Aaron’s brow furrowed tighter, <b>his </b>gaze growing icier by the second,
“So you’re telling me to back off?”
Jareth’s throat felt parched, and just as his lips parted to speak, Aaron cut in, “Ever since I found out you two were head over heels for each other, I’ve kept myself on the sidelines. Hell, I even avoided Mari to keep you from getting the wrong idea, despite how much I cared for her. Jareth, the ball’s always been in your <b>court</b>, whether it was your issues or your family’s. Now that you’ve split up, why can’t I have my shot?”
A piercing retortnded squarely in Jareth’s chest, leaving him stunned and speechless.
“You two are over. There’s nothing wrong with me pursuing Mari now. If you still love her, then go ahead, spill your guts to her. We can have an honestpetition. You can try to reignite whatever you had, and I won’t interfere. But here you are, asking me to step aside and hand you the opportunity. Mr. Fairhaven, don’t you think that’s a bit overbearing?”
Aaron’s voice was edged with an unweing chill, each word deliberate, “Your feelings for Mari are genuine, but aren’t mine just as real? You’d die for her, and you think I wouldn’t? What’s the point in saying all this to a rival, other than to pat yourself on the back?”
Guilt, self–reproach, and resentment, a multitude of emotions tore through Jareth’s weary soul.
That time, on the art school’s rooftop, if it hadn’t been for Aaron’s shrewd negotiation skills and swift reflexes saving Mari from the clutches of a thug, Jareth might have lost his love forever.
“Can I see Mari?”
Jareth’s eyes were red rimmed, his plea desperate and humble, “I swear, I won’t interfere with you two, I won’t fight orpete anymore. Just let me see her, <b>okay</b>?”
“If there’s nothing else, I have work to get back to.”
Aaron didn’t look at him again, expressionlessly opening the car door.
Jareth sat there, his spirit <b>drained</b>, as Aaron paused with half his body out of the car, dropping a heavy decision with a casual remark,
“Yesterday, I made ns with Mari to take her to the amusement park this weekend, have some fun, watch the fireworks.”
Then, he got out of the car with agile movements.
It took Jareth a long while to regain hisposure, until Aaron’smanding figure vanished through the precinct doors. His pale lips muttered <b>a </b>faint,
“Thank you.
Fast forward to Friday.
Gary was discharged from the hospital, and because Barry insisted on him going abroad for “recuperation“, he couldn’t <b>stay </b>in any longer even if he/wanted to.
As he walked into his home<b>, </b>he was greeted by chaos. The servants rushed to <b>him</b>, iming that Mrs. Fairhaven hade in the morning with a crew, taking all valuables and smashing anything they couldn’t carry. The damage was estimated in the millions.
After Gary’s divorce, this ce was like being robbed.
Everyone <b>expected </b>Gary, known for <b>his </b><b>love </b>of money, <b>to </b>erupt in rage.
Instead, he merely acknowledged them with a detached “I know,” and left them hanging as he ascended the
stairs
Chapter 769)
However, this abnormal calm was even more chilling.
Gary had just entered the barren room when April’s call came through,
“<b>Mr. </b>Fairhaven, you’re out of the hospital, about to emigrate and live out your years infort. Isn’t it time to hurry up with the divorce proceedings?”
April’s voice dripped with sarcasm, her words prodding at his pride, “Dragging your feet serves no purpose. The longer you wait, the looser my lips get. If I let slip some unsavory details, won’t that just worsen your predicament?”
Gary pulled a fruit knife from the coffee table and emotionlessly began carving letters into the expensive mahogany, “April, I used to be your husband anyway. I’ve never skimped on taking care of you since you married into the Fairhaven family. I didn’t want it toe to this, and I still have feelings for you. Can we renegotiate the divorce settlement? You’re practically cleaning me out. At the end of the day, I’m still the Fairhaven family’s second son. You gotta leave me some dignity.”
“Dignity? You’re a cripple now, with no shares, no power, barely clinging to life. What use do you have for such a luxury as dignity?”
April’s voice was full of scorn and resentment, “All these years, I’ve been Mrs. Fairhaven in name only, while you never gave me a second nce, gallivanting around with your wild parties <b>as </b>if I were nothing but a decoration! That I could tolerate, but you hid your infertility from me, pinning the me on me for not having. kids, making me the butt of jokes among the Elmsworth elite, the hen that can’ty eggs! Gary, do you think 1 would have married you if not for your Fairhaven family name? Stripped of the Fairhaven Group’s halo, you’re less than a beggar on the street. I’ve waited long for this day! Tomorrow morning is your final deadline. If you don’t sign, I’ll go straight to Barry myself. Don’t push me to say something you won’t like to hear!”
