<b>Chapter </b><b>303 </b>
Outside the vi.
Evadne got into Jareth’s luxury car.
“Evadne<b>, </b><b>it’s </b>rare that <b>you’d </b>want to spend time alone with me.”
Jareth’s eyes, always carrying a flirtatious allure, were filled with mirth as he looked at the beauty beside him. “I’m feeling <b>on </b><b>top </b>of the world right now, but I’m afraid Thad would blow a fuse if he knew we were having a private chat here. He’s still unwell, you know.”
“If it wasn’t for Mari, do you think I’d want to share the same air with you?”
Evadne crossed her shapely legs, folded her arms, and spoke <b>in </b><b>a </b>voice as cold as ice, “So, Mr. Jareth, have you had too much of the rich and decadent, and now <b>you’ve set </b>your sights on that innocent little girl, Mari?”
Hearing Mari’s name, Jareth felt a shiver of anticipation, a tingling sensation spreading throughout his b*dy. His <b>voice </b>trembled slightly, “Evadne, you know what happened between me and Mari.”
“About you and Mari? Hm, I don’t understand.” Evadne’s rose–colored l*ps curled in cold sarcasm.
“Evadne, there’s no point in hiding anything now.”
Jareth took a deep breath, his heart pounding. He began to speak, each word heavy with sincerity, “<b>I’ve </b>fallen for Mari. I want to be with her.”
<b>“</b>Is she the how many girls you’ve fallen for this year?” Evadne’s scornful smile deepened, her disdain for him evident.
<b>“</b>She’s the one I love the most!<b>” </b>
“The one you love the most among all those you ‘love‘?”
“Evadne! I’m serious about Mari!”
Jareth’s handsome <b>face </b>reddened with urgency. He turned to look at her, his gaze intense, <b>“</b>I admit that I used to be quite <b>a </b>yboy, and I’ve been with quite a few women. But it’s always been about taking what we need from each other. Once that’s done, we part ways. I’ve never truly cared about any of them. But Mari is different. I’m in love. Evadne, every cell in my b*dy is in love <b>with </b>her!”
“So, you’ve extended your ws towards your best friend’s sister.“.
Evadne found his wordsughable. “And Mari is a type you’ve never encountered before. You must find <b>it </b>especially exciting. Men always love a challenge and always crave novelty. Once you’ve had your fill of Mari, you’ll despise <b>her </b>more than any woman. Once the novelty wears off and she <b>can’t </b>satisfy your vanity like a regr girl, Mari will be a discarded rag.”
“A rag? I can’t wait to cherish her every moment! She’s the apple of my eye! Evadne, don’t you have any faith <b>in </b><b>me</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>Jareth’s voice cracked with frustration.
“I’d sooner believe a pig could climb a tree than believe you’d settle down.” Evadne rolled her eyes.
“Damn, why can’t a yboy settle down? Even a thousand–year–old tortoise needs toe ashore!”
Jareth’s expression was serious, his eyes filled with burning intensity. “Evadne<b>, </b>I know you care about Mari as <b>if </b>she were your own sister. But please believe me, I swear on my life. I love Mari, more sincerely than I’ve ever loved anyone<b>. </b><b>I </b>want to be with her, to have a <b>future </b>with her<b>!</b><b>” </b>
“Alright, then I have a question for you.”
Evadne suddenly stopped mocking him and asked in a very serious tone “If your family members oppose your rtionship with Mari, and vows to disinherit you from the Fairhaven Group <b>if </b>you marry Mari and <b>you </b>will lose everything from the Fairhaven Group. <b>Your </b>mother will disown you and your family will never know peace because of this. Would you still choose to be with Mari? Would you<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Jareth’s eyes were bloodshot, his fists clenched tight. “Perhaps I can’t have the whole Fairhaven Group right now, and maybe the risks you mentioned do exist. But I’ve made up my mind about Mari. I will do everything I can to protect her, and I won’t let anyone bully her, including the people from the Abernathy Group!”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Evadne’s l*ps curled in <b>a </b>cold smile, disappointment in her eyes. “The only way you can protect her is to marry her, <b>to </b>make her your legitimate wife. Otherwise<b>, </b><b>your </b>so–called protection is, in some ways, harming her!”
Marry her!
Evadne’s words echoed in Jareth’s mind, his jawline tightened<b>, </b>and he was caught off guard.
Seeing his stunned silence, Evadneughed, “When you boldly dered you wanted to marry me, you were full of courage. Now, when I ask if you would dare to marry Mari, why are you speechless? <b>Or</b><b>, </b><b>in </b>your eyes, Mr. Jareth, the least significant miss in the Abernathy family, Mari, is not worth bringing home as <b>your </b>wife. Her greatest value is to be your secret treasure, your hidden canary<b>, </b><b>right</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
“Evadne!<b>” </b>Jareth’s chest roiled with anger, his face red. This was the first time he had ever had a heated argument with Evadne.
