Mani, weakened by <b>a </b>hefty dose of sedatives and overwhelmed by the shock, remained unconscious until the following morning.
As to Jareth.
His robust yet stiff figure stood like a statue in the frosty courtyard, feeling alone and numb to the bone from the cold.
His handsome face was <b>pale </b>from blood loss, but still he dared not move.
Because he knew that he was close to his breaking point.
But he truly didn’t want to leave; he still hoped to be the first person Mari saw when she awoke.
Why<b>? </b>
They <b>used </b>to be inseparable and entwined day and night.
<b>Now</b><b>, </b>even seeing each other had be so <b>difficult</b>.
In a daze, Jareth faintly heard the hurried yet steady footsteps approaching him.
<b>“</b>Jareth, I’m taking you home.”
Thaddeus‘ voice was low and maic, tinged with the slight reprimand of an older brother, but mostly filled with deep concern. “You’re being ridiculous! Torturing yourself like this is pointless!”
“<b>Heh</b>.”
Jareth’s eyshes were heavy with the cold mist, and his frozen cheeks could hardly form a proper expression. “Back in the day, you camped out at the Ashbourne residence to atone to Evadne and to beg her family for forgiveness. Howe it’s not okay for me to do the same?”
Thaddeus choked up for a moment, with his throat tight. “Our situations are different.”
“What’s so different? I want to be forgiven by Hamilton and I want to see my wife just like you did. What’s the difference?!”
Ovee with emotion, Jareth felt his world turned hazy, and his b*dy, drained of strength, began to leant
forward.
“Jareth!”
Thaddeus immediately steadied him with his arms. Thank goodness he was taller and stronger than Jareth; otherwise, an average man couldn’t have held him.
Thad, I miss her,”
With his eyes swollen from tears, Jareth rested his head on the broad shoulder of Thad while taking sharp. breaths, his voice as ragged as if it were being sliced by a knife. “Without Mari, it feels like my heart has <b>been </b>ripped out.”
While saying this, he pounded his chest with his fist. “It really hurts here. Thad, it’s killing me
*Listen to me, let’s go to the hospital first, and get you checked out,”
Thaddeus patiently patted his trembling back<b>, </b>feeling the shared pain <b>reaching </b>his heart. “Then you’lle to Evadne’s and my ce, get some sleep, and let Alvo look after you. Once you’re awake, I’ll let <b>you </b>see Mari.”
After much persuasion, Thaddeus and Dean managed to get Jareth into the car.
At the hospital, Jarethy in his bed hooked up to an IV, coughing weakly.
He had indeed fallen ill from the cold<b>. </b>
12
“Mr. Fairhaven, I’ve cleaned up the video from the Inte, and I’ve managed to contain any negativements about thedy,” reported Dean, standing by the bed with dark circles under his eyes fromck of sleep. “I know these actions might seem futile now, but I believe that as long as you don’t give up and patiently stay by her side, with time passing, everything will get better.”
Jareth stared at the ceiling. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it, serving you and thedy is my duty!” Dean quickly shook his head.
Thaddeus finally asked with a dark expression, “Jareth, why did the Fairhavens suddenly turn against Mari? Why harp on her illness? <b>It’s </b>all a bit too sinister.”
<b>“</b>During yesterday’s board meeting, Gary presented Mari’s psychiatric evaluation in front of all the directors, Jareth’s grip on the sheets revealed the tension in his veins.
“What are you saying?” Thaddeus‘ brows knitted together sharply.
The situation was more serious, moreplex and more malicious than they had realized!
*Looking back, nothing has been right from the start.”
Jareth sat up with support, his pale l*ps struggling to move. “When Gary brought out the evaluation, I didn’t see <b>a </b>flicker of surprise on Grandfather’s face. He didn’t even touch the document, which means that he knew about Mari’s condition and had seen the report before the meeting. He’s been enabling Gary from the start, and he’s beenplicit in all this. But how did Gary get his hands on this confidential document from the Abernathy family? Hamilton and Frederic wouldn’t disclose it, and Elspeth is dead.”
“Who else but Glynnis?”
Thaddeus‘ eyes red with anger. “Elspeth and Glynnis were thick as thieves, sharing secrets and resources. Elspeth was a junkie; there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for her own benefit. Even though Glynnis is an Abernathy, she couldn’t have essed that report on her own; it had to havee from Elspeth.”
“Was Glynnis conspiring with Gary?” Jareth’s pupils contracted.
“Don’t forget your dearest sister, the queen of chaos.”
Thaddeus let out a chillingugh. “She and Glynnis have always been close, so it couldn’t be more perfect to use her as the intermediary.”
While Chambers Group had Avery for every crisis, the Fairhaven group had Edith.
Heaven has no eyes, allowing these two rotten eggs to unite!
Just then, Gordon’s call came through.
Thaddeus hit the speaker button. “Gordon, what’s the news?”
“Mr. Thaddeus, our guys watching the Windermere Estate said thatst night Glynnis drove out alone to Rainbow Club in Wye.”
Thaddeus exchanged a grim look with Jareth. “Who did she meet there?”
“Our people waited half the night. Not long after Glynnis left, Edith and Mr. Bartley’s son came out. They didn’t leave together, though; instead they got into their own cars and drove off!”
<b>2/2 </b>