Mari heard the heavy footfalls behind her, yet she dared not turn around. Instead, she hugged her slender, soft shoulders, shivering like a frightened little rabbit.
It only made Jareth appear more tall and strong, like a big bad wolf ready to pounce.
“Mari.” His voice was strained, the corners of his eyes reddening.
He slowly lifted his trembling hand, longing to touch the girl’s silky skin. Just then, Mari quietly said, ‘I’ve just showered, and I need to apply some b*dy lotion. I’ve done everywhere except my back. Otherwise, I would have been ready for bed, waiting for you.”
Jareth listened to her, his cheeks flushing, his fingertips tingling. All his <b>senses </b>seemed to be shutting down.
He had seen many women in his life, somepletely n*ked and flirtatious, others throwing themselves at him. But none of them ever made his heart pound like this, leaving
him at a loss.
“Jareth, will you help me with the lotion?” Mari’s thin shoulders shivered as she asked quietly.
“Mari, may 17”
May 17
His breath was heavy, filled with longing. Mari bit her lower l*p, slowly lowering her arms that were guarding her b*dy, and nodded.
Jareth’s heart pounded as he reached for the b*dy lotion. He squeezed some onto his palm and carefully began to spread it on the girl’s porcin–like skin with hisrge blue vein–covered hand.
“I won’t do anything, I won’t do anything.”
This was his ultimate test.
His fingertips trembled as he repeated the mantra in his head, suppressing his burning desire. But when he touched Mari, all his restraint melted away. He abruptly pulled the soft and white b*dy into his arms, his eyes glowing with desire.
“Jareth.” Mari’s call was barely a whisper, her cheeks flushed like she was slightly drunk.
“Don’t say my name.” The man’s voice was raspy, causing her heart to race.
“Jareth.”
“Say my name again, and I don’t know what I’ll do, Mari.”
“Jareth.”
The next moment, Mari found herself lifted off the ground.
Jareth’s strong hands gripped her waist<b>. </b>He ced her on the polished edge of the bathtub where a towel was conveniently ced. Her butt <b>happened </b>to be put on it.
Mari became crimson, her l*ps quivering in an enticing manner.
The man’s rough hands left red marks on her waist, which spread further, staining her trembling b*dy with a seductive hue.
“Uh.”
Mari struggled to find her bnce, her hands gripping Jareth’s toned waist, her arms wrapping around his n*eck.
Jareth’s mind went nk. Leaning forward, he k*ssed her trembling l*ps passionately without control.
He hadn’t done it for quite long. His k*ss was fierce, almost as if he was gnawing, tearing at her. Mari’s b*dy was wrapped in his warm masculinity, her l*ps and tongue aching from his k*ss. But in that pain, she felt <b>a </b>thrill that made her b*dy tingle all over, as if she was melting under him.
“Mari, if you ept me, bite me.”
Jareth’s l*ps left hers, his eyes filled with longing, his warm breath teasing her nose.
The mist in the bathroom dissipated, Right now, the man was sweating <b>all </b>over. Despite only k*ssing, he felt as if they had just made passionate love.
“If you don’t want to, I won’t<b>.</b>”
Before Jareth could finish his sentence, Mari bit his <b>l*p</b>, returning his k*ss clumsily but gently.
He was filled with ecstasy. She hadn’t said a word, but he heard her answer from her blushing ears, the love in her eyes, and her rapidly increasing breaths.
That night, they made love, from the bathroom to the living room and in the end, they did it again on the bed.
Mari’s delicate and tender skin drove him crazy<b>. </b>
He had never felt this satisfied before, both physically and emotionally.
Mari’s slender waist was sore and painful, and she fell asleep on his chest, panting and begging for mercy.
Jareth, like a lion who had been fed,zily squinted at his woman in his arms.
His right arm held her close, his palm gently patting her to sleep.
His other hand carefully lifted the sheets.
On the white but messy bedsheet, a red flower bloomed vividly.
Jareth couldn’t help but smile, his eyes filled with love and desire. He k*ssed her deeply yet again.
“Uh, it tickles.” Mari was in a deep sleep, not waking up even when he titited her.
“Mari, you’re mine now.”
Jareth’s chin rested in her hair, his fingertips caressing her smooth arm. He whispered in her ear, “Don’t worry. Those difficult days are over. I will love you for the rest of my life, Mrs. Fairhaven.”
Thaddeus‘ p rang in Elspeth’s ears, even loosening one of her teeth.
How much hatred must he have to hit her so hard!
Glynnis hastily apanied Elspeth to the hospital. Elspeth covered her ear and cursed all the way, venting her anger at Evadne and Thaddeus. The more she cursed, the angrier she got, and the more her ear and face hurt.
The driver was dumbfounded, frequently ncing in the rearview mirror.
Who could believe that the usually elegant and dignified Mrs. Abernathy could be so vulgar and shrewish?
“What are you looking at?!”
Glynnis caught the driver peeking and immediately snapped, “I warn you, drive your car and zip your l*p! If any word about this gets out, your family won’t be able to live in Elmsworth!<b>” </b>
“Yes, Ms Abernathy!” The driver quivered and dared not to peek again.
