<b>Chapter </b><b>617 </b>
Hamilton’s words were like an emotional grenade, detonating without warning and leaving shockwaves in their path.
Not only did Frederic’s face look like it had taken a hit, but I bet even a fly buzzing by would have swelled up from the st. Only his dad knew how to handle this ck sheep of the family,
Glynnis shrunk behind Frederic like a quail in hiding, too scared to even show her face.
Evadne hurried over, her voice soft and soothing, “Mari, honey, don’t be scared. I’m here, your brother and granddad are here
too.”
Mari lifted her tear–stained face from Jareth’s embrace; her cheeks were swollen as if soaked by the moon’s glow, dampening his shirt with her tears.
“Evadne.”
That term of endearment brought a swell of emotion to Evadne’s eyes<b>, </b>a numbing pain to her heart.
Mari, choking back sobs, clung to Jareth’s shirt, her delicate hands gripping tight, “I don’t want to be apart from Jareth.”
In that moment, Jareth felt a sharp pain in his chest, pulling her in closer as if to crush her into his being, “We won’t be apart, Mari, <b>no </b>matter what happens, I won’t leave you,”
Evadne stood speechless<b>, </b>her heart brimming with empathy.
In Mari, she saw her own past self- the one who had been locked away at home by Emeric, the one who had leapt from her window on a stormy night, frantic to find Thaddeus.
<b>She </b><b>too </b>had been held in his arms, insisting over and over that she couldn’t bear to be apart from him.
But she had been luckier than Mari.
Emeric was all bark and no bite, his harsh words belied a tenderness and a willingness topromise for the love of his daughter.
But Frederic was different. Self–serving and cold–hearted, how could he truly have Mari’s best interests at heart<b>? </b>
<b>To </b>him, his reputation and the Abernathy family’s interests trumped everything, even family ties.
“I’m not going to waste my breath on you, boy, because you’ve never understood a word I’ve said! I came here today to back these young lovebirds!” Hamilton’s gaze was steely as he stared down Frederic, “Didn’t you just say you’d rather die than agree to this match? Well, go ahead and die then.”
“Dad! What are you saying?”
Frederic was fuming, his eyes bloodshot with anger, his words almostughable, “Why should I die?<b>” </b>
“Yeah, why should a man like you die? Especially since you’re the esteemed chairman <b>of </b>the Abernathy Group. You’ve just managed to push me into retirement<b>; </b>you wouldn’t want <b>to </b>die now, would you?”
Hamilton let <b>out </b><b>a </b>bitter chuckle, “Since you don’t want to die, stop threatening the younger generation with such nonsense! <b>Jareth </b>respects you for Mari <b>and </b>Thaddeus‘ sake, but you’re acting as if you’re the center of attention. Using your own life as a bargaining <b>chip, </b><b>my </b>face is red with embarrassment because of <b>you</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
Frederic felt <b>dizzy</b><b>, </b>his hand gripping the stair’s railing, veins bulging with tension.
For years, his father had berated him <b>with </b>harsh words in
But this time, it wasn’t just in front <b>of </b>his children, but
they were tearing his <b>dignity </b>to shreds!
Glynnis suddenly realized.
which he never took <b>to </b>heart.
and Jareth <b>as </b>well. Hamilton’s actions were beyond shaming him<b>; </b>
How did Hamilton know every detail of their conversation <b>with </b>Jareth? He had just arrived, hadn’t he<b>? </b>
But <b>half </b><b>an </b>hour earlier.
Hamilton’s car had quietly parked outside Windermere Estate.
Inside <b>the </b>vehicle.
Thaddeus sat opposite Evadne <b>und </b>Hamilton, watching hisdy love <b>openly </b>disy her skills <b>in </b><b>front </b>of Hamilton, hacking into the vi’s surveince cameras with ease, her eyes filled with adoration.
“Grandpa, we’re all set.” Evadne handed <b>the </b>tablet <b>to </b>Hamilton<b>. </b>
<b>“</b>Is it done<b>?</b><b>” </b>Hamilton looked <b>at </b>her <b>in </b>amazement<b>. </b>
“<b>Yes</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
“My goodness. Evadne, you are so talented! Not like Thaddeus, good only for making money!” Hamilton said, yfully pinching Evadne’s nose with affection.
