<b>Chapter 618 </b>
“Grandpa, what are you implying? I’m Mari’s own sister, how could I ever harm her? Glynnis stammered in defense, a cold sweat breaking out on her back.
Jareth, ever the blunt one, tightened his embrace around Mari and let out a derisive snort.
Hamilton’s l*ps curved in a sardonic smile, “I may be getting on in years, but I’m not senile yet. I know full well what’s going on, and so do you. Your sister is about to marry into the prestigious Fairhaven family, bing the CEO’s wife. Instead of wasting your energy on futile things, you’d be better off toning down that boisterous temperament and let your father find you a respectable match, someone he’d be proud to call son–inw.”
Glynnis‘ eyes zed with fury. Was this old man subtly taunting her for being unmarried?
SE O DES
Finally, she snapped back, “My affairs need not concern you, Grandpa. Even if I never marry, I’m still my father’s daughter, the heiress of the Abernathy Group. Now that mother has passed and Mari is getting married, I’ll be helping Dad manage the Windermere Estate.”
“Why bother yourself with the estate when there are stewards for that?”
Hamilton, with a piercing gaze half–veiled by hooded eyelids, delivered a cutting remark that felt like an execution to Glynnis, “Besides, na is marrying into our Abernathy family. Windermere Estate is my private property, and I intend to gift it to the newlyweds as a wedding present.”
Evadne’s heart skipped a beat as her eyes widened in shock.
The Windermere Estate as a wedding gift? Grandpa, you’re amazing!
Thaddeus, however, simply massaged Evadne’s back, his handsome features unruffled. Privately, the old man had mentioned this <b>n </b>to him countless times, even suggesting that once he and Evadne were married, the Windermere Estate would be their love nest<b>, </b>and Frederic could go find his own ce to live.
<b>It </b>was, after all, Hamilton’s house, and his word wasw<i>. </i>
“When the timees, my granddaughter–inw will be the sole mistress of Windermere Estate. Everyone here will answer to her, and she will have the final say in all matters<b>.</b><b>” </b>
As Hamilton spoke, his gaze remained affectionately <b>fixed </b>on Evadne, his fondness for her growing by the second, “The rest of <b>you </b>need not worry yourselves with these affairs<b>.” </b>
<b>Elspeth </b><b>had </b>strutted around his domain for far too many years. His actions were a challenge to Frederic and a warning to Glynnis. Yet<b>, </b>Hamilton was unaware.
His eldest granddaughter was no stranger to missteps; she was a bad seed from the start-
<b>A </b>lowly bad seed brought <b>into </b>the Abernathy fold by Elspeth!
His words would not scare her; they would only fuel the demon within her, igniting her hatred for Evadne and Mari even more<b>! </b>
<b>Once </b>Hamilton and his <b>entourage </b>had left the Windermere Estate<b>, </b>Glynnis dragged her leaden feet up the stairs<b>, </b><b>her </b>b*dy radiating malice <b>so </b>intense that even <b>the </b>passing dogs seemed eager <b>to </b>p some sense into her.
<b>The </b>more <b>she </b>thought about <b>it</b><b>, </b><b>the </b>angrier <b>she </b>became, until she couldn’t help but call Edith across the <b>ocean</b>.
“<b>What </b>is it<b>? </b><b>You’re </b>interrupting my lunch<b>,</b><b>” </b>Edithined as soon as she answered.
“When are you <bing </b><b>back</b><b>? </b><b>If </b><b>you don’t </b>hurry<b>, </b>that little <b>minx </b>Mari is going <b>to </b><bpletely </b>steal <b>your </b><b>family’s </b>legacy<b>!</b><b>” </b>
Glynnis covered <b>the </b><b>mouthpiece</b>, her <b>voice </b>both secretive and seething, <b>“</b>Just <b>now</b><b>, </b><b>Jareth </b>came to <b>propose </b><b>to </b><b>my </b>sister<b>, </b>and originally <b>my </b><b>dad </b><b>was </b><b>against </b><b>it</b>. But then Evadne and Thaddeus showed up <b>with </b>Hamilton! <b>With </b><b>just </b><b>a </b>few words, Hamilton <b>not </b>only swayed my <b>dad </b><b>but </b><b>also </b>sealed <b>their </b>engagement! <b>Soon </b>they’ll be betrothed, and not <b>long </b>after <b>that</b><b>, </b><b>Jareth </b><b>is </b>going to knock her up. <b>What </b>use will <b>it </b><b>be </b>for <b>you </b><b>to </be back then<b>? </b>To celebrate as <b>an </b><b>aunt</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
There was a <b>sudden </b>silence on <b>the </b>other end.
