Chapter 618


    Chapter 618


    “Grandpa, what are you implying? I’m Mari’s own sister, how could I ever harm her? Glynnis


    stammered in defense, a cold sweat breaking out on her back.


    Jareth, ever the blunt one, tightened his embrace around Mari and let out a derisive snort.


    Hamilton’s lips curved in a sardonic smile, “I may be getting on in years, but I’m not senile yet. I know


    full well what’s going on, and so do you. Your sister is about to marry into the prestigious Fairhaven


    family, bing the CEO’s wife. Instead of wasting your energy on futile things, you’d be better off


    toning down that boisterous temperament and let your father find you a respectable match, someone


    he’d be proud to call son–inw.”


    Glynnis‘ eyes zed with fury. Was this old man subtly taunting her for being unmarried?


    Finally, she snapped back, “My affairs need not concern you, Grandpa. Even if I never marry, I’m still


    my father’s daughter, the heiress of the Abernathy Group. Now that mother has passed and Mari is


    getting married, I’ll be helping Dad manage the Windermere Estate.”


    “Why bother yourself with the estate when there are stewards for that?”


    Hamilton, with a piercing gaze half–veiled by hooded eyelids, delivered a cutting remark that felt like an


    execution to Glynnis, “Besides, na is marrying into our Abernathy family. Windermere Estate is my


    private property, and I intend to gift it to the newlyweds as a wedding present.”


    Evadne’s heart skipped a beat as her eyes widened in shock.


    The Windermere Estate as a wedding gift? Grandpa, you’re amazing!


    Thaddeus, however, simply massaged Evadne’s back, his handsome features unruffled. Privately, the


    old man had mentioned this n to him countless times, even suggesting that once he and Evadne


    were married, the Windermere Estate would be their love nest, and Frederic could go find his own


    ce to live.


    It was, after all, Hamilton’s house, and his word wasw.


    “When the timees, my granddaughter–inw will be the sole mistress of Windermere Estate.


    Everyone here will answer to her, and she will have the final say in all matters.”


    As Hamilton spoke, his gaze remained affectionately fixed on Evadne, his fondness for her growing by


    the second, “The rest of you need not worry yourselves with these affairs.”


    Elspeth had strutted around his domain for far too many years. His actions were a challenge to


    Frederic and a warning to Glynnis. Yet, Hamilton was unaware.


    His eldest granddaughter was no stranger to missteps; she was a bad seed from the start-


    A lowly bad seed brought into the Abernathy fold by Elspeth!


    His words would not scare her; they would only fuel the demon within her, igniting her hatred for


    Evadne and Mari even more!


    Once Hamilton and his entourage had left the Windermere Estate, Glynnis dragged her leaden feet up


    the stairs, her body radiating malice so intense that even the passing dogs seemed eager to p some


    sense into her.


    The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, until she couldn’t help but call Edith across the


    ocean.


    “What is it? You’re interrupting my lunch,” Edithined as soon as she answered.


    “When are youing back? If you don’t hurry, that little minx Mari is going topletely steal your


    family’s legacy!”


    Glynnis covered the mouthpiece, her voice both secretive and seething, “Just now, Jareth came to


    propose to my sister, and originally my dad was against it. But then Evadne and Thaddeus showed up


    with Hamilton! With just a few words, Hamilton not only swayed my dad but also sealed their


    engagement! Soon they’ll be betrothed, and not long after that, Jareth is going to knock her up. What


    use will it be for you toe back then? To celebrate as an aunt?”


    There was a sudden silence on the other end.


    “Hello? Are you going to say something?”


    “Don’t worry, the Fairhaven Group isn’t the only one who doesn’t want Mari marrying Jareth. High–


    profile alliances like these may seem strong, but they’re full of vulnerabilities. A single slip can ruin


    everything. Those like Thaddeus and Evadne, who recklessly chase love, are rare in this world. Jareth?


    Please, what a joke,” Edith scoffed openly.


    But even she couldn’t deny one thing:


    The unwavering love between Thaddeus and Evadne was unprecedented and rare in all of


    Elmsworth’s elite circles.


    Glynnis was about to retort when Edith added, “Oh, and by the way, Mr. Bartley’s son came to Aetheria


    to visit me. You must be bored out of your mind with no funeral for your mother to upy you. Why


    don’t you fly over and hang out with me? If you’re strapped for cash, I’ll cover your expenses. You do


    have a private jet, right? If not, I’ll pay for your ticket.”


    Glynnis was ready to explode with humiliation!


    She’d been mocked for being unmarried and now for being penniless. She felt like she could destroy


    the world!


    “Hmph, as if I don’t know that Mr. Bartley is just yourpdog. Why would I fly over to watch you two get


    mushy?”


    “Well, suit yourself then.”


    Glynnis took a moment topose herself and instructed the servants to brew a cup of tea, which she


    then personally delivered to Frederic.


    With only the two of them left to oversee Windermere Estate, especially after Jareth had cruelly


    exposed her dark secrets, wasn’t it wise to seize every opportunity to ingratiate herself?


    Taking a deep breath, Glynnis knocked on the door of the study.


