<b>Chapter </b><b>739 </b>
The incident had left Glynnis with <b>no </b>choice but to leave Elmsworth for good. Yet Thaddeus couldn’t shake off the gloom that clung to him.
Stepping out of Windermere Estate, he called Jareth only to be greeted by the silence of an unanswered call.
In their two decades of friendship, such circumstance was rare and unsettling.
That evening, Evadne brought out a box of assorted pastries sent by Aaron and shared them with Mari. The room, aglow with a soft, warm light, became the stage for a small act of kindness as Evadne presented the treats <b>to </b>her with a smile that crinkled her eyes.
“Mari, you just have to try these. They’ve been here since morning and I’ve been dying to dig in, but I wanted to wait for you.”
Mari’s frail form was propped against the headboard, her pale, delicate face thinner than ever, which distressed Evadne; the former responded softly, “You should have eaten, Evadne; there’s no need to wait on
me<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Evadne blinked, “Oh, but I couldn’t. They were especially picked out for you!<b>” </b>
“Who got them for me?”
Evadne paused, while Mari’s keen mind gently prodded, “Is it Aaron?”
“Yes, it’s from Aaron,” since she asked, Evadne preferred honesty to avoid further pretense.
“Did Aarone by?<b>” </b>
As innocent and pure as Mari was, her eyes brightened at the thought of him, “He came all the way; why <b>didn’t </b>hee in for a bit?”
“He’s a busy man, had to rush back to the police department for a case.”
“Then when you have a moment, could you make a call and thank him for me?” Mari’sely features were a portrait of sincerity.
Evadne nodded, somehow a bittersweet feeling washing over her. She could tell that Mari had no appetite; even dinner had been a small affair, let alone pastries.
Still, Mari persisted, taking small bites, swallowing with effort, a faint joy lighting up her features.
“They’re delicious, sweet. You should try one too, Evadne.”
“Alright<b>,” </b>Evadne managed, choking back a sob, the pastry squished in her grip.
<b>Mari had </b>learned <b>to </b>care for others, to hide her struggles so as not to worry her loved ones. In her <b>grandfather’s </b>presence, she ate heartily, all to keep his worries at bay.
<b>But </b>such pretense only deepened Evadne’s heartache. Mari had grown up; gone were the carefree days of
<b>innocence</b>.
<b>At </b><b>that </b>moment, <b>noticing </b>Mari’s loose, silky hair, Evadne asked in astonishment, “Mari, where’s your favorite <b>white </b>jade <b>hairpin</b><b>? </b>I <b>don’t </b>see it<b>.</b>”
Mari’s <b>hand</b><b>, </b>holding <b>the </b><b>pastry</b>, <b>suddenly </b>tensed, her <b>eyshes </b>trembling, “I gave it to <b>Lily</b>. I asked her <b>to </b>
return <b>it </b><b>to </b><b>Jareth</b><b>.” </b>
Evadne’s <b>heart </b>clenched<b>, </b><b>she </b>grasped Mari’s cold <b>hands</b><b>, </b><b>“</b><b>You </b><b>returned </b><b>the </b><b>hairpin </b><b>to </b><b>Jareth</b>? Are you sure about <b>this</b><b>? </b>Do you know what <b>this </b><b>means</b><b>?!</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b><b>I </b>know<b>.</b><b>” </b><b>Mari’s </b><b>voice </b>was <b>barely </b><b>audible</b><b>, </b>her <b>eyes </b>like <b>shattered </b><b>crystal</b><b>, </b><b>“</b>It means <b>I </b>have <b>to </b><b>let </b>go of Jareth<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“<b>Mari</b>, look at me.” <b>Evadne </b>gripped <b>her </b><b>thin </b><b>shoulder</b><b>, </b>eyes <b>fixed </b><b>on </b><b>her </b><b>dim </b><b>ones</b><b>, </b><b>“</b>Have <b>you </b><b>really </b>decided<b>? </b>Are you willing <b>to </b><b>let </b><b>him </b><b>go</b><b>? </b><b>Don’t </b>make a <b>choice </b><b>you’ll </b>regret. <b>Some </b>people<b>, </b><b>once </b>gone<b>, </b><b>may </b><b>never </be
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Chapter <b>739 </b>
<b>back</b>.”