“<b>Hello</b>? Are you going to say <b>something</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
“Don’t worry<b>, </b>the <b>Fairhaven </b><b>Group </b>isn’t the only one who doesn’t want Mari <b>marrying </b>Jareth. High<b>–</b><b>profile </b>alliances like these may seem strong, but they’re full <b>of </b>vulnerabilities. A single <b>sl*p </b>can ruin everything. Those like <b>Thaddeus </b><b>and </b>Evadne<b>, </b>who recklessly chase love, are rare <b>in </b>this world. Jareth<b>? </b>Please, what a joke<b>,</b><b>” </b><b>Edith </b>scoffed openly.
But even she couldn’t deny one thing:
<b>1/3 </b>
<b>11:21 </b>
Chapter <b>618 </b>
The unwavering love between Thaddeus and Evadne was unprecedented and rare in all of Elmsworth’s elite circles.
Glynnis was <b>about </b>to retort when Edith added, <b>“</b><b>Oh</b><b>, </b><b>and </b><b>by </b>the way, Mr. Bartley’s son came to Aetheria to visit me. You must be bored out <b>of </b>your mind with <b>no </b>funeral for <b>your </b>mother to upy you. Why don’t you fly over and hang out with me<b>? </b>If you’re <b>strapped </b>for cash, I’ll cover your expenses. You do have a private jet, right? If not, I’ll pay for your ticket.”
<b>Glynnis </b>was ready <b>to </b>explode with humiliation!
<b>She’d </b><b>been </b>mocked for being unmarried and now for being penniless<b>. </b>She felt like she could destroy the world!
<b>“</b><b>Hmph</b>, as if I don’t know that Mr. Bartley is just yourpdog. Why would I fly over to watch you two get mushy<i>?</i>”
“Well, <b>suit </b>yourself then.<b>” </b>
Glynnis took a moment topose herself and instructed the servants to brew a cup of tea, which she then personally delivered <b>to </b>Frederic.
With only the two of them left to oversee Windermere Estate, especially after Jareth had cruelly exposed her dark secrets, wasn’t <b>it </b>wise <b>to </b><b>seize </b>every opportunity to ingratiate herself?
Taking <b>a </b>deep breath<b>, </b>Glynnis knocked on the door of the study.
Dennis opened it, giving her a chilly look, “Miss Glynnis, Mr. Frederic isn’t feeling well and needs to rest. Is there something you need<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“<b>Ah</b><b>. </b><b>I </b>noticed Dad looked unwell, so I went to the kitchen and personally made him some tea.<b>” </b>Glynnis blinked innocently.
“Let her in<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Frederic’s deep voice came from within, and Dennis reluctantly stepped aside to let her pass.
<b>“</b><b>Dad</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
Glynnis sashayed into the room, her voice almost dripping with sweetness as she presented the te. “I made this for you.”
<b>“</b>Just put <b>it </b>down,” Frederic replied without looking up, his voice frigid.
“Dad, don’t be mad. No matter what anyone says, my heart is always with you.”
Glynnis set the te down and cautiously approached her father. “You saw today, didn’t you? Mari… before she’s even married <b>off</b><b>, </b>she’s acting like she doesn’t belong to us anymore. Can you believe it? After all the years you doted on her, the moment she gets a man<b>, </b>she forgets her own dad. It’s just heartbreaking.”
Frederic’s brows furrowed even more, his face stormy as a winter’s night.
“And let’s not forget how hard <b>you </b>work every single day, ving over thepany, and Grandpa, he doesn’t appreciate any of <b>it</b>. How could <b>he </b><b>embarrass </b><b>you </b><b>in </b>front <b>of </b>everyone like that? It’s just <b>so </b>cold,” Glynnis went on, smearing her sister’s name while stabbing at <b>her </b>grandfather’s back.
<b>With </b>Elspeth gone, Frederic was the only solid support she had left <b>in </b>the Abernathy Group.
<b>Hmph</b>, Hamilton <b>had </b>stopped siding <b>with </b>her, so why not stir the pot and drive a wedge even further between father <b>and </b><b>son</b><b>? </b>As expected<b>, </b>upon hearing her words<b>, </b>Frederic’s expression darkened.