    Dennis opened it, giving her a chilly look, “Miss Glynnis, Mr. Frederic isn’t feeling well and needs to


    rest. Is there something you need?”


    “Ah. I noticed Dad looked unwell, so I went to the kitchen and personally made him some tea.” Glynnis


    blinked innocently.


    “Let her in.”


    Frederic’s deep voice came from within, and Dennis reluctantly stepped aside to let her pass.


    “Dad!”


    Glynnis sashayed into the room, her voice almost dripping with sweetness as she presented the te.


    “I made this for you.”


    “Just put it down,” Frederic replied without looking up, his voice frigid.


    “Dad, don’t be mad. No matter what anyone says, my heart is always with you.”


    Glynnis set the te down and cautiously approached her father. “You saw today, didn’t you? Mari…


    before she’s even married off, she’s acting like she doesn’t belong to us anymore. Can you believe it?


    After all the years you doted on her, the moment she gets a man, she forgets her own dad. It’s just


    heartbreaking.”


    Frederic’s brows furrowed even more, his face stormy as a winter’s night.


    “And let’s not forget how hard you work every single day, ving over thepany, and Grandpa, he


    doesn’t appreciate any of it. How could he embarrass you in front of everyone like that? It’s just so


    cold,” Glynnis went on, smearing her sister’s name while stabbing at her grandfather’s back.


    With Elspeth gone, Frederic was the only solid support she had left in the Abernathy Group.


    Hmph, Hamilton had stopped siding with her, so why not stir the pot and drive a wedge even further


    between father and son? As expected, upon hearing her words, Frederic’s expression darkened.


    Inside, Glynnis felt a surge of triumph, suddenly recalling something Elspeth had mentioned about a rift


    between her father and his brother. Seizing the opportunity to deepen the divide, she added, “Dad,


    what’s Grandpa’s deal, anyway? He can’t still be holding out hope that Uncle Felix, who’s long gone,


    cane back from the grave, can he?”


    Dennis, who had been quietly observing, turned to Glynnis in shock.


    Frederic’s hand on the desk clenched, and he slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers with an icy re that


    sent shivers down her spine.


    “What did you just say?”


    “Dad, I heard that Grandpa always favored your brother over you, barely giving you any attention.


    Content ? N?velDrama.Org 2024.


    You’re the eldest, for goodness‘ sake, by right, you should be the one to inherit the family business. But


    Grandpa seems so discontent with you at the helm. But what can he do about it now? Can he bring


    Uncle Felix back to… Ah!”


    Before Glynnis could finish, Frederic erupted in rage, his arm swinging out to deliver a thunderous p


    across her face!


    The force of it sent Glynnis reeling, her head throbbing and stars dancing before her eyes.


    Frederic, eyes zing with fury, pointed at her swollen, disheveled face. “Whether it’s your grandfather


    or your uncle, they are your elders! Who gave you the right to spout such disrespect? Get out of my


    sight!”


    Dazed, Glynnis clutched her face and stumbled out of the study.


    Frederic, gasping for breath, slumped back into his chair, his face as pale as a sheet, beads of sweat


    dotting his forehead.


    Dennis quickly offered him a cup of tea. “Mr. Frederic, have a sip. Don’t get too worked up; watch your


    health.”


    Frederic reached for the cup, but his hands were shaking too much to hold it steady.


    “Dennis, do you think has he always doubted that incident?”


    Dennis’s pupils contracted.


    He knew Frederic was referring to the tragedy from thirty years ago, when Hamilton’s favorite son died


    of a heart attack in prison. “Of course not, Mr. Frederic. He shouldn’t suspect you.”


    Dennis leaned in close to whisper in his ear despite the privacy of the study. “If Mr. Hamilton had any


    doubts about you, why would he have let you take over the Abernathy Group? Just that fact alone


    proves he never suspected you were involved in that incident.”


    Frederic’s trembling hand pressed against his forehead, his gaze dark and troubled. “But now he’s


    given Thaddeus control over parts of the business I couldn’t manage. Doesn’t that prove he’s always


    held a grudge against me? The heir. He never truly considered me, did he? He chose me only because


    Felix was gone. And now that the next generation has grown up, showing they can push the waves


    ahead, he’s in a hurry to have Thaddeus take over the Abernathy Group, to usurp my position!”


    “You’re overthinking it, Mr. Thaddeus is indeed very capable, that’s why Mr. Hamilton entrusted him


    with such responsibility.”


    Dennis could only continue to soothe him. “Besides, you and he are father and son, bound by blood.


    Once you retire, the Abernathy Group will still be Thaddeus‘; it won’t fall into the hands of outsiders.”


    “Maybe, but Thaddeus has never been on my side because of his mother. Now he’s getting closer to


    the old man, joining forces with Evadne. If I let him gain more control over the Abernathy Group,


    expand his influence, what awaits me is a forced retirement, to be at his mercy!”


    Frederic’s eyes snapped open, revealing a hint of a dark resolve. “Book me a flight to the States. I’m


    missing Chad. It’s time I paid him a visit.”