Chapter 304

Jareth's explosive fury left Edith deeply shaken.

Before her eyes, Jareth's secretary and Manny faced brutal punishment. Manny, who had served Jareth for years, had his tongue cut out. From the look of him, he wouldn't last much longer.

All because of some girl named Mari.

Was Jareth really going this far for a fool? What was she, his own sister, compared to that? It felt like a cruel joke!

Leaving the villa, Edith returned to the Fairhaven mansion, her face twisted with resentment.

On the drive back, memories of Jareth's past affection for her flooded her mind. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became, crying the entire way. By the time she arrived, she had made a decision.

No matter what it took, she would tear Jareth and Mari apart. She refused to let some dimwitted, lowborn girl become her sister-in-law.

"Edith! You're finally home!"

Mrs. Fairhaven, Jareth's mother, rushed to embrace her daughter, eyes brimming with tears. "Darling, your flight landed hours ago! Why are you only just arriving? I've been worried sick!"

"Mother." Edith's eyes reddened at the sight of her, humiliation still fresh in her mind.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? You look upset. Did someone hurt you?"

Mrs. Fairhaven cupped her daughter's face. "Where's Jareth? Didn’t he pick you up? Why isn’t he with you?"

Edith lowered her head, shaking it sadly.

"Jareth! He used to dote on you endlessly. Now he's neglecting you for that Abernathy girl, shipping you off to Aetheria without a second thought. He couldn’t even be bothered to greet his own sister when she returned! What is wrong with him?"

Mrs. Fairhaven stroked Edith's cold cheeks. "Jareth hasn’t been home in days! I know he’s busy, but he’s never been this distant before. He’s avoiding us—ignoring his own sister! I don’t understand what’s gotten into him!"

"I know why Jareth hasn’t come home."

"What?" Mrs. Fairhaven froze.

Edith clenched her fists, voice trembling. "Mother, I have to tell you something. But promise me you won’t lose your temper, okay?"

"What is it, Edith? You’re scaring me!"

"Jareth is dating Elspeth’s daughter." Edith spat the words out like poison.

"Who? Elspeth? That wretched woman’s child?" Mrs. Fairhaven recoiled, stunned.

"Yes! Glynnis’s younger sister—Elspeth’s daughter!"

Edith gripped her mother’s arm, shaking it. "Mother! What is Jareth thinking? Elspeth and her daughter humiliated us, accused us of crimes, nearly sent me to prison! And now Jareth is tangled up with Glynnis’s sister? How could he betray me like this? He doesn’t care about me anymore!"

Mrs. Fairhaven’s face darkened. Her son was her pride—brilliant, powerful, unmatched. She knew the Abernathy family was influential, and Jareth had always been close with Thaddeus.

But she forced herself to stay calm. "Edith, I despise Elspeth’s daughter too. But you know your brother. He enjoys mingling with noblewomen, yet he’s never brought one home. He’s never been serious about anyone. This infatuation with Elspeth’s daughter will pass, just like all the others."

"No! It’s different this time!"

Edith’s eyes burned with fury. "Jareth hasn’t come home because he’s living with Mari! He bought her a house—like she’s his secret mistress!"

Mrs. Fairhaven staggered as if struck by lightning.

"I hate Elspeth and her daughter. I refuse to let Mari become my sister-in-law. But Jareth is obsessed! He even lashed out at me—because of her!" Edith let her words hang, baiting her mother’s anger.

"What else happened?"

"He hit me!" Tears streamed down her face.

"He struck you? Where?"

"My face! Right in front of Mari and the servants! Mother, it still hurts!" Edith buried her face in her mother’s chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

Mrs. Fairhaven’s heart ached. Her precious daughter, her little princess. Her son—always dutiful, always respectful—had raised a hand against his own sister over that wretched girl?

What next? Would he disown his own mother?

"Mother! You can’t let Jareth marry Mari! If he does, our family’s reputation will be ruined! Jareth will become a laughingstock in Fairhaven Group!" Edith’s voice was raw with desperation.

"What do you mean?"

"Mari is mentally challenged! She’s autistic!"

Mrs. Fairhaven’s world shattered.

Her son—brilliant, accomplished, worthy of an Ashbourne heiress—marrying a dimwit? Never.

"Mother, even if Mari is the Abernathy heiress, aren’t you afraid your future grandson might inherit her condition? What if it’s hereditary?"