<b>Inside</b><b>, </b>Glynnis <b>felt </b>a <b>surge </b><b>of </b>triumph, suddenly <b>recalling </b>something Elspeth had mentioned about a <b>rift </b><b>between </b>her <b>father </b>and <b>his </b>brother<b>. </b><b>Seizing </b>the opportunity <b>to </b>deepen the divide, she <b>added</b>, <b>“</b><b>Dad</b><b>, </b>what’s Grandpa’s deal, anyway<b>? </b>He can’t <b>still </b><b>be </b>holding out hope <b>that </b><b>Uncle </b><b>Felix</b><b>, </b>who’s long gone<b>, </b><b>can </be back from the grave<b>, </b>can he?<b>” </b>
<b>Dennis</b><b>, </b><b>who </b><b>had </b><b>been </b><b>quietly </b>observing, turned to Glynnis in shock.
Frederic’s hand <b>on </b><b>the </b>desk clenched<b>, </b>and he slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers with <b>an </b><b>icy </b>re <b>that </b>sent <b>shivers </b>down <b>her </b>spine.
<b>“</b><b>What </b><b>did </b>you just say?”
“Dad, I <b>heard </b><b>that </b>Grandpa always favored <b>your </b><b>brother </b>over <b>you</b><b>, </b><b>barely </b><b>giving </b>you any attention. You’re the <b>eldest</b><b>, </b>for goodness‘ sake, <b>by </b><b>right</b><b>, </b><b>you </b>should be the one to inherit <b>the </b>family business. But Grandpa seems so discontent <b>with </b><b>you </b>at <b>the </b>helm. <b>But </b>what can he <b>do </b>about it now? Can <b>he </b>bring Uncle Felix <b>back </b>to… <b>Ah</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
<b>Before </b><b>Glynnis </b>could <b>finish</b><b>, </b>Frederic <b>erupted </b><b>in </b>rage, his <b>arm </b><b>swinging </b><b>out </b><b>to </b>deliver a thunderous p across her <b>face</b><b>! </b>
<b>The force </b>of it <b>sent </b><b>Glynnis </b>reeling<b>, </b>her head <b>throbbing </b>and stars dancing before her eyes.
<b>Frederic</b><b>, </b><b>eyes </b>zing <b>with </b><b>fury</b><b>, </b><b>pointed at </b><b>her </b>swollen, disheveled face. <b>“</b>Whether it’s <b>your </b>grandfather or <b>your </b>uncle<b>, </b><b>they </b>are your elders! Who gave <b>you </b><b>the </b><b>right </b><b>to </b><b>spout </b>such disrespect<b>? </b><b>Get </b><b>out </b><b>of </b><b>my </b><b>sight</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
<b>11:21 </b>
Chapter <b>618 </b>
Dazed, Glynnis clutched her face and stumbled out of the study.
Frederic, gasping for breath<b>, </b>slumped back into his chair, his face as pale as a sheet, beads of sweat dotting his forehead.
Dennis quickly offered him a cup of tea. “Mr. Frederic, have <b>a </b>sip. Don’t get too worked up; watch your health.”
Frederic reached for the cup, but his hands were shaking too much to hold it steady.
“Dennis, do you think has he always doubted that incident?”
Dennis’s pupils contracted.
He knew Frederic was referring to the tragedy from thirty years ago, when Hamilton’s favorite son died of a heart attack in prison. “Of course not, Mr. Frederic. He shouldn’t suspect you.”
Dennis leaned in close to whisper in his ear despite the privacy of the study. “If Mr. Hamilton had any doubts about you, why would he have let you take over the Abernathy Group? Just that fact alone proves he never suspected you were involved in that incident.”
Frederic’s trembling hand pressed against his forehead, his gaze dark and troubled. “But now he’s given Thaddeus control over parts of the business I couldn’t manage. Doesn’t that prove he’s always held a grudge against me? The heir. He never truly considered me, did he? He chose me only because Felix was gone. And now that the next generation has grown up, showing they can push the waves ahead, he’s in a hurry to have Thaddeus take over the Abernathy Group, to usurp my position!”
“You’re overthinking it, Mr. Thaddeus is indeed very capable, that’s why Mr. Hamilton entrusted him with such responsibility.”
Dennis could only continue to soothe him. “Besides, you and he are father and son, bound by blood. Once you retire, the Abernathy Group will still be Thaddeus‘; it won’t fall into the hands of outsiders.”
“Maybe, but Thaddeus has never been on my side because of his mother. Now he’s getting closer to the old man, joining forces with Evadne. If I let him gain more control over the Abernathy Group, expand his influence, what awaits me is a forced retirement, to be at his mercy!”
Frederic’s eyes snapped open, revealing a hint of a dark resolve. “Book me a flight to the States. I’m missing Chad. It’s time I paid him a visit.”
11:21