Thaddeus turned silent.
That cheeky old man, not only was he putting him down, but he was also getting handsy with his woman.
The trio huddled together, intently watching everything unfold on the screen.
Evadne, seeing the young couple being bullied, clenched her fists in anger.
<b>“</b>Grandpa<b>, </b>should we go now?” Thaddeus asked, his voice strained.
Hamilton’s face was grave, “Let’s wait.”
<b>Both </b>youngsters were surprised.
<b>“</b><b>If </b><b>Jareth </b>wants to marry my granddaughter, this is undoubtedly a tough test for him.”
Hamilton cherished his granddaughter but was also rational, “They’ve just taken the first step and faced such a huge obstacle. <b>There </b>will be more trouble ahead. This time, I need to see just how much Jareth loves Mari and whether he has the strength <b>to </b>protect my little granddaughter. The Fairhaven family, as far as I know, isn’t much stronger than the Chambers family, which is a den of wolves. If Mari is to be with Jareth, I must be sure that Jareth has the ability to provide a safe haven for her before I can entrust her to him.”
Evadne and Thaddeus exchanged looks, deeply moved.
This <b>was </b>the true love of an elder for the younger generation.
And Jareth, with his actions, had thoroughly earned Hamilton’s approval.
“If your father won’t give his blessing, I will<b>!</b>”
Hamilton turned away from Frederic, his face breaking into a warm, friendly smile as he beckoned the young couple over, “Mari, <b>Jareth</b><b>, </be to me.”
<b>Jareth </b>took <b>a </b>deep breath and, with his arm around his petite wife<b>, </b>approached Hamilton.
“Grandpa.” Mari’s eyes were nearly swollen shut from crying, but her sweet demeanor made the scene even more heart<b>–</b>wrenching.
<b>“</b><b>Ah</b>.”
Hamilton responded<b>, </b><b>his </b>voice thick with emotion as he took his granddaughter’s hand in his, “My dear girl<b>, </b>you’re my favorite. Have you been wronged<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Mari shook <b>her </b><b>head </b>through her tears, “No, Grandpa.”
Glynnis staggered<b>, </b>her features contorted with rage!
Hamilton’s words hit <b>her </b>like a nuclear bomb. All those years <b>she’d </b>spent ying the sweet and dutiful granddaughter<b>, </b>fawning over Hamilton<b>, </b><b>were </b>a waste.
<b>She </b><b>had </b>lost<b>, </b>utterly <b>and </bpletely<b>, </b><b>in </b>the game <b>of </b>love and family. She’d been <b>beaten </b>by the very ‘fool‘ she’d scorned, crashing <b>down </b><b>in </b><b>total </b><b>defeat</b><b>. </b>
Hamilton’s <b>heavy </b><b>gaze </b><b>settled </b>on Jareth once <b>more</b>. <b>“</b><b>Jareth</b>, my granddaughter is <b>in your </b>hands now. You’ve <b>got </b><b>to </b>take good care of her, <b>spoil </b>her <b>rotten</b>. <b>Just </b><b>like </b><b>Thaddeus </b>loves <b>na</b><b>, </b>be ready <b>to </b>move <b>heaven </b><b>and </b>earth <b>for </b><b>her</b>. Can you <b>do </b><b>that</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
“Grandpa, I <b>can</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Jareth <b>raised </b><b>three </b>fingers<b>, </b><b>his </b>voice <b>trembling </b>as <b>he </b><b>began </b><b>to </b><b>speak</b><b>, </b>tears <b>brimming </b><b>in the </b><b>corners </b><b>of </b><b>his </b><b>reddened </b>eyes, “I swear <b>to </b>you<b>, </b><b>and </b>I swear <b>to </b><b>God</b>. I will love Mari <b>for </b><b>all </b>my days<b>, </b><b>till </b><b>death </b>do us <b>part</b>. <b>Otherwise</b>, I…”
Before he could finish<b>, </b>Mari <b>tiptoed </b><b>up </b><b>to </b>him<b>, </b>her hand <b>gently </b>covering his <b>mouth</b><b>, </b>silencing <b>his </b>ominous <b>vow</b>.
