<b>Chapter </b><b>743 </b>
Evadne’s <b>thoughts</b><b>, </b>entangled with <b>sorrow</b><b>, </b><b>snapped </b><b>to </b>rity with the utterance of those words. <b>Things </b>just couldn’t bear closer analysis. The more they thought <b>about </b><b>it</b><b>, </b>the more suspicious and usible it seemed.
<b>“We’ve </b>gone <b>over </b><b>this </b>before. Given Gary and Edith’s capabilities, there’s no way they could have found <b>such </b>formidable <b>help</b>. There’s definitely someone backing them up.”
<b>Thaddeus</b>‘ eyes shone with a piercing gaze as he analyzed coolly, “What if it’s Avery, looking to set a trap and <b>take </b><b>his </b>revenge<b>? </b>It’s certainly not out of the question.
Besides, Aaron mentioned earlier that the hitman is likely a foreigner. Avery’s been entrenched in Helgen for years. Recruiting such an individual to clear the mess for Gary and them shouldn’t be too difficult.”
*Revenge? If Avery wanted revenge, it would be against us! What does he have to do with Jareth and Mari?”
Evadne’s anger was palpable, “He’s got a full belly meddling in the Fairhaven Group affairs now?!”
<b>“</b>Mari is my sister, my blood. Jareth, my best friend.”
Thaddeus pulled at his lips, suppressing the anger in his hoarse voice, “Evadne, do you get it now?”
Out of respect for Mari’s presence, some things were better left unsaid.
Avery, capable of monstrous acts, osciting between a wolf in sheep’s clothing and a cold–blooded devil, would likelysh out at those close to Thaddeus if his direct revenge failed.
He knew Jareth’s soft spot was Mari.
He’d dly hand over a weapon to the Fairhaven Group, y them against each other, and shatter the bond between Jareth and Mari, forcing Thaddeus to taste the agony of losing loved ones!
This empathetic pain was like a dull knife carving into Thaddeus‘ flesh. Evadne caught <i>her </i>breath, and then cast another doubt after a moment of contemtion.
“Thaddeus<b>, </b>your analysis makes some sense. But the circumstances differ each time. Does Snakey Avery need <b>to </b>repeat the same trick? He kept a woman who looks like me around to plot against you, to confuse and distract. Why send an assassin who looks exactly like Hubery? There’s no need. And Avery’s cautious in his dealings. If he used the same ploy twice, wouldn’t it be easy for people to link it back to him? Would he be that foolish, leaving us clues on purpose?”
Thaddeus‘ analysis isn’t without merit.”
Aaron’s eyes were cold and sharp, reiming his usual Captain Ashbourne demeanor, “Using the Fairhaven Group, targeting Jareth, Avery has <b>the </b>motive. But Evadne is right about one thing: there’s no need to nt someone <b>who </b>looks like Hubery. Once that man shows his face, it couldplicate matters, as it has now.”
<b>Mari</b><b>, </b>usually silent<b>, </b>suddenly spoke up, her watery eyes fixed anxiously on Aaron’s determined face, “Aaron, <b>are </b>you suggesting <b>the </b>person behind Jareth’s trouble might not be that young son from the Chambers family, there could <b>be </b><b>someone </b>else?<b>” </b>
<b>Evadne </b>and <b>Thaddeus </b>were <b>taken </b><b>aback</b><b>! </b>
The <b>old </b>Mari was <b>cautious </b><b>and </b>lived <b>humbly</b><b>, </b><b>seemingly </b><b>naive </b><b>and </b>fragile. <b>Jareth </b><b>had </b>always sheltered her like a precious flower <b>in </b><b>a </b>greenhouse, but actually <b>she </b>was perceptive and clear–sighted.
<b>“</b>Yes, Mari<b>, </b>you’re <b>smart</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Aaron gazed into her clear eyes, <b>a </b>tender smile <b>curving </b><b>his </b><b>lips</b><b>, </b>though his <b>heart </b><b>felt </b>bittersweet<b>, </b>“<b>It’s </b>rted to Avery<b>, </b><b>but </b><b>the </b><b>hitman </b><b>might </b><b>not </b><b>be </b><b>his </b>man. <b>Someone </b>else <b>could </b><b>be </b><b>assisting </b><b>him</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Her concern<b>, </b>her <b>attention</b><b>, </b><b>it </b><b>was </b><b>because </b><b>it </b><b>involved </b><b>the </b>person <b>she </b>loved most.
‘Avery’s not alone<b>; </b>there’s someone else <b>behind </b>him,” Mr. <b>and </b>Mrs. <b>Abernathy </b><b>almost </b><b>spoke </b><b>in </b><b>unison</b>!
<b>12-23 </b>
Chapter <b>743 </b>
The situation was tangled and increasinglyplex. <b>So</b><b>, </b>was this a signal from that person <b>to </b>show himself? Could <b>the </b>man bearing <b>a </b>striking resemnce <b>to </b>Hubery and entangling himself with people around them be merely <b>a </b>coincidence<b>? </b>
Avery was already <b>a </b>formidable enemy. The one controlling him, what kind of terrifying power yer could they <b>be</b><b>? </b>
After discussing serious matters, Aaron didn’t stick around and prepared to leave.
Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy escorted him to the door, but to their surprise, Mari rushed out without even grabbing her coat.
“Aaron, wait!”
