<b>Chapter </b>290


    The usually stoic Lily couldn’t help but chuckle, covering her mouth with <b>her </b>hand.


    She thought, “Poor Mr. Jareth, he’s pulling out all the stops for Ms. Mari. His usual charm doesn’t seem to work on her, so he’s trying a different approach, often with hrious results.”


    Mari wasn’t trying to show off. She just saw Jareth struggling to hold the bowl and spoon and thought he looked tired. So, she leaned forward, opened her little pink mouth, and took the spoon into her mouth.


    Seeing her eat the food he served, Jareth twinkled his narrowed eyes with affection and he couldn’t help but smile.


    She ate too quickly and started to cough.


    “Slow down, even if you’re hungry, you should eat slowly.”


    Jareth gently patted Mari’s back. He suddenly noticed a trickle of white liquid at the corner of her mouth. His dark eyes narrowed and his handsome face flushed crimson.


    It was oatmeal.


    How long has it been since he’s indulged himself? Why was it that even seeing oatmeal made him fantasize?


    “Jareth, the oatmeal is delicious, I want more, Mari said in a soft voice, noticing the man seemed lost in thought.


    “Sure,” Jareth answered, his voice husky.


    At that moment, the hospital room door was pushed open.


    “Jareth! You’ve got some nerve!”


    Mari was startled and, in her panic, she threw herself into Jareth’s arms!


    ”


    ”


    Her slender arms held him tightly, making him acutely aware of his importance to the young girl.


    “Don’t be scared, it’s just your sister–inw and your brothering to pick you up,” Jareth whispered soothingly into her ear,


    At that moment, the Abernathys burst into the room.


    Seeing the intimate scene, they froze in shock!.


    “Jareth! Don’t you darey a hand on Mari!” Evadne was rmed to see Mari curled up in Jareth’s arms, her heart pounding. “Huh?<b>” </b>


    Jareth <b>hadn’t </b>done anything, but Evadne’s outburstpelled him to hold Mari tighter.


    Evadne exhaled deeply<b>, </b>feeling a bit overwhelmed.


    A whole night.


    Did Jareth really leave that adorable girl untouched? Even if he wasn’t coveting her, would he stay unmoved?


    Believing Jareth would be a gentleman was ridiculous!


    Thaddeus‘ face was also stern. He coldly asked, “What happened? Why is Mari in the hospital?”


    “Mari, what happened to your ear?”


    Evadne, with her sharp eyes, was the first to notice the bandage on Mari’s left ear. She quickly rushed to her side and confronted Jareth, “What’s going on? What happened to Mari?”


    Thaddeus also joined her, his heart aching.


    Jareth felt that the couple’s concern for him was a bit excessive.


    Was Mari their sister or their golden goose?


    “Mari just had surgery. I’ll exin everythingter,” Jareth said, his voice low as he stroked Mari’s trembling back.


    Evadne felt there was more to the story, but she refrained from pressing further. Instead, she announced, “Grandpa wants to take Mari back to the Abernathy mansion in Havenbrook. From now on, she’ll live with him.”


    “Really? That’s great! Mari finally escaped from that dangerous ce!”


    Mari didn’t say anything, but Jareth was overjoyed.


    1


    Thaddeus didn’t respond, but he was carefully observing Mari’s anxious expression. Suddenly, he realized something. His l*ps pressed into a thin line.


    “I won’t go! I won’t go! I want to stay with Jareth!” Mari suddenly shouted.


    Everyone was taken aback!


    Especially Jareth, who was staring at the teary–eyed girl in his arms. His throat tightened and he had a sudden thought: He wanted to take her home.


    So much.


    ‘Mari, you want to stay with him?” Evadne was speechless.


    Mari buried her face in Jareth’s warm chest. Her trembling breath brushed against his shirt and his heart, “I want to go home with you.”


    After Mari’s insistence, Evadne and Thaddeus had no choice but to agree.


    Thaddeus called Jareth out and they went to the hospital’s smoking area.


    <b>“</b>Jareth, what happened to Mari’s ear?” He took out two cigarettes, stuck one in his mouth, and gave the other to Jareth.


    “What happened?”


    Jareth’s hawk–like eyes shed with anger, “Isn’t it because of your spoiled sister Glynnis?<b>” </b>


    “She’s not my sister. I only have Mari as a sister.”


    Just hearing Glynnis’s name made Thaddeus pissed. His voice was cold, “Did Glynnis hurt Mari?”


    Jareth was so angry he almost crushed the cigarette in his hand, “Thad, if I retaliate against Glynnis, would you stop me because of your loyalty to the Abernathy family?”


    Thaddeus lit his cigarette, took a deep inhale, and replied without hesitation, “Whatever you told me today, I’ll pretend I never heard.”


    His stance couldn’t be any clearer.


    “Heh, thanks, bro,” Jareth said, a wicked smile ying on his l*ps as he pped Thaddeus on the shoulder.


    “Teach her a lesson, but don’t kill her. I’m thinking about your future.”


    Thaddeus gave him a meaningful look, “If you really have feelings for Mari, if you’re serious about a future with her. First, you need to cut ties with all those other women and cleanse yourself. Second, stop the violence. You’re a Fairhaven, not a mobster. I’m notfortable with Mari being around you in your current state.” “Thad, I only see Mari as my sister. There’s nothing more,” Jareth quickly exined, a pang of regret in his heart.