“I know what you mean<b>, </b>Jareth. <b>You </b><b>don’t </b>have to <b>say </b>a <b>thing</b>. <b>I </b>understand<b>.</b>”
<b>Evadne </b><b>dabbed </b><b>at </b><b>her </b>tears secretly<b>, </b>while Thaddeus wrapped an arm around her slender waist <b>and </b><b>whispered </b>into her ear<b>, </b>“<b>Finally</b><b>” </b>
<b>Evadne </b>squinted her beautiful eyes, <b>echoing</b><b>, </b><b>“</b><b>Finally</b><b>.</b>”
*<b>Jareth</b><b>, </b><b>I </b>hear <b>from </b><b>Thaddeus </b><b>that </b><b>you’ve </b>cleared <b>things </b>with Mr. Fairhaven regarding your engagement <b>to </b>Mari. <b>Hamilton </b>
17.01
Jareth immediately responded, “Not just my granddad, I’ve informed the Whe
and my mother has no objections.”
Evadne and Thaddeus exchanged a knowing nce.
They were aware that Jareth was sharing only the good news, not the difficulties he must have faced convincing Barry
55 6 2 2 3
As for Mrs. Fairhaven’s approval, that didn’t concern this young man. In the Fairhaven family, power spoke, and those with it made
the rules.
“Mm, good”
Hamilton nodded in satisfaction, a relieved smile on his face. “Find time soon for me to meet Mr. Fairhaven. Now that both families are on board, it won’t do if we, the elders, don’t meet and talk. And if possible, let’s pick a good day to hold the engagement ceremony. That’ll truly unite our families.”
At the mention of “engagement, Jareth was so thrilled he nearly tripped over his feet in his giddiness, while Mari nestled by his side, her cheeks blushing and her eyes misting with joy.
Throughout the discussion, they hadpletely sidelined Frederic, the head of the family!
In a daze, he was transported thirty years back.
Back then, his father and his younger brother were like the best of friends, always deep in conversation, leaving <b>him </b>feeling like an outsider, his presence barely acknowledged.
His father truly favored his younger brother.
Had it not been for his early death<b>, </b>the Abernathy Group might never have been his.
Hamilton’s timely intervention had practically sealed Jareth and Mari’s union.
Now, his fiancée was legitimately his to be, and he was over the moon, bounding down the stairs like a mischievous boy.
Frederic had already stormed upstairs, but still mindful of decorum, he sent Glynnis to see the old man out.
Glynnis followed reluctantly<b>, </b>trailing behind the group, her expression as gloomy as a maid’s, not daring to step forward.
Yet the look she cast at Mari was venomous, like a scorpion’s tail flickering with a sting.
“Glynnis.” Hamilton suddenly stopped.
“Yes! Grandpa<b>!</b>”
Glynnis hurried to the old man’s side, hands sped in front of her<b>, </b>the picture of obedience.
“Glynnis, I know you were led astray <b>by </b>Elspeth’s influence, and you’ve done some foolish things, but now she’s gone. You’re young, and I can understand a few missteps, so I’m willing to look past those previous matters, Hamilton spoke coolly, not looking at
her.
“Grandpa, it’s not what you <b>think </b>
“But you know me, I can’t stand even a speck <b>of </b>dirt in my sight. Now that the snaky woman in the Abernathy family has been removed, I expect no more trouble at Windermere Estate, no more headaches, or eye sores for me<b>, </b>he finally directed his icy gaze at her pale face. “If you behave, you remain my granddaughter. If not, don’t me me for being ruthless. I don’t want Elspeth’s toxic legacy to linger.”
Glynnis was trembling inside, struggling <b>to </b>defend herself<b>, </b>“<b>Grandpa</b><b>! </b><b>What </b>have I done wrong<b>? </b><b>I </b>grew <b>up </b><b>at </b>your <b>feet</b>, I’ve been <b>by </b>your side the longest, my devotion is no less <b>than </b>my brothers<b>! </b><b>Why </b><b>are </b>you <b>saying </b>these <b>things </b><b>to </b><b>me</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
Thaddeus and Evadne watched her coldly<b>, </b>witnessing her spectacle.
“Do you know one of the ugliest thoughts <b>in </b><b>this </b>world? Hamilton asked sternly.
Glynnis looked bewildered.
“It’s resenting someone else’s happiness, even if that someone is your own sister,”