<b>Chapter </b><b>698 </b>
Seeing Mari dare to talk back, Edith felt a surge of rage so intense, her meticulously manicured nails almost digging into her <b>own </b>palms.
<b>If </b>it weren’t for the crowd around them, she would have pped that fool across the face already!
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Edith’s red l*ps curled into a venomous smirk as she leaned close to whisper in Mari’s ear, her voice dripping with mockery.
“That’s right, you’re not an idiot, you’re a lunatic.”
Lunatic.
<b>She </b>was calling her a lunatic.
A buzzing sound filled Mari’s head, and cold sweat soaked through her pure white cotton dress.
And <b>just </b>then, the piano recital began on stage.
The flowing music filled her ears. That was to Mari a torturous cacophony, only serving to heighten her psychological burden.
“Mari<b>, </b>you wholeheartedly wish to be my brother’s wife. But do you think you’re worthy? You know your condition best. Do <b>you </b>really believe you can bear my brother a child with a sound mind?”
Edith struck right at her sore spot, each word a dagger to the heart!
Mari hung her head low, her eyes reddening with moisture, her cotton dress wrinkled beyond recognition by her slender fingers. Just like her heart in that moment.
<b>“</b>My brother isn’t just your lover; he’s the heir to the entire Fairhaven Group, the future head of it.”
<b>Edith </b>posed <b>as </b>the picture of dignity, her voice icy, “My father’s dying wish was for the Fairhaven Group to be a century–old prestigious family. If you want to be thedy of the Fairhaven group, it’s inevitable that you’ll need to ensure the session <b>of </b><b>the </b>Fairhaven family.
How sure are you that you can give birth to a healthy child? What if your illness <b>is </b>passed on to your child? Do you want to leave the Fairhaven group without a sessor? Do you want my brother to be theughingstock of the entire Elmsworth<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Mari closed her eyes tightly, sweat beading <b>on </b>her forehead.
<b>“</b>Even <b>if </b>my brother dotes on you, indulges <b>you</b>, decides against having children… would he also give up on the Fairhaven <b>Group</b>?”
<b>Edith </b>continued <b>to </b>torment her fragile heart, “The Fairhaven group <b>is </b>my father’s <b>life’s </b>work. If my brother <b>cannot </b><b>inherit </b><b>the </b>Fairhaven group, how could our father rest in peace? Do you think Grandpa would ept a woman like you as the futuredy of the Fairhaven group? If my brother insists on marrying you, then he’ll only grow further from the role of heir. Grandpa might well change his mind and choose my uncle as the heir instead. <b>If </b>that happens, you’ll <b>be </b>the one who ruined him<b>.” </b>
Every word she <b>uttered </b>was like <b>a frost</b>–edged de<b>, </b><b>slicing </b>mercilessly into Mari’s tender heart.
“Since you im <b>you’re </b>not <b>an </b>idiot, <b>you </b><b>must </b><b>understand </b>what <b>I’m saying</b>, right? Think about it carefully. If you <b>really </b><b>love </b><b>my </b>brother.”
Having <b>said </b>her piece, Edith rose <b>to </b><b>leave</b>.
“I will not <b>leave </b><b>Jareth</b><b>, </b><b>Mari </b>spoke <b>softly</b><b>, </b><b>her </b><b>head </b><b>still </b><b>bowed </b>but <b>her each </b><b>word </b><b>clear! </b>
<b>Edith’s </b><b>pupils </b><b>dted</b><b>, </b><b>“</b><b>What </b><b>did </b><b>you say</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
“I love <b>Jareth </b>so <b>very </b>much.”
Slowly <b>lifting </b><b>her gaze</b><b>, </b><b>Mari </b><b>mustered </b><b>all </b><b>her </b><b>strength </b>to <b>meet </b><b>Edith’s </b><b>sinister </b><b>stare</b><b>, </b><b>“</b><b>All my life</b>, <b>I’ve </b><b>been </b>a coward<b>, </b><b>never </b>fought for myself<b>, </b><b>never </b><b>truly </b><b>desired </b><b>anything</b>. But <b>now, </b><b>all </b>I <b>want </b><b>is </b><b>to </b><b>be </b><b>with </b><b>Jareth</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Grinding <b>her teeth</b><b>, </b><b>Edith </b>was <b>livid</b>.
“Grandpa may <b>not </b>like me<b>, </b><b>the Fairhaven </b><b>group </b><b>may </b><b>not </b>ept <b>me</b><b>, </b>it <b>doesn’t </b>matter. I <b>don’t </b>seek a <b>title</b>, <b>I </b><b>only </b>want to <b>be </b>with <b>Jareth</b><b>. </b>As long as <b>he </b>doesn’t send me away, I’ll <b>never </b>leave <b>him</b><b>.” </b>
As Mari spoke<b>, </b><b>her </b>eyes shone <b>with </b><b>a </b>brightness sopelling, <b>they outshone </b><b>the </b>stars themselves.
A shameless woman, clinging on desperately and not <b>wanting </b><b>to </b><b>let </b><b>go</b><b>! </b>
Edith <b>clenched </b>her jaw, her <b>high </b>heels clicking <b>sharply </b>as she walked away, ignoring <b>the </b>annoyed looks from <b>those </b>around her
10-31
Lily waited patiently <b>in </b><b>the </b>hallway until the celebration ended.
<b>Finally</b><b>, </b>the doors opened<b>, </b><b>and </b>students poured out withughter and chatter.
<b>Lily </b><b>hurried </b><b>forward </b><b>to </b><b>meet </b>them.
But even after everyone had left, Mari still hadn’te <b>out</b>.
A knot of worry tightened in Lily’s chest, and she rushed through the doors.
<b>In </b>the vast<b>, </b>empty auditorium, Mari’s fragile figure sat alone, motionless.
“Madam!”
Lily ran to her in a panic, only to stop short in shock!
Before her, Mari looked as if her soul had been hollowed out, her face streaked with tears.
<b>“</b><b>Madam</b><b>, </b>what’s happened?!” Lily scrambled to sit beside her, fumbling to offer tissues to dab at her tears.
“Lily.”
Mari, as if her tear ducts had burst, sobbed intermittently, “Am I causing trouble <i>for </i>Jareth? Without me, would he be less troubled?<b>” </b>
<b>“</b>Madam, you mustn’t think like that!”
<b>Lily</b><b>, </b>not knowing what had urred, immediately embraced her, soothing her with patience and tenderness, “The young master loves you more than life itself; without you, he couldn’t live!
Madam, promise me you won’t think this way. The happiest moments of the young master’s life are those spent with you. Even if it meant giving up the entire Fairhaven group, he would never give you up!”
<i>212 </i>