Aaron watched her approach, his heart fluttering; he quickly uttered, “You’ll catch a cold dressed like that<b>; </b>go <b>back </b>inside<b>!</b><b>” </b>
“I’m not cold; it’s okay.”
Mari stood with rosy cheeks, sincere eyes beaming, “Aaron, those teddy bear pastries you brought mest time, I’ve eaten them all. They were really delicious.”
“No big deal. d you liked them,” Aaron’s smile was bright and genuine.
She pressed her lip and handed him a rolled–up paper, “This is for you. Thanks for the pastries.
Aaron was momentarily stunned, and carefully unrolled it. It was a caricature of him, whimsical yet capturing <b>his </b>essence, lively and endearing. He couldn’t love it more.
“Wow, it really looks like you, Aaron!” Evadne leaned in to admire, impressed.
Thaddeus nodded, “It does.”
“It’s too rushed, too crude. I could have done better,” Mari looked embarrassed, feeling the modest gift was inadequate.
“Not at all; it’s great, really great.”
Aaron fought to stayposed, but his husky voice wavered with delight, “Thank you, Mari. I love it. Oh, right<b>!</b><b>” </b>
He reached back into his car, fetching a pack of crepes, handing them to Mari with an attempt at nonchnce, yet his ears betrayed him<b>, </b>blushing furiously, “I saw <b>it </b>on my way over and couldn’t resist, so I <b>bought </b>one. I haven’t touched them; they’re for you.”
Evadne’s eyes squinted meaningfully. Aaron was a top–notch foodie. How on earth had he managed to resist devouring the crepes until now?
They <b>would’ve </b>been gobbled up in no time on the way home; he’d even chew on the box if he could.
<b>Clearly</b>, he <b>had </b>bought them especially for Mari, just too bashful to present them until now.
<b>“</b><b>Crepes</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>Mari’s somber <b>eyes </b>sparked with <b>intrigue</b><b>. </b>
<b>Others </b><b>wouldn’t </b>believe it, but despite being the heiress to <b>a </b>fortune, she had never tasted thismon dessert.
<b>Due </b><b>to </b><b>her </b><b>health</b><b>, </b>she had been confined <b>to </b>her home by Frederic <b>and </b>Elspeth since childhood<b>, </b>chauffeured to school<b>, </b><b>rarely </b>enjoying the carefree outings <b>with </b>friends <b>that </b><b>ordinary </b>girls took <b>for </b>granted.
Moreover, <b>Frederic </b><b>had </b>always scorned <b>such </b>plebeian treats<b>, </b>so while Mari had seen crepes, she had never tasted <b>one</b>.
Aaron <b>unwrapped the treat </b><b>and </b>offered <b>it </b>to Mari<b>, </b>asking softly, “Try some?”
Initially shy, Mari couldn’t resist <b>the </b>lure <b>of the </b>pastry. Tentatively, like a kitten<b>, </b>she nibbled at the mouthwatering dessert.
10.60
Chapter <b>743 </b>
“Mmm<b>, </b><b>so </b>tasty.”
Aaron couldn’t help but chuckle. The warmth of his genuine smile <b>danced </b>in his eyes as the girl’s <b>innocent </b>face melted his heart<b>, </b><b>just </b>like <b>the </b>crepes <b>before </b>them.
OF DEF 20
<b>“</b>I’ll buy <b>them </b>for you often<b>; </b>how’s that?” The unspoken words, like a love confession<b>, </b>swirled in Aaron’s chest, <b>but </b>he crushed them carefully, scattering them with his tender smile into the wind.
At <b>night</b><b>, </b>after a shared bath, Evadne sat wrapped in a towel before the mirror while Thaddeus dried her thick, luscious locks. His patience was boundless, slowly drying andbing through her hair.
<b>Once </b><b>he </b>finished, he cradled her smooth shoulders, peppering her skin with k*sses, marking her as his own.
Evadne, flushed with warmth, tilted her chin in search of his lips. As their desireden lips met, they spiraled into an abyss of pleasure.
Post–lovemaking, Thaddeus carried his beloved back to the bathroom, perched her on the counter, and rinsed her with the showerhead.
“Thaddeus,” she called him softly.
“Hmm?” He showered her b*dy while leaning in for a k*ss.
“Do you think Jareth is a good match for Mari, or Mr. Ashbourne is?“.
Evadne traced his lips, “I want an impartial opinion.”
Thaddeus gaze darkened, “Evadne, are you trying to set Mari up with Aaron?”
“Not exactly.” Evadne shook her head, “I just want Mari to be happy.”
“Jareth is fiery; Mr. Ashbourne is refreshing. In terms of looks, capability, background…they’re evenly matched, neither would wrong Mari.“.
Thaddeus‘ hands caressed her waist, tenderly k*ssing her fair skin, “But I think, my sister deserves to fall head. over <b>heels </b>without a worry. It’s up to whom she prefers; that’s what matters most.”
Evadne nodded slightly, her rosy lips pressed. Indeed, what good were a thousand virtues if they didn’t match Mari’s own heart’s desire?
Yet, Evadne still harbored a nagging fear, anxious that someone from the Fairhaven Group might target this poor girl again.
Back in the bedroom, just as they settled down, Thaddeus‘ phone buzzed to life.
“Who is it?<b>” </b>Yawned Evadne.
Thaddeus‘ pupils contracted instantly, “It’s Jareth!”