Chapter 769


    Aaron’s brow furrowed tighter, his gaze growing icier by the second,


    “So you’re telling me to back off?”


    Jareth’s throat felt parched, and just as his lips parted to speak, Aaron cut in, “Ever since I found out


    you two were head over heels for each other, I’ve kept myself on the sidelines. Hell, I even avoided


    Mari to keep you from getting the wrong idea, despite how much I cared for her. Jareth, the ball’s


    always been in your court, whether it was your issues or your family’s. Now that you’ve split up, why


    can’t I have my shot?”


    A piercing retortnded squarely in Jareth’s chest, leaving him stunned and speechless.


    “You two are over. There’s nothing wrong with me pursuing Mari now. If you still love her, then go


    ahead, spill your guts to her. We can have an honestpetition. You can try to reignite whatever you


    had, and I won’t interfere. But here you are, asking me to step aside and hand you the opportunity. Mr.


    Fairhaven, don’t you think that’s a bit overbearing?”


    Aaron’s voice was edged with an unweing chill, each word deliberate, “Your feelings for Mari are


    genuine, but aren’t mine just as real? You’d die for her, and you think I wouldn’t? What’s the point in


    saying all this to a rival, other than to pat yourself on the back?”


    Guilt, self–reproach, and resentment, a multitude of emotions tore through Jareth’s weary soul.


    That time, on the art school’s rooftop, if it hadn’t been for Aaron’s shrewd negotiation skills and swift


    reflexes saving Mari from the clutches of a thug, Jareth might have lost his love forever.


    “Can I see Mari?”


    Jareth’s eyes were red rimmed, his plea desperate and humble, “I swear, I won’t interfere with you two,


    I won’t fight orpete anymore. Just let me see her, okay?”


    “If there’s nothing else, I have work to get back to.”


    Aaron didn’t look at him again, expressionlessly opening the car door.


    Jareth sat there, his spirit drained, as Aaron paused with half his body out of the car, dropping a heavy


    decision with a casual remark,


    “Yesterday, I made ns with Mari to take her to the amusement park this weekend, have some fun,


    watch the fireworks.”


    Then, he got out of the car with agile movements.


    It took Jareth a long while to regain hisposure, until Aaron’smanding figure vanished through


    the precinct doors. His pale lips muttered a faint,


    “Thank you.


    Fast forward to Friday.


    Gary was discharged from the hospital, and because Barry insisted on him going abroad for


    “recuperation“, he couldn’t stay in any longer even if he/wanted to.


    As he walked into his home, he was greeted by chaos. The servants rushed to him, iming that Mrs.


    Fairhaven hade in the morning with a crew, taking all valuables and smashing anything they


    couldn’t carry. The damage was estimated in the millions.


    After Gary’s divorce, this ce was like being robbed.


    Everyone expected Gary, known for his love of money, to erupt in rage.


    Instead, he merely acknowledged them with a detached “I know,” and left them hanging as he


    ascended the


    stairs


    Chapter 769)


    However, this abnormal calm was even more chilling.


    Gary had just entered the barren room when April’s call came through,


    “Mr. Fairhaven, you’re out of the hospital, about to emigrate and live out your years infort. Isn’t it


    time to hurry up with the divorce proceedings?”


    April’s voice dripped with sarcasm, her words prodding at his pride, “Dragging your feet serves no


    purpose. The longer you wait, the looser my lips get. If I let slip some unsavory details, won’t that just


    worsen your predicament?”


    Gary pulled a fruit knife from the coffee table and emotionlessly began carving letters into the


    expensive mahogany, “April, I used to be your husband anyway. I’ve never skimped on taking care of


    you since you married into the Fairhaven family. I didn’t want it toe to this, and I still have feelings


    for you. Can we renegotiate the divorce settlement? You’re practically cleaning me out. At the end of


    the day, I’m still the Fairhaven family’s second son. You gotta leave me some dignity.”


    “Dignity? You’re a cripple now, with no shares, no power, barely clinging to life. What use do you have


    for such a luxury as dignity?”


    April’s voice was full of scorn and resentment, “All these years, I’ve been Mrs. Fairhaven in name only,


    while you never gave me a second nce, gallivanting around with your wild parties as if I were


    nothing but a decoration! That I could tolerate, but you hid your infertility from me, pinning the me on


    me for not having. kids, making me the butt of jokes among the Elmsworth elite, the hen that can’ty


    eggs! Gary, do you think 1 would have married you if not for your Fairhaven family name? Stripped of


    the Fairhaven Group’s halo, you’re less than a beggar on the street. I’ve waited long for this day!