The call ended.
The room was as silent as a grave.
With an impassive face<b>, </b>Gary set down the knife and dialed his trusted associate Jackson,
“Tonight, bring the gear. Before we leave, we’ll see Barry onest time. Thest time in this life.” With that, he rose and left the room, leaving behind the twisted, carved word “dead” on the coffee table<b>. </b>
The Fairhaven family.
In the still of the night, Barry was in his study with his secretary, sorting through his assets and shares.
“Mr. Fairhaven, are you truly resolved to transfer all this to Mr. Fairhaven?”
The secretary looked incredulously across the polished mahogany desk, double–checking his boss‘ intent. “Once you hand these over to Mr. Fairhaven, you’re essentially putting the entire Fairhaven Group into his -hands.”
Barry picked up his pen, a hint of resignation in his eyes. “I’m well aware. Why else would I have you draft up the paperwork?”
“Mr. Fairhaven, the Fairhaven Group is your life’s work. Without you, it wouldn’t exist. Are you truly ready to let gopletely<b>?</b>”
Barry chuckled dryly, a bitter edge to hisughter as he shook his head. I’m knocking on death’s door. What use is <b>a </b>business empire to me? You can’t take it with you.”
His face grew somber as he recounted recent events, “Ever since Jareth came storming in, making threats, andnded Gary in the hospital, I’ve seen the light. If I cling to power, I’ll only plunge thepany into deeper chaos. It could drive Jareth to do something drastic. Deep down, I’ve always known he’s got the makings of a leader. He inherited Kris‘ sharp <b>intellect</b>, keeps his wits about him despite his wild ways, and he’s got the likes of Thaddeus as a friend. That boy’s path is only going to broaden from here. I was too harsh, using his uncle as leverage against him, stubbornly standing in the way of his marriage to the Abernathy girl. It all spiraled out of control. If only I had stepped down sooner, handed the reins over to Jareth. He was always my chosen
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sessor. But here I am<b>, </b><b>an </b>old man, riddled with doubts, nothing like the decisive leader I once was.”
The secretary rushed to console him. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. Without your guidance, Mr. Fairhaven wouldn’t have thrived all these years. Your strict approach was to shape him into a capable man.”
With a heavy sigh, Barry signed the transfer documents and pressed his seal onto the parchment. He called in his long–time attorney, handed over the paperwork, and instructed him to wait until the dust settled before passing them on to Jareth..
His phone rang just then.
He saw it was Gary calling. Barry didn’t want to pick up, but considering he was about to leave Elmsworth for good, he believed in tying up loose ends. Reluctantly, he answered.
“Gary, haven’t you left the country yet?”
<b>“</b>Dad, you sure seem eager to get rid of me.” Gary’s voice wasced with a mocking amusement.
Barry’s brows furrowed. “What do you want at thiste hour?”
“I heard you’re packing up, nning to leave Elmsworth?”
“That’s right. Jareth’s taking over the Fairhaven Group, and the chaos is under control. It’s time I retired.”
“You’re leaving, I’m leaving. This goodbye might be for good. I suppose you don’t want to see your silly son anymore,” Gary said with a self–deprecating sigh.
Barry frowned. “A father and son don’t carry grudges overnight. Don’t overthink it.”
<b>“</b>Dad, I’m at the vi you bought for Mom.”
Gary’s tone suddenly softened, filled with sadness. You built this empire, and Mom was your loyal partner. You always looked so in love. Now that you’re leaving, don’t you want to take something of hers with you, to keep her memory close? I’d also like to see you one more time. If you still consider me your <b>son</b>, we should part on proper terms.”
After a moment’s contemtion and a gravelly voice, Barry agreed, “Alright, I’lle by shortly.”
“I’ll be here, waiting for you.”
No sooner had Barry and his secretary left than April stormed in. She’d been waiting for Gary all day, calls unanswered, driving her to confront Gary directly and pin more me on him.
“What? Gary left? Where to?” April demanded<b>, </b>grabbing the butler by the arm.
The butler, taken aback, stuttered, “He’s headed to the Fairhaven family estate.”
April spun on her heel and exited in a hurry.
Barry wouldn’t go to the family estate without good reason; Gary had to be there.
Tonight,e hell or high water, she was determined to get Gary’s signature on those divorce papers. She could wait, but her young lover couldn’t.