Chapter <b>722 </b>
“My teddy bear, my little teddy bear.”
In the suffocating darkness<b>, </b>Mari clung to the icy wall, her b*dy trembling as she hugged her knees to her chest.
That man had taken her teddy bear, and it felt as if he had shattered her soul, and ripped the spine from her b*dy. Her mind was nk, cold sweat cascading down her pale, pretty cheeks like rain.
*Jareth, where are you, pleasee save me.”
Suddenly, every light in the room zed on. Beams of harsh fluorescent light assaulted Mari’s pallid face, the interrogation–like brightness pushing her already fragile psyche to the brink.
“Jareth, I’m so scared. Jareth,” tears streamed endlessly from Mari’s tightly shut eyes..
She couldn’t remember anything; even the loving, tender moments she had shared with Jareth seemed to twist and fade into the distance.
The massive screen on the wall, like a dark curtain, flickered to life.
Mari forced her swollen eyes open, the tears turning her vision red as they flooded her sockets.
And when she saw the woman on the screen, bound, beaten, and blindfolded, unmistakably Lily.
A thunderous crash, her mental fortress crumbledpletely.
In the boardroom of the Fairhaven Group, the directors‘ meetingmenced as scheduled.
Chairman Barry sat at the center of the table, a king among his loyal subjects. He had built this empire through ordeal from the ground up<b>, </b>and now, his presence in the Fairhaven Group was nothing short of imperial.
Although Barry was gradually handing over the reins to Jareth, there were a few old–timers who resisted the young heir, pledging allegiance only to the patriarch.
It wasn’t just about respect – they feared that with Jareth’s ascent, their own power and profit would diminish, which would prevent them from seeking benefit.
@
They knew supporting Gary would lead thepany into decline, but not everyone was interested in the grand future of the Fairhaven Group. Some were only concerned with maximizing their current benefits.
<b>This </b>was the main reason Gary, despite hisck ofpetence, could stand toe–to–toe with Jareth.
Barry cleared his throat with pomp and surveyed the room with an authoritative gaze.
“I believe you <b>all </b>know what I’m about to announce at today’s meeting.”
Jareth’s noble brow furrowed slightly, a sense of disquiet pricking at his heart, making it flutter uncontrobly.
Since <b>the </b>meeting began, he had been ncing at his phone every minute <b>or </b>two. He didn’t know what made him so anxious, but
<b>his </b>heart wouldn’t settle.
All eyes turned to Jareth. <b>Gary</b>, sitting across from him, red with icy hostility, but a few secondster<b>, </b><b>a </b>subtle, malicious smile crept across his l*ps.
<b>“</b>And now<b>, </b><b>I </b>dere that my grandson Jareth will assume the role of CEO of the Fairhaven Group and officially join the board of directors!”
Barry’s deration had <b>barely </b>ended and <b>the </b>people present were about to apud when Gary slowly stood up, his voice dripping
<b>with </b>dissent<b>. </b>
“I object<b>!</b>”
The room fell into stunned silence.
Jareth’s eyes <b>fixed </b>on Gary’s <b>treacherous </b>face <b>with </b>a barely concealed threat, <b>a </b>tempest brewing in <b>his </b>piercing gaze. That look was enough to strike fear.
For a moment, <b>Gary </b><b>felt </b>a vice <b>tighten </b>around his heart. But then he thought, why should he fear <b>this </b>young wolf<b>? </b>He was the elder<b>, </b>the sole son of <b>the </b>patriarch! He was determined to fight this battle <b>to </b>the end, at any cost.
<b>Barry </b>pondered for a <b>moment</b><b>, </b><b>then </b>spoke solemnly, “Gary<b>, </b>over <b>this </b>long period of <b>time</b><b>, </b><b>Jareth </b>has proven himself with his reputation <b>and </b>business acumen <b>– </b><b>he’s </b>the obvious choice for CEO of the <b>Fairhaven </b>Group. You’ll need <b>to </b>provide a reason <b>for </b>your objection.”
Gary puffed out <b>his </b><b>chest</b><b>, </b><b>shooting </b>a venomous look <b>at </b><b>Jareth’s </b><b>frosty </b><b>features </b><b>before </b>addressing <b>Barry</b>.
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12:51
<b>“</b><b>Dad</b><b>.” </b>
<b>“</b>On <b>this </b>table<b>, </b>we use titles,” Barry’s disdain for Gary’s fl*ppancy was clear. It was a stark contrast <b>to </b><b>his </bte eldest <b>son</b><b>, </b><b>Jareth’s </b>father, who was beyondpare.
“Mr. Barry Fairhaven.<b>” </b><b>Gary </b>corrected begrudgingly, “By promoting Jareth <b>to </b><b>CEO</b><b>, </b>you’re effectively naming him the heir <b>to </b>the Fairhaven family, right<b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>Barry </b>nodded in affirmation.
<b>“</b>If that’s the case, then Jareth’s position is of <b>utmost </b>importance.”
<b>Gary’s </b>face feigned shock as hevishly praised Jareth, “He’s not just the CEO of the Fairhaven Group; as your only grandson, he’s the future of the entire Fairhaven family. That’s akin to a crown prince!”
“What <b>are </b>you getting at<b>?</b><b>” </b>Jareth, sensing no good will, stared him down, his eyes darkening.
“I’m saying that your every action affects the reputation of the Fairhaven Group, and your marriage is crucial to thepany’s future<b>.</b><b>” </b>
A sly gleam crossed Gary’s eyes, “This is no child’s y.”
“Whom I marry <b>is </b>my own business.” Jareth’s fist was clenched on the table, his eyes a terrifying shade of red, “No one has any say <b>in </b>it.”
Without a single shot fired, everyone in the room felt the tension cut like a knife.
“I’m just your uncle; I naturally can’t control everything. But Mr. Barry Fairhaven, your grandfather, the head of the Fairhaven family, with his final say in all matters <b>– </b>surely he has a say in this, doesn’t he?”
Gary snorted with a mix of humor and resentment, then his face twisted into a mask of indignant injustice, “Mr. Barry Fairhaven, Our Fairhaven Group might be fourth among the top families, but we’re still a force to be reckoned with, a distinguished lineage.
With Jareth’s looks and abilities, he might not snag a blue–blooded heiress like Ms. Ashbourne, but does he have to bring home a nutcase? Is our family really that desperate?!”
The room was a storm of shocked faces and gasps. A nutcase?!
Mr. Jareth Fairhaven’s fiancée, the Abernathy family’s darling daughter, was she mentally ill? Was this a match of equals or some kind of misdirected charity work?
“Gary.”
Jareth remained seated, an aura of fury around him that seemed capable of consuming the world. His voice was a raspy warning of impending doom, “You publicly insult my fiancée. Have you considered the consequences?”
The murmurings ceased abruptly. A born leader sat still as a mountain but carried the power to intimidate all wrongdoing.
“Insult? I’m merely stating the facts. Where’s the insult in that?”
<b>Gary </b>smirked coldly, and then with a flourish, scattered a stack of papers across the table. They slid from one end to the other, “Come on now, take one each – let’s all have a look! This is Ms. Mari Abernathy’s psychological assessment report! Jareth, if I’m fabricating even half <b>a </b>word, may I be struck down!”