<b>Chapter </b><b>614 </b>
When Jareth arrived home, it was well into the night.
Lily, the housekeeper, emerged from theundry room with a basket of clothes, hurriedly setting down her chores to greet the young master.
“Is Mari asleep yet?” Jareth asked as he handed her his suit jacket, a flush of joy lighting up his face.
“She’s retired for the night.”
“Ah, after all the hustle.”
Jareth felt a twinge of disappointment, but it quickly gave way to a wide grin. “Then I’ll share the news with her first thing in the morning.”
Lily blinked in anticipation. “Sir, is there good news?”
“Grandpa gave his blessing.”
Jareth’s eyes sparkled with excitement, his voice trembling with emotion, “Grandpa, he’s agreed to my marrying Mari!”
“Really?”
Lily’s heart leapt with joy, tears glistening in her eyes, “Congrattions! You’re finally going to make it official with Mari! There couldn’t be happier news!”
“On the way back, my mother called. She said she’d consent to epting Mari, but only if Edith returned home.”
Jareth’s gaze turned icy. “As if that’s possible. When did my dear mother learn to bargain? Does she think if she doesn’t agree, I won’t marry Mari?”
Lily nodded firmly in agreement.
In her view, Mrs. Fairhaven rarely had rity in important matters, and ever since Jareth’s dad passed away, it had always been Jareth holding the fort. Otherwise, Gary would have taken over long ago.
Jareth’s tone grew somber, “Still, Grandpa’s consent only came because Gary put in a word. What that guy is cooking up, we’ll have to see.”
“Careful with Gary, he doesn’t do anything without a motive,” Lily added with a stern look.
After a quick shower, Jareth sl*pped into bed, contentedly snuggling up to Mari.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he got and couldn’t fall asleep. So he quietly scooted closer to her, savoring the soft, fragrant warmth of her b*dy.
It started with just cuddling, which soon wasn’t enough, and turned into a full embrace.
His hands couldn’t resist sl*pping beneath her nightgown, stirring a familiar desire.
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<b>“</b>Mmm.”
Mari opened her sleepy eyes and naturally wrapped her arms around him, “You’re back.”
“Sorry<b>, </b>darling<b>, </b>did I wake you?” Jareth said, feeling guilty but unwilling to withdraw his hand.
<b>“</b>Jareth, do <b>you </b>want to?” Mari, now so attuned and considerate due to his tender training, asked softly.
He sighed deeply, just holding her tighter, <b>“</b><b>Not </b>tonight, otherwise you won’t get any sleep.”
“You seem very happy.”
<b>With </b>her eyes closed<b>, </b>Mari listened to his rapid heartbeat. “Your heart’s pounding so <b>fast</b>, and I swear I heard youughing in <b>my </b>sleep. What’s got you so happy?”
Inhaling <b>deeply</b>, Jareth k*ssed her forehead, his chest swelling with love, <b>“</b>Mari, I’m <b>finally </b>going <b>to </b>marry you. Officially marry you, making you <b>my </b>wife, ensuring everyone acknowledges <b>you</b><b>, </b>not <b>just </b>as a private agreement.”
Mari’s eyes flew <b>open</b>, sparkling <b>with </b>tears.
Despite <b>Jareth </b>calling <b>her </b>his <b>wife </b><b>daily</b><b>, </b>she had always seen it as a term of endearment<b>, </b>never really expecting him <b>to </b><b>truly </b><b>marry </b>her.
<b>Especially </b><b>after </b><b>her </b><b>mother </b>was <b>sentenced to </b><b>death </b>for murder, she had given <b>up </b>hope of ever <b>bing </b><b>his </b><b>bride </b>and was <b>content </b>just <b>to </b><b>be </b><b>by </b><b>his </b><b>side</b>.
<b>“</b>Jareth, you don’t have to force yourself.”
“Force myself? You think I’m forcing myself?<b>” </b>
Jareth’s voice broke with urgency, his passion almost erupting like moltenva, engulfing the woman in his arms, “No, Mari, this isn’t about force. Marrying you is my lifelong desire, my one true wish.”
<b>After </b>a few days of preparation, Jareth chose a restful day to take his beloved Mari to the Windermere Estate.
“Sir? Ms. Mari? You’ve arrived!” Dennis was the first to greet them.
“Hello, Mr. Dennis,” Mari said, her smile as bright as the warm sun, holding Jareth’s arm.
<b>“</b>Good, good. Seeing you makes me even better, Ms. Mari.”
Dennis examined her rosy cheeks, noting the added plumpness and the tender care Jareth had given her. It was clear Jareth treated her well, and Dennis’s worried heart eased.
“Dennis, is Mr. Frederic in?”
Jareth asked with a gentle smile, gripping his love’s hand, “I’d like to speak with him. There’s something very important we need to discuss.”
Dennis, guessing the reason for their visit from Mari’s blush, couldn’t hide his delight.
“Mr. Frederic is home, I will go and inform him.”
“Mari, you’vee home.”
Before Dennis could finish, Frederic’s voice came from behind.
Jareth and Mari looked up.
Frederic descended the stairs, dressed in casual home attire, with a much less mboyant Glynnis trailing behind.
Jareth barely recognized her. Was this the same ostentatious peacock from before? At first nce, she could’ve been mistaken for Acacia returning from abroad.
“Dad,” Mari’s grip tightened on Jareth’s hand, her nerves apparent.
Frederic’s l*ps pressed into a thin line as he nced at Jareth, his gaze hardening.
<b>“</b>Oh, Mari, you’ve finally decided toe home.”
Glynnis forced a weing smile, “I’ve missed you so much, dear sister.”
<b>“</b>Mari,” Frederic’s voice was cold and stern, “Don’t leave again after you’vee home. You’re the heiress of the Abernathy Group, not some wild child left unsupervised. What does it look like, staying out and noting home?”
<b>“</b>Yes, Mari,” Glynnis chimed in.
Glynnis furrowed her brow<b>, </b>her face etched with deep concern. “You’re barely in your twenties<b>, </b>the prime of your youth. What are you doing shacking up with some guy? If word gets out, your reputation could be toast. Jareth might be a man and shake it off, but you<b>, </b>you’re a young woman. You’ve got so much more at stake!”