He finally understood why Thaddeus had vomited blood.
Was it because she had infuriated him?
“Enough, there’s no point in arguing. I respect all true love, but I don’t want Mari to suffer because of you.”
Evadne thought of her little sister who had suffered so much <b>in </b>the Abernathy family, her eyes misting over, “She’s already having a hard time. I don’t want to make things worse for her Jareth, your world is tooplicated for Mari. It might be too much for her to bear. Think about what I’ve said.”
After arranging for Thaddeus to be admitted to the hospital, Jareth returned home, exhausted.
Home
That was what he now called the vi where he and Mari spent their private moments.
While he had a mother and a sister, ever since his father passed <b>away</b><b>, </b>his mother had be gloomy and often went abroad <b>for treatments</b>. His sister studied abroad. The grand Fairhaven mansion was always quiet and lonely, without <b>a </b><b>trace </b><b>of </b><b>joy</b>.
His few days with Mari had made him feelfortable, rxed, and warm.
He even greedily wished that these days couldst forever.
“How’s Mari?” Jareth asked as soon as he saw Lily upon <b>entering</b>.
Lily frowned with concern and sighed, “Ms. Glynnis is in the room. I’ve been trying to put her to sleep, but she seems to be greatly shocked and <b>can’t </b><b>sleep </b>at all. It’s heartbreaking <b>to </b>see<b>” </b>
<b>16.29 </b>
Upon hearing this, Jareth felt a lump in his throat filled with guilt. He slowly ascended the stairs<b>, </b>“I’ll go and sit with her.”
“Mr. Jareth, what are you nning to do about Miss Edith<b>?</b><b>” </b>Lily hesitated for a moment before asking.
‘Lily, do you ever think I’m utterly ineffective?” Jareth asked, his back towards her, his voice heavy.
Lily was taken aback.
She had been by Mr. Jareth’s side for ten years, and he was always willful, nobly proud. But he had never shown thisck of confidence, this destion.
“<b>Mr. </b><b>Jareth</b>, in my heart, you’ve always been a godlike figure. Why would you say such a thing?”
“But I can’t manage my own sister, and I’ve let Mari suffer. Tell what to do, Lily, honestly, I don’t know what to do.<b>” </b>
Jareth thought of the ferocious look on Edith’s face when she bullied Mari, and a sense of heartbreaking defeat surged in his chest. “At most, I can send Edith back to Aetheria, but will that solve the problem?”
“Mr. Jareth, take it slow. As long as you don’t give up on Ms. Glynnis, even if Miss Edith doesn’t like it, she’ll eventually ept the reality.”
Jareth arrived at the door of the room, collected himself, and pushed the door open.
“Mari<b>? </b>I’m back.”
The quiet bedroom was only lit by a single bedsidemp.
Mari sat alone on the bed, her b*dy curled up, her head buried in her knees, unmoving.
Jareth took off his ck fur <b>coat </b>and put it on the sofa, afraid of making her cold. He then gently walked to the bed and sat down.
Mari<b>, </b>does it still hurt?<b>” </b>Hisrge hand covered her head, gently stroking her soft hair.
The girl shook her head slightly.
“Then, shall we go to sleep<b>?</b><b>” </b>Jareth asked in a particrly carefree manner.
After asking, he began to regret it.
Damn, it seemed like all he thought about was sleeping with her! He clearly didn’t mean it that way!
<b>“</b>I am not sleepy.”
Mari finally spoke weakly, “I want to be alone for a while.”
“Then<b>, </b>I’ll sit with you.”
Jareth’s hand slid down, caressing her warm n*eck with <b>a </b>tenderness that was nearly overflowing from his eyes. <b>“</b>If you don’t sleep<b>, </b>I won’t sleep. If you find me annoying, I’ll keep quiet and just sit here with you. What if you get thirsty or hungryter? You should always have a handy little servant by your side to pour tea and water for you, right?” “What if <b>I </b><b>don’t </b>sleep all night?”
“I’ll stay with you all night.”
“You don’t have to. You should go to sleep.” Mari didn’t raise her head, her soft voice was urging him.
A bitter taste welled up from Jareth’s heart, his breath hitched. “Alright, if you don’t want me here, I’ll leave.”
As he said <b>this </b>and moved to leave, Mari suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm, her grip tightening and her breathing bing heavier.
<b>“</b>Mari?” Jareth’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Don’t go. Jareth, don’t leave!”
Mari slowly lifted her head, her trembling l*ps and cute little face were all tear–streaked, <b>“</b>I lied. I was <b>wrong</b>. I want you to stay with me, Jareth, I want you by my side!”
Jareth’s throat was filled with a sour bitterness<b>, </b>he gently wiped away her tears, “I’m not going anywhere, <b>I </b>was just teasing you.”