“You ungrateful girl. I’ve wasted so much love on you!”
Elspeth, having no ce to vent her anger, unloaded it on Glynnis by Jabbing her finger hard on her head, causing Glynnis to stagger a bit, “You just stood there watching your mom get bullied? You just stood there and watched that brat Evadne pick on your mom? Not even a word from you!”
“I can’t win against Evadne. If I rashly intervene, it might backfire!”
Glynnis, clutching her fists angrily, said, “You only criticize me but what about Mari? She hasn’t shown her face while you’re getting bullied. She’s just out there fooling around with men! I wonder what Mr. Fairhaven sees in her. He must be blind!”
“Ha! You dare topare yourself with your sister? Even if she doesn’t show up, she snatched Jareth without even being noticed! Being Jareth’s mother<b>–</b><b>in</b>w is a glory, far better than your useless fawning!” Elspeth didn’t hide her disdain for Glynnis.
She used to deny it, but now she has to admit that Glynnis was doomed to be a disappointment no matter how she was nurtured. Her inherent lowliness couldn’t be eradicated. She was even worse than her defective daughter with Frederic!
If she had known earlier, she would have put more effort into Mari. What a waste of her care!
At the hospital, after receiving treatment, Elspeth was admitted to the ward.
Shey in bed, her cheek swollen high and her ears so painful she couldn’t sleep. She was angry and scared.
L
She was afraid that her rtionship with Alex would be discovered by Evadne, and she was afraid that Alex would betray her. What she feared more was that, the ugly secret that Glynnis’s biological father was <b>not </b>Frederic, but Alex would be exposed.
By then, she and her daughter would bepletely finished, with nowhere to go!
Elspeth stayed in the hospital for three days, with Glynnis by her side.
On the third day, her facial swelling finally subsided, <b>but </b>Frederic hadn’t shown up once.
During this time, Glynnis had called him more than once, asking when he woulde to visit Elspeth, but he always brushed her off indifferently.
Initially, Glynnis thought Elspeth would burst into tears upon hearing the news. After all, which woman didn’t want to be loved by her husband? Being left alone in the hospital by her husband would probably drive any woman crazy.
Unexpectedly, Elspeth remained very calm andposed, without crying or making a fuss, eating normally, resting normally, too normal to be normal.
This baffled Glynnis.
In her memory, Elspeth couldn’t live without Frederic.
But at this moment, looking at Elspeth’s cold and unfeeling face, Glynnis felt as if she had never loved her father<b>, </b>even alienated than a stranger.
“Mom, dad hasn’te to see you in three days, and he’s ignoring you. Howe you’re not worried at all?” Glynnis couldn’t help but ask.
“Hmph, men, they’re all scumbags! The more often you cling on them, the more <b>they’d </b>feel annoyed. Only when you are indifferent to them, they’ll start getting close to you.” Elspeth eximed with a smile, but her heart was in a mess.
These three days, she didn’t contact Frederic, not because of anything else, but because she <b>didn’t </b>dare.
She was now ready to be discharged, but she didn’t dare to go back, so she stayed in the hospital, hiding from him under the guise of healing.
That night after the incident with Evadne, she could clearly feel that Frederic’s gaze at her was not right.
During this time, she needed to think carefully about how to exin things to her man and how to restore her image.
Just then, the door to the ward opened.
“You all wait outside. I’m going in to see my wife<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Yes, Mr. Abernathy.”
Hearing Frederic’s voice<b>, </b>Elspeth and Glynnis both froze.
Elspeth quickly took out her makeup powder from under the pillow and hurriedly made her l*ps look pale with the puff to make herself look more haggard.
As soon as Frederic walked in, she leaned weakly against the head of the bed, looking pitiful and tearful at Glynnis.
“Glynnis, I’m so thirsty. Can you get me some water<b>?</b><b>” </b>
These tears came as soon as she said so, reminding Glynnis of that deceitful woman Acacia who had gone somewhere no one could find.
“Dad<b>! </b>You’re finally here!” Glynnis pretended to be surprised and covered her mouth.
Frederic stared at Elspeth, who looked withered on the hospital bed. His eyes were so deep that it was hard to see his emotions, and his gaze made her scalp numb.
“Glynnis, you’ve taking care of your mom these past few days. I’ve called a maid from home to look after her. You can go home and take some rest.”
“Okay, then dad, mom<b>, </b>I’ll be going.”
Glynnis gave Elspeth a meaningful look before she left the room with short steps and closed the door.
2
“Ms. Abernathy, let me drive you home.” The b*dyguard at the door said respectfully.
“No need, give me the car keys. I want to go for a drive<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Glynnis walked to the hospital’s underground parking lot to get her car, feeling dejected.
After being cooped up in the hospital for three days, she felt as if the smell of disinfectant was all over her. She wanted <b>to </b>buy a new outfit and take a luxury bath to rx.
Just as she was about to reach her car, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her n*eck!
“Ah!<b>” </b>
Glynnis cked out and lost consciousness,
As she fell, the figure that appeared behind her was Lily’s cold and beautiful face.
“Take her away.”
“Yes.”
Two men in ck appeared and dragged Glynnis away like a sack of potatoes.