That day, after Mari managed to escape from Jareth’s arms, she couldn’t sleep a wink when she got home.


    Her elbow was scraped raw from the fall, blood and pus oozing from the wound. The pain was so intense she gritted her teeth to keep from crying out.


    Since she’d snuck out, she didn’t dare tell anyone. She found the first aid kit and patched herself up. Then shey in bed and hugged her teddy bear, tossing and turning all night.


    In her sleepless agony, she thought back on many past events.


    She remembered being forced to eat lunch in the filthy bathroom


    She remembered being hoisted up by boys at Edith’smand and thrown headfirst into a trash bin.


    She remembered the dead rat in her backpack.


    She remembered her favorite book being ripped to shreds by Edith and cast into the wind.


    She remembered the piano in the music room.


    These were nightmares she would never forget in her life.


    Edith, Jareth.


    So, was Jareth her brother? Really?


    Tears streamed down Mari’s frail face. She clutched the nkets tightly, crying silently into the night until dawn.


    Mari might have had some mental issues, but she was not an ignorant little girl.


    Even if Jareth was Edith’s brother, he was still her savior. If it weren’t for his help, she might have died in that car ident.


    So, in the afternoon, Mari sneaked into the kitchen and made a blueberry mousse cake following an online recipe. She nned to ask Thaddeus to help deliver this token of gratitude to Jareth.


    After the cake was done, she put it in the fridge, dusted off her hands with satisfaction, and headed back to her room.


    The moment she pushed open the door, the smile on Mari’s face froze and she recoiled in terror.


    There sat Glynnis, legs crossed, arms folded, smirking at her.


    The sight sent chills down her spine.


    “Well, aren’t you going to greet me?” Glynnis drawled, flicking her freshly manicured nails. “You’re not mute, are you? You are just a little slow” “Glynnis “Mari muttered in reply.


    “How about I take you out tonight?” Glynnis suddenly shed her a smile.


    “No need. I won’t be fun. I’ll just be a bore.” Mari replied cautiously, head bowed.


    “Sure you don’t want toe? Well,”


    Glynnis stood up slowly, her eyes filled with mockery. “I was just looking for an opportunity for us to bond. But if you’re not up for it, I won’t force you”


    Then she sauntered out the door.


    Mari let out a long sigh and entered her room.


    Suddenly, she bolted to her bed and turned over her neatly arranged pillows and nkets.


    Her precious teddy bear, a gift from Evadne, was nowhere to be found!


    “My bear, my teddy bear. Glynnis!”


    Mari knew that her sister would never set foot in her room unless she had bad intentions!


    That meant Glynnis must have taken the bear!


    Sweat soaked her clothes ar she stumbled out the door and hurried downstairs.


    Outside the vi, Glynns sat elegantly in the car, the butler closing the door behind her.


    “Give it back! Give me back my teddy bear!” Mari shouted as she ran


    Glynnis lowered the car window, stuck her tongue out at her sweaty sister in a teasing manner, and then waved the teddy bear


    “Drive”


    The roar of the car’s engine filled the air as it sped past Mari, disappearing in a sh.


    “Glynnis! Give it back, give me back my bear!”


    Mari cried out, but it was in vain


    At that moment, she was like a heartbroken mother, watching helplessly as her child was taken away by a viin. Even the butter on the side couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.


    “Get me a car!” Mari ordered, her eyes red.


    It was the first time she’d ever acted like a truedy of the Abernathy family, issuing orders.


    “But, Ms. Mari, Ms. Glynnis doesn’t allow you to go out at will.”


    12 1


    Tm an Abernathy’ I’m Frederic’s daughter! Why can Glynnis boss you around but I can’t? Now go!”


    The butler turned pale and left to prepare the car.


    Night fell, and the city lights came on.


    In the most luxurious private room of Sapphire Nights Club, Edith was drinking and smoking with a few rich kids from Elmsworth. Herdylike demeanor waspletely gone, and she looked more like a seasoned gang leader.


    She’d gone to study abroad in Aetheria right after middle school graduation, so she didn’t have many friends left in Elmsworth.


    These guys and dolls were all from her middle school clique, each one of them had bullied Mari under her instigation.


    “I wonder how Mari’s doing now. I haven’t seen her since graduation. For an Abernathy, she’s pretty low-key”


    “I heard from my mom that Mari’s got mental issues. That’s why Elspeth doesn’t let her out much.”


    “Seriously?! No wonder she seemed so weird in middle school. Turns out she really is crazy!”


    “Hey, hey, that’s not nice.”


    Edith took a deep drag from her cigarette, exhaling a smoke ring. “I think she’s autistic.”


    “Oh, so she’s still nuts. Funny!”


    Everyone burst intoughter.


    Edith listened to the mockingughter, a smug smile tugging at her l*ps.


    Just then, the door to the private room opened.


    Glynnis walked in, led by a waiter.


    The sight of an Abernathy silenced the room instantly, everyone looking at each other in confusion.


    It’s okay,ugh, Glynnis is one of us.”


    Edithzily waved her hand, and someone immediately brought an ashtray over for her.


    Seeing this scene, Glynnis was stunned!


    She thought she had seen the height of Acacia’s hypocrisy, but who knew Edith could act just as innocent and sweet.


    She had no idea what Mr. Jareth would think if he saw his usually elegant and noble sister looking like this.


    Would he be scared out of his wits?


    “Glynnis? Didn’t you bring Mari with you today?”


    Edith looked a bit peeved seeing Glynnis alone. “Ah, looks like tonight’s fun is gonna be cut short


    “My sister, I tell ya, she’s be more and more of a brat as she grows up.


    Glynnis made a helpless face, sighed, and thenughed teasingly. She waved a teddy bear in front of Edith. “But don’t you worry, Edith. With this, Mari will definitely show up tonight.”


    “Really? Glynnis, are you ying a new game tonight?” Edith raised an eyebrow.


    “You’ll see.”


    Not long after Glynnis entered the Sapphire Nights Club, Mari’s car pulled up right behind her.


    Looking at the bustling scene at the entrance of the bar, the constant stream of traffic, and the hustle and bustle, Mari suddenly felt extremely scared. Her l*ps trembled slightly, and her face became even paler.


    She quickly got back in the car and dialed Glynnis on her phone.


    “What’s up, Mari?”


    The noise on the other end of the phone was very loud, but Mari still heard the malice in her voice.


    “Give me back my teddy bear” Mari’s voice was shaky, her face flushed with anger.


    “You mean that d*rty ugly toy? I hid it.”


    “You hid it? Where did you hide it?”


    Mari was extremely anxious, her eyes filled with tears.


    “I hid it in the Sapphire Nights Club. Hey, if I told you, it wouldn’t be hiding anymore, would it?”


    Glynnis’s voice was full of malice, “Mari, I never yed with you growing up. Let’s y a game tonight. Hurry up and look for it. Otherwise, your teddy bear will feel so lonely in the corner!”


    Mari’s eyes were burning with rage. Glynnis’sughter was full of malice, making her skin crawl, and she couldn’t stop shaking


    The hatred in her heart had never been so intense, not even when she was insulted and tormented.


    Tears filled Mari’s eyes. She gritted her teeth, gathered her courage, and stormed into the Sapphire Nights Club.