    Tomorrow morning is your final deadline. If you don’t sign, I’ll go straight to Barry myself. Don’t push me


    to say something you won’t like to hear!”


    The call ended.


    The room was as silent as a grave.


    With an impassive face, Gary set down the knife and dialed his trusted associate Jackson,


    “Tonight, bring the gear. Before we leave, we’ll see Barry onest time. Thest time in this life.” With


    that, he rose and left the room, leaving behind the twisted, carved word “dead” on the coffee table.


    The Fairhaven family.


    In the still of the night, Barry was in his study with his secretary, sorting through his assets and shares.


    “Mr. Fairhaven, are you truly resolved to transfer all this to Mr. Fairhaven?”


    The secretary looked incredulously across the polished mahogany desk, double–checking his boss‘


    intent. “Once you hand these over to Mr. Fairhaven, you’re essentially putting the entire Fairhaven


    Group into his -hands.”


    Barry picked up his pen, a hint of resignation in his eyes. “I’m well aware. Why else would I have you


    draft up the paperwork?”


    “Mr. Fairhaven, the Fairhaven Group is your life’s work. Without you, it wouldn’t exist. Are you truly


    ready to let gopletely?”


    Barry chuckled dryly, a bitter edge to hisughter as he shook his head. I’m knocking on death’s door.


    What use is a business empire to me? You can’t take it with you.”


    His face grew somber as he recounted recent events, “Ever since Jareth came storming in, making


    threats, andnded Gary in the hospital, I’ve seen the light. If I cling to power, I’ll only plunge the


    company into deeper chaos. It could drive Jareth to do something drastic. Deep down, I’ve always


    known he’s got the makings of a leader. He inherited Kris‘ sharp intellect, keeps his wits about him


    despite his wild ways, and he’s got the likes of Thaddeus as a friend. That boy’s path is only going to


    broaden from here. I was too harsh, using his uncle as leverage against him, stubbornly standing in the


    way of his marriage to the Abernathy girl. It all spiraled out of control. If only I had stepped down


    sooner, handed the reins over to Jareth. He was always my chosen


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    Chapter 769


    sessor. But here I am, an old man, riddled with doubts, nothing like the decisive leader I once was.”


    The secretary rushed to console him. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Without your guidance, Mr.


    Fairhaven wouldn’t have thrived all these years. Your strict approach was to shape him into a capable


    man.”


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    With a heavy sigh, Barry signed the transfer documents and pressed his seal onto the parchment. He


    called in his long–time attorney, handed over the paperwork, and instructed him to wait until the dust


    settled before passing them on to Jareth..


    His phone rang just then.


    He saw it was Gary calling. Barry didn’t want to pick up, but considering he was about to leave


    Elmsworth for good, he believed in tying up loose ends. Reluctantly, he answered.


    “Gary, haven’t you left the country yet?”


    “Dad, you sure seem eager to get rid of me.” Gary’s voice wasced with a mocking amusement.


    Barry’s brows furrowed. “What do you want at thiste hour?”


    “I heard you’re packing up, nning to leave Elmsworth?”


    “That’s right. Jareth’s taking over the Fairhaven Group, and the chaos is under control. It’s time I


    retired.”


    “You’re leaving, I’m leaving. This goodbye might be for good. I suppose you don’t want to see your silly


    son anymore,” Gary said with a self–deprecating sigh.


    Barry frowned. “A father and son don’t carry grudges overnight. Don’t overthink it.”


    “Dad, I’m at the vi you bought for Mom.”


    Gary’s tone suddenly softened, filled with sadness. You built this empire, and Mom was your loyal


    partner. You always looked so in love. Now that you’re leaving, don’t you want to take something of


    hers with you, to keep her memory close? I’d also like to see you one more time. If you still consider


    me your son, we should part on proper terms.”


    After a moment’s contemtion and a gravelly voice, Barry agreed, “Alright, I’lle by shortly.”


    “I’ll be here, waiting for you.”


    No sooner had Barry and his secretary left than April stormed in. She’d been waiting for Gary all day,


    calls unanswered, driving her to confront Gary directly and pin more me on him.


    “What? Gary left? Where to?” April demanded, grabbing the butler by the arm.


    The butler, taken aback, stuttered, “He’s headed to the Fairhaven family estate.”


    April spun on her heel and exited in a hurry.


    Barry wouldn’t go to the family estate without good reason; Gary had to be there.


    Tonight,e hell or high water, she was determined to get Gary’s signature on those divorce papers.


    She could wait, but her young lover couldn’t.