing Barry


    As for Mrs. Fairhaven’s approval, that didn’t concern this young man. In the Fairhaven family, power


    spoke, and those with it made the rules.


    “Mm, good”


    Hamilton nodded in satisfaction, a relieved smile on his face. “Find time soon for me to meet Mr.


    Fairhaven. Now that both families are on board, it won’t do if we, the elders, don’t meet and talk. And if


    possible, let’s pick a good day to hold the engagement ceremony. That’ll truly unite our families.”


    At the mention of “engagement, Jareth was so thrilled he nearly tripped over his feet in his giddiness,


    while Mari nestled by his side, her cheeks blushing and her eyes misting with joy.


    Throughout the discussion, they hadpletely sidelined Frederic, the head of the family!


    In a daze, he was transported thirty years back.


    Back then, his father and his younger brother were like the best of friends, always deep in


    conversation, leaving him feeling like an outsider, his presence barely acknowledged.


    His father truly favored his younger brother.


    Had it not been for his early death, the Abernathy Group might never have been his.


    Hamilton’s timely intervention had practically sealed Jareth and Mari’s union.


    Now, his fiancée was legitimately his to be, and he was over the moon, bounding down the stairs like a


    mischievous boy.


    Frederic had already stormed upstairs, but still mindful of decorum, he sent Glynnis to see the old man


    out.


    Glynnis followed reluctantly, trailing behind the group, her expression as gloomy as a maid’s, not daring


    to step forward.


    Yet the look she cast at Mari was venomous, like a scorpion’s tail flickering with a sting.


    “Glynnis.” Hamilton suddenly stopped.


    “Yes! Grandpa!”


    Glynnis hurried to the old man’s side, hands sped in front of her, the picture of obedience.


    “Glynnis, I know you were led astray by Elspeth’s influence, and you’ve done some foolish things, but


    now she’s gone. You’re young, and I can understand a few missteps, so I’m willing to look past those


    previous matters, Hamilton spoke coolly, not looking at her.


    “Grandpa, it’s not what you think


    “But you know me, I can’t stand even a speck of dirt in my sight. Now that the snaky woman in the


    Abernathy family has been removed, I expect no more trouble at Windermere Estate, no more


    headaches, or eye sores for me, he finally directed his icy gaze at her pale face. “If you behave, you


    remain my granddaughter. If not, don’t me me for being ruthless. I don’t want Elspeth’s toxic legacy


    to linger.”


    Glynnis was trembling inside, struggling to defend herself, “Grandpa! What have I done wrong? I grew


    up at your feet, I’ve been by your side the longest, my devotion is no less than my brothers! Why are


    you saying these things to me?”


    Thaddeus and Evadne watched her coldly, witnessing her spectacle.


    “Do you know one of the ugliest thoughts in this world? Hamilton asked sternly.


    Glynnis looked bewildered.


    “It’s resenting someone else’s happiness, even if that someone is your own sister,”