“Evadne<b>, </b>I’ve <b>thought </b><b>it </b><b>through</b><b>; </b>it’s <b>hot </b><b>a </b>rash decision.”
A <b>content </b>smile crossed Mari’s <b>face </b>as she closed her eyes, “Only by parting can we both find the <b>best </b>oue. <b>To </b>have had time together, to hold precious memories, is enough. I cherished the vibrant Jareth I <b>once </b><b>knew</b>. I want him to be true to himself. By my side, I’d only bind him, hold him back.”
Evadne felt as if her <b>heart </b>was crushed under the weight of a great wheel.
Returning to her room, eyes brimming with tears, Evadne found Thaddeus waiting.
“Evadne, why are your eyes so red? Have you been crying?”
He quickly wrapped his arms around her slender waist, pulling her close with a tenderness that spoke of deep affection, “Who’s upset you? Your husband is here to set things right.”
“With you looking out for me, who would dare?” Evadne’s head leaned against his shoulder, his ferventness seeping through her b*dy, which rendered her some sce, “It’s Mari.”
Concern red in Thaddeus, “What’s happened to Mari?”
“She wants to break up with Jareth.”
“Why?” His breath hitched.
“The recent events seem a huge impact; it’s scared her, drained her. She feels like she’s weighing Jareth down.”
Evadne lifted her face, arms around his neck, a heavy sigh escaping her, “I understand her feelings. Too much love makes one cautious, unable tomit fully, to relish love as before.”
<b>“</b>No wonder I’ve been trying to reach Jareth all day with no luck. It seems he knows,” Thaddeus‘ jaw tightened with worry for his friend.
Personal and external turmoil, and now the prospect of losing his love. This could well be the darkest day in Jareth’s life.
“Even if Jareth can handle his family’s opposition, what about Mari’s side? Grandfather and your father are likely furious with the Fairhaven family. How could they ever agree to let Mari marry into that family?”
Evadne’s clear eyes held anger and helplessness, “Thinking back to how my family reacted to us, and considering this situation is far worse – this was the entire Fairhaven Group scheming against a young woman, toying <b>with </b>her as if she were a fool. The level of deceit and malice is unbearable. Any parent with a shred of conscience wouldn’t dream of throwing their kid into a lion’s den. And did you see Jareth stepping up <b>to </b>shield her? No, he didn’t. What if something even more terrifying happens next time? Who in their right mind would gamble with their child’s safety?”
“<b>Jareth’s </b>capable of looking out for Mari. This whole mess, I bet someone’s pulling strings or making moves <b>behind </b><b>the </b>scenes, stirring <b>up </b>trouble with the Fairhaven Group.”
<b>Thaddeus</b>‘ brows <b>were </b>knitted together in frustration, “Otherwise, I can’t believe those two mongrels, Edith and <b>Gary</b><b>, </b><b>could pull </b>off something like this on their own!”
<b>“</b>I’m with you on <b>that</b><b>. </b>Let’s wait for the word from Aaron.<b>” </b>
<b>Just </b>as <b>Evadne </b><b>finished </b><b>speaking</b>, Thaddeus‘ phone buzzed to life. He hit <b>the </b>speaker button, <b>“</b>Gordon, what’s <b>up</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>Gordon </b>could <b>barely </b>contain his excitement<b>, </b><b>“</b><b>Mr. </b>Thaddeus <b>Abernathy</b>! <b>I </b><b>just </b><b>got </b>word from our guy. Right <b>after </b>Glynnis took <b>those </b>two <b>ps </b>from you, Mr. Frederic <b>Abernathy </b>rushed her <b>to </b><b>the </b><b>hospital</b><b>. </b>And <b>guess </b>what<b>? </b><b>She’s </b><b>gone </b><b>deaf</b>!<b>” </b>