Chapter 238

The Fairhaven household staff gasped in unison, hands flying to cover their mouths in shock.

This woman—Elspeth—daring to ride on the Abernathy chairman's favor, was she trying to stir up a scandal within the Fairhaven family?

Every eye in the room turned toward Edith, including a stunned Mrs. Jareth.

"Edith," Mrs. Jareth demanded, voice trembling, "is what Elspeth saying true?"

Edith's face instantly morphed into an expression of wounded innocence. She bit her lip, her voice dripping with feigned hurt. "Mummy, I would never do such a thing! The whole idea of forging jewelry to win over Ada was Glynnis's scheme!"

Glynnis's face twisted in fury. She lunged forward, finger jabbing accusingly. "Edith, stop lying! It was your plan from the start—using me to tarnish Evadne's reputation by replicating Alea's jewelry!"

"Evadne?" Mrs. Jareth's eyes widened. "The Ashbourne heiress? What does she have to do with this?"

Edith's throat tightened, a bead of sweat sliding down her temple.

This idiot Glynnis. She’d dragged Evadne into it. There was no turning back now.

"Elspeth," a cold voice cut through the chaos like a blade, "do you think this is a street market where you can screech like a banshee?"

Jareth strode in, his presence commanding silence. His smirk was sharp, his gaze sharper.

"Your petty squabbles mean nothing, but don’t you dare drag the Fairhaven name through the mud."

"Mr. Jareth!" The staff bowed in unison.

"Jareth!" Edith’s eyes welled with crocodile tears as she rushed to him, clinging to his arm.

Jareth had always despised Glynnis. He’d doted on Edith since childhood. Surely he’d take her side without question.

"Mr. Jareth!" Elspeth bristled. "You and Thaddeus are like brothers. Our families are connected. How dare you speak to me, your elder, with such disrespect?"

"My friendship with Thad is between us," Jareth drawled, tilting his head mockingly. "What does that have to do with you, Elspeth? You didn’t raise him."

His smile turned razor-thin. "You’ve never shown him kindness, yet now you wield his name like a shield. Do you think I’m fooled?"

Elspeth recoiled.

The Jareth before her now was nothing like the polite young man she’d seen at the Abernathy estate. Here, his disdain was laid bare.

Was Frederic’s favor the only thing keeping her afloat? Without it, was she nothing in the eyes of these young wolves?

A chill slithered down her spine.

For over two decades, she’d had everything—except basic respect.

"Jareth!" Edith wailed, pressing herself against him. "Glynnis is framing me! She got herself into trouble and now she’s dragging me down with her!"

Her fingers dug into his sleeve. "I know I was wrong! You warned me about her, but I didn’t listen. Now I’m paying the price. I’ll never disobey you again!"

Jareth’s gaze darkened. "Edith," he said slowly, "is Glynnis telling the truth?"

His voice was dangerously calm. "Were you the one who orchestrated the counterfeit jewelry to frame Evadne?"

"No!" Edith’s face paled. "It was all Glynnis!"

"Liar!" Glynnis snarled, stepping forward. "The forger was Alea’s apprentice—from Aetheria! I don’t have connections there, but you do! You studied abroad there!"

Her eyes burned with fury. "If you won’t admit it, I’ll bring Tyler here and make you face him!"

"Face him?" Edith scoffed. "You’ve probably bribed him already! This is just another one of your traps!"

The argument spiraled, accusations flying like daggers.

"Ms. Edith," Elspeth cut in, smirking, "your plan was quite clever—using my daughter to attack Evadne, all while keeping your hands clean. If it worked, you benefited. If it failed, Glynnis took the fall."

She tilted her head. "Too bad Evadne turned out to be Alea herself. Your scheme crumbled."

Edith’s face flushed crimson. "Elspeth! I respected you as an elder. How dare you slander me?"

"Edith," Mrs. Jareth whispered, horrified, "did you really plot against Evadne?"

The shock made her sway, her grip on the banister the only thing keeping her upright.

"Mom! Jareth!" Edith stomped her foot, reverting to childhood theatrics. "Why would I target Evadne? I have no reason!"

In the past, this act had always worked. Jareth would relent, smoothing things over.

But now, his expression remained unreadable.

Glynnis snorted. "No reason? You’re obsessed with Thad! You can’t stand that he still cares for Evadne!"

Elspeth smirked, twisting the knife. "And let’s not forget—Evadne isn’t just important to Thaddeus. Mr. Jareth once pursued her too."

Her gaze slid to Jareth. "A man of honor wouldn’t let anyone harm a woman he once cherished, would he?"

Edith trembled, fists clenched. "Jareth! Don’t listen to them! I like Thad, but they’re divorced! Why would I—"

Jareth’s face darkened like a gathering storm.

Before he could speak, his secretary, Lily, rushed in.

"Mr. Jareth," she said urgently, "the police are here."

Her eyes flicked to Glynnis. "They must have tracked her from the Abernathy estate."

Glynnis’s legs buckled.

Elspeth’s grip on her daughter’s arm turned vice-like.

"Miss Glynnis!"

Two officers strode in, their voices cutting through the tension. "You’re under investigation for leaking K Orld Hotel’s business secrets. Come with us."