    His eyes sparkled, and the slight tremble of his fingers clutching the cigarette betrayed his feelings.


    Thaddeus studied him with a deep gaze before speaking in a casual tone, “Don’t let the animosity between Elspeth and myself affect you. Mari might be her daughter, but I’ve never held any prejudices against her. She’s a good girl, and I hope she finds happiness.”


    “Thad.” Jareth’s voice choked, a wave of bitter emotions washing over him.


    “Even though you’re not exactly an ideal catch, with your truckload of bad habits, I see sincerity in you when ites to Mari,” Thaddeus said, releasing a smoke ring into the air. His tone was reminiscent of a wise old man. “Therefore, I’m willing to give you a chance to pursue Mari.


    9


    What kind of attitude was that?


    “Are you going to smoke that or not<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    It felt as if he was being lectured by a future father–inw!


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    Thaddeus reached out to snatch the cigarette from his hand, <b>“</b>If you’re not going to smoke it, give it back. It’s myst one.”


    “I’ll take it.”


    Jareth hastily ced the cigarette back between his l*ps and frowned, “Since when did you be so stingy? You’re worth billions, and you can’t even spare a cigarette. No wonder you only have me as a friend!”


    “I’m gradually quitting. I only smoke half a pack a day now.”


    “Why? Are you turning thirty and thinking about your health? You should start adding ginseng to your wine then.”


    “It’s because of Evadne.”


    -Thaddeus gaze softened as he thought of his loved one, “She hates it when I smoke. I know quitting is hard, but I want to try for her.”


    <b>“</b>Back then she hated Acacia too. Why didn’t you get rid of Acacia?” Jareth found Thaddeus‘ efforts to quit smoking for a woman’ridiculous, so he couldn’t resist poking fun.


    “I know I’m no saint, you don’t need to keep reminding me how horrible I used to be.”


    Thaddeus‘ expression turned somber as he crushed the half–smoked cigarette in the ashtray, “But my heart is set, and I can’t turn back. In this lifetime, I only want Evadne and no one else. I’m tied to her.”


    Mari had slept till evening.


    When she woke up, Jareth had already prepared dinner for her.”


    ”


    ”


    “Mari, were you serious when you said you wanted toe home with me?” Jareth asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, his tone teasing,


    Mari pursed her l*ps, nodded, and then shook her head..


    She curled up in her oversized hospital gown, hugging her legs to her chest. Her delicate feet were bare, exuding an innocent S**iness.


    Jareth’s gaze unintentionallynded on her feet, and a wave of heat surged in his eyes, making his breath hitch.


    “I want to live with my grandfather, but I want to wait until I’m better before I go to him.”


    Mari’s eyes were slightly moist, “I don’t want to worry him.”


    “I understand<b>.” </b>


    Jareth gently ced his hand on her head, stroking her soft hair. Then his eyes narrowed mischievously, “But Mari, do you really trust me that much? Do you know me well? Do you know how bad my reputation is? Are you not afraid that you’re jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire?”


    Mari slowly lifted her eyes, clear and bright, “I don’t care what others say. In my eyes, Jareth, you’re a good person. A really good person. Like Thaddeus.” Jareth’s heart pounded fiercely at her words. His breath trembled, and his fingers yed with her hair, slowly moving down to rest on the back of her n*eck. Seeing Jareth silent, Mari nervously asked, “Jareth, did I cause you <i>any </i>trouble? Do you not want to take me with you?”


    Mari’s eyes were full of confusion.


    She was just expressing her thoughts in the simplest way,pletely unaware of what it meant in the adult world to voluntarily go home with a man. Suddenly, a sweet andforting scent enveloped him.


    Jareth’s breath hitched, his mind nearly nk.


    Mani’s delicate slender arms suddenly wrapped around his n*eck.


    The next second, Mari’s beautiful face filled his view, her soft l*ps covering his in surprise.


    Jareth stiffened, his heart racing as he barely managed to pull away from the k*ss.


    Mari closed her eyes, recalling the feeling of their first k*ss. Like a child imitating an adult, she gradually pried open his l*ps with her moist tongue.


    A current ran through Jareth, making him shudder. He pulled away abruptly, panting heavily, his eyes red as they bore into her, “Mari, what are you doing?” Mari looked at him earnestly, without a hint of cunning. “Don’t you like this, Jareth? I want to repay you.”


    “Repay?” Jareth waspletely thrown off bnce.


    “I won’t take your kindness for granted. You like this, don’t you? I’m not good at it, but I can learn.”


    Jareth was in utter chaos, his blood boiling, his Adam’s apple bobbing.


    “Mari, do you know how dangerous you are to a normal man right now?”


    “Dangerous?” Mari looked at him innocently, his lust–filled eyes staring back at her.


    Jareth slowly leaned in, his eyes burning as he captured her soft l*ps in a deep k*ss.


    Man’s shoulders trembled as she felt his hot hand grip her slender waist.


    And then she watched as Jareth leaned over, cherishing her like a precious gem, as he gentlyid her down on the pristine white sheets.