<b>Chapter </b><b>613 </b>
<b>In </b>the restaurant, the tension was palpable – the air felt like it could freeze solid at any moment.
<b>Barry </b>and Jareth were at an impasse, the situation spiraling into an ungainly mess.
“Ahaha. Ohe on, Dad, Jareth, it’s not every day we get to have a family dinner together. Let’s not do this!” Gary chuckled as he <b>walked </b>behind Barry, gently guiding him back into his chair and kneading his shoulders. “Dad, Jareth’s been running the Fairhaven empire for us, working tirelessly from dawn till dusk. The kid’s been a real hero for our family.”
<b>Jareth </b>red at Gary’s weaselly grin, not for a second believing he had anything worthwhile to say.
“Just think about it, over the years, has Jareth ever asked you for anything?”
? ? ?? ???? ? ? ????? ??? ? ? ?
Barry’s brows knitted together as he pondered. His eldest son had passed away early, leaving only Jareth. The boy had shouldered the responsibility of caring for his mother and sister from a young age. And throughout the years, he had been making his own way in the world, his investment projects raking in profits, his business ventures in Elmsworth expanding wildly. Indeed<b>, </b>he had never once asked for a handout from the family patriarch.
Seeing Barry’s expression soften, Gary pressed on with a grin, “Now, Jareth wants to marry the heiress of the Abernathy family. It’s rare to see him reaching out to you for something he wants. Let’s make it happen for him.”
Barry looked up in surprise, l*ps pressed tight.
Jareth was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Gary, who had vehemently opposed his ns earlier<b>, </b>to suddenly be wagging his tail
and taking his side.
What had gotten into him? Had he gone out for a breath of fresh air and cleared his head of all its cobwebs?
<b>Gary </b>leaned in closer, whispering to Barry, “The Abernathy girl has Elspeth’s blood, true, but she’s also Frederic’s daughter. She’s a genuine Abernathy heiress. The Abernathy Group reigns supreme in Elmsworth, and an alliance through marriage could only benefit us. Since we have no business dealings with them, why not tie them to us through marriage? <b>If </b>we y our cards right, the Abernathy family will surely throw us a bone out of familial obligation.”
<b>Gary’s </b>voice dropped to a near whisper, “As for that Abernathy girl. You shouldn’t lose any sleep over it. We know Jareth. He’s just after the thrill<b>, </b>and the fact that she’s his buddy’s little sister adds an extra kick.”
Barry clicked his tongue, disgusted with Gary’s vulgar insinuations.
“Hey<b>, </b>I’m just saying, even if she does be part of the family, what of it? Give it a couple of years, and Jareth will tire of her, finding her more of a nuisance than anything. By then, we’ll have milked the Abernathys for all they’re worth, and the marriage <b>will </b><b>have </b>run its course. You know how these things go. We’ve got the upper hand, being the men in the family. We can’t lose.”
Too <b>far </b><b>to </b>overhear the conversation<b>, </b>Jareth could only watch as Barry’s face visibly rxed.
“Jareth<b>, </b><b>if </b>you’re so set on this girl, I’ll give you my blessing,” Barry said, offering a way <b>out </b>with some reluctance, “But I won’t go to the Abernathys on your <b>behalf</b>. If you want this woman, you’ll have to fight for her yourself. If the Abernathys agree, then I have nothing more to say.”
Mrs. Fairhaven and April were stunned, one looking <b>at </b>her father–inw, the other <b>at </b>her husband.
<b>Jareth </b>could scarcely believe <b>his </b><b>ears</b><b>, </b>a wild joy dancing in his eyes as he beamed a
bri youthful smile.
Thank you<b>, </b><b>Grandpa</b>. Thank <b>you </b>for <b>your </b>blessing! I’ll bring her to meet you as soon as <b>I </b><b>can</b><b>!</b>”
After the family dinner<b>, </b><b>Jareth </b>hurried home<b>, </b>eager <b>to </b><b>see </b><b>his </b>future bride.
her only son had left her behind<b>, </b><b>fixated </b>on that <b>sly </b><b>fox </b>of a girl born to Elspeth.
Mrs. Fairhaven watched her son’s <b>retreating </b>figure, a surge <b>of </b>bitterness <b>and </b>Ss welled up in her. Without Edith by her side,
<b>Clinging </b>to her chest, <b>she </b><bmented</b><b>, </b><b>“</b><b>Why </b>must <b>my </b><b>life </b><b>be </b><b>so </b>hard.”
You <b>call </b>that <b>hard</b><b>? </b>You’re about to <b>have </b>an heiress for <b>a </b>daughter<b>–</b><b>in</b>w. If I <b>were </b><b>you</b><b>, </b><b>I’d </b><b>be </b><b>lighting </b>the <b>biggest </b>candle in church, April said<b>, </b>sidling <b>up </b><b>to </b>her <b>with </b>a smile<b>. </b>“Once Edithes <b>back</b><b>, </b><b>your </b>farmily <b>will </b><b>be </bplete. You should <b>find </b>a way <b>to </b>bring her home.”
<b>“</b>Yes, <b>Edith </b><b>needs </b><b>to </be back to <b>me</b>!<b>” </b>Mrs. <b>Fairhaven’s </b>thoughts turned <b>to </b><b>her </b>daughter out there <b>on </b>her own, and she couldn’t <b>hold </b><b>back </b><b>the </b>tears.
As April got <b>into her </b>car<b>, </b><b>her </b>smile vanished, reced by a cold stare <b>directed </b>at <b>her </b>husband, engrossed <b>in </b>his mobile game. <b>What </b><b>are </b><b>you </b><b>up </b><b>to</b><b>, </b><b>really</b><b>? </b><b>Weren’t </b><b>you </b><b>against </b><b>Jareth’s </b>marriage <b>with </b>the Abernathy girl at first<b>? </b><b>Why </b><b>the sudden </b>change?” <b>The </b><b>things </b><b>you </b><b>don’t </b>understand<b>,</b><b>” </b><b>Gary </b>said <b>cryptically</b><b>, </b><b>his </b><b>l*ps </b>curling <b>into </b>a sinister smile. <b>This </b>is <b>what </b><b>you </b>call a set–up. <b>I </b><b>want </b><b>Jareth </b><b>to </b><b>feel </b>on top <b>of </b><b>the </b>world<b>, </b><b>to </b><b>believe </b><b>he </b>has everything <b>in </b><b>his </b><b>grasp</b>. <b>The </b><b>higher </b><b>he </b><b>stands</b>, <b>the </b><b>harder </b><b>he’ll </b><b>fall</b><b>.” </b>