Mari knelt on the bed, looking at him with tears in her eyes, like a pitiful yet enticing little kitten.
“Jareth, hold me.”
Jareth’s eyes turned red, he could no longer suppress the love that was about to burst from him<b>. </b>He forcefully pulled her soft b*dy into his arms.
He took a deep breath and held her tightly.
<b>“</b>I’m holding you.”
“Tighter.”
<b>‘</b>Mm. Jareth’s jaw rested on her n*eck, his thin l*ps brushing against her reddened earlobe.
“Can <b>you </b>hold me even tighter?<b>” </b>
“Alright.”
Jareth tightened his arms once again, hisrge hand patting her trembling back, “I wish I could embed you into my b*dy, Mari, I really do.”
Under the light, the two figures held each other tightly, as <b>if </b>they were part of each other.
After holding each other for a while, Mari finally became sleepy.
Jareth climbed into the bed, and theyy together, as natural as a newlywed couple deeply in love.
Mari rested her head on the man’s sturdy arm, her small face buried in his chest. After sobbing a few times, she closed her eyes.
<b>“</b>Mari, can I ask you a question?<b>” </b>Jareth held her shoulders, gently stroking her arm.
“Mm, okay<b>.</b>”
“Do you <b>like </b>me?” The moment Jareth asked, his heart pounded loudly.
‘Mm, of course I do”
“Not that kind <b>of </b>like, the other kind.”
<b>Jareth </b>coughed lightly, his cheeks slightly hot, “Like<b>, </b>the way you feel about Thaddeus and your sister–inw.” Mari’s clear eyes flickered, her small hand grasping the delicate button on his ck shirt and ying <b>with </b><b>it</b>.
16-20
“I don’t know.”
Jareth sighed quietly, a bitter smile on his face<b>, </b>“Alright, let’s go to sleep.”
“But, I like being with you. When you are out, I can’t do anything well, I just worry about you, waiting for you toe back Being with you, every day seems so short, seeing you makes me so happy.” Mari spoke softly, her eyes half–closed.
Jareth’s breathing became heavy, his palm holding her shoulder was sweaty.
“One day, you came backte, came into the room to see me, I pretended to be asleep, but I was awake the entire time.”
When Jareth heard this, his heart tightened.
That night, he had gone out with Lily to deal with two people in the group who had always been against him, his uncle’s followers.
All he left for her was a cheerful and passionate image.
His darkness, cruelty, and ruthlessness, he would never let her see.
Mari pursed her l*ps, “That day, you had a heavy smell of blood on you and there was a wound on your hand. When you touched <i>my </i>forehead, I could feel it.” With that, she took his hand, pulling off his leather glove.
Though the wounds on his knuckles and fingertips had scabbed over, the scars remained.
“Jareth, I’m scared that you’re doing dangerous things out there. I’m scared something dangerous will happen to you. I’m so scared.”
Mari’s heart clenched painfully as she gently k*ssed his wounds, “I don’t understand, I don’t know, is this what you mean by “like“?”
Jareth’s heart pounded violently, unable to contain his feelings any longer, he fl*pped Mari underneath him.
“Mmm.” Mari let out a soft sound, but she wasn’t overly rmed.
In her twenty–two years of life, she had never been close to any man.
Jareth was her first man, and she was gradually epting him. It seemed that he was <b>the </b>only one she could ept.
“Mari, don’t tease me. I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself.”
Jareth gazed down at the blushing girl beneath him, her skin as tender as a peach blossom. His eyes were filled with desire, his breath hot and ragged, barely concealing his need to possess her entirely.
“Jareth, are you going to k*ss me?”
Mari wrapped her arms obediently around his n*eck, her l*ps slightly puckered, “I’m ready!”
“No.”
Jareth’s eyes glowed red, the heat in his lower abdomen stirring, “It might be more intimate than a k*ss. The kind of intimacy that turns you from a girl into a woman.”
Thest time in the hospital, he had k*ssed her <b>for </b><b>a </b>long time, but he had refrained from going further.
That time, he had taken two hour–long cold showers when he returned home, nearly falling sick from the strain!
He wasn’t sure he could resist the temptation if it happened again. After all, <b>not </b>only was he a normal man, but he also had a rather high libido!
“<b>I </b>don’t know.” Mari blinked, her deer–like eyes shimmering with confusion.
Jareth held back as long as he could, finally letting out a resigned sigh and nuzzling into her n*eck.
Still unsatisfied, he k*ssed and suckled at her skin, leaving a trail of love bites.
“That tickles!” Mari giggled, squirming underneath him.
“You might be ticklish, but <b>I’m </b>about to burst.”
Jareth reluctantly rolled back onto his side, pulling her close and murmuring, “Mari, I’ll wait for <b>you </b>to fully ept me.”