Edith’s words struck like a dagger.

"Edith, thank goodness you told me. Now I know what we’re dealing with."

Mrs. Fairhaven’s gentle eyes turned icy. "Don’t worry. I won’t let my son throw his life away on some disgraceful woman."

Hidden in her mother’s arms, Edith smirked.

Days passed. The joint birthday celebrations for the Ashbourne and Abernathy ladies loomed closer.

Elspeth, though chastened by Frederic’s disapproval, still discreetly sent invitations to Elmsworth’s elite. She might have lost some standing, but she remained the Abernathy Group chairman’s wife. She refused to let Myra, the mistress, outshine her.

The Ashbournes, meanwhile, kept Myra’s celebration quiet. Wealthy matrons didn’t need publicity.

The night before the party, Myra was blindfolded and led into a room by Evadne and the other ladies.

"What’s all this secrecy?" Myra laughed.

"Three! Two! One!"

Evadne removed the blindfold.

Myra blinked, then gasped.

Under dazzling lights stood a mannequin wearing a breathtaking black-and-red evening gown, its sequins shimmering like stars.

"It’s stunning!"

"Myra, this is your dress—custom-designed by Haron, just for you!" Suri wrapped an arm around her, awestruck. "God, I’ve seen Haron’s work in magazines, but in person? It’s even more beautiful!"

Evadne, secretly pleased, bit back a smile.

"Haron? Evadne, this is too extravagant!"

Myra clutched Evadne’s hand, cheeks pink. "You must have gone through so much trouble. You shouldn’t have!"

"Please. I’m an Ashbourne. If Haron refused me, she’d be finished in this industry." Evadne smirked, hands on her hips.

"Can you ask her to make me a biker jacket?" Aviana’s eyes sparkled. "I joined a motorcycle club. I need something stylish!"

Evadne and Suri exchanged glances.

Unbelievable. When would this nearly forty-year-old woman grow up?

"Suri, Aviana, don’t worry. When your birthdays come, I’ll have Haron design for you too."

Suri narrowed her eyes. "Haron’s notoriously reclusive. How do you keep getting her to work for you?"

She leaned in. "Evadne… is Haron another one of your aliases?"

Myra and Aviana whipped their heads toward her.

"What? No!" Evadne laughed awkwardly. "I’m already Alea. I can’t be Haron too. I’m not magic."

The three women chorused, "You’re more than capable."

Fair point.

"One more thing."

Evadne darted to the mannequin and pulled out a velvet box. "I’ll be busy tomorrow, so I’m giving you this now. Happy birthday!"

Tears welled as Myra opened it—an exquisite aquamarine ring, cool and elegant as the ocean.

"Thank you. I love it."

"I avoided precious stones so Emeric wouldn’t feel upstaged. Besides, this suits you." Evadne smiled. "As Alea, I match gems to personalities. The design’s worth surpasses the materials."

Suri and Aviana then showed their gifts, filling the room with laughter.

Evadne’s phone buzzed. She slipped into the hallway.

"Hello." Her voice was cool.

"Ms. Evadne, I’m feeling better. Thought I’d update you." Thaddeus’s deep voice was uncharacteristically warm. "Next time, call me directly. No need to go through Gordon."

Her pulse quickened.

"Or I’ll call you. Gladly."

"Unnecessary. I’m not your doctor." She hardened her tone. "You’re fine? Good. We’re done here."

"Last time—thank you. Without you, my fever wouldn’t have broken so fast." His chuckle was low, intimate. "You’re better than medicine."

"Thaddeus! Have you lost your mind?"

Flushing, she remembered his forced kiss and slammed a fist against the window. "Keep this up, and you’ll regret it!"

"How much more can I regret, Evadne?" His voice turned raw. "Divorcing you—that’s my lifetime regret."

"Serves you right. I’m hanging up."

"Wait!"

"What now?"

"Tomorrow… can I come to Myra’s party? Please?"

She scoffed. "Mr. Thaddeus, it’s an Ashbourne family event. Do you really have the nerve to face them?"

"I know. But sooner or later, I’ll have to meet my in-laws."

"Have you been eating humble pie?" She imagined punching his head.

"Can I, Evadne?"

She recalled Frederic beating him bloody over this. Reluctantly, she bit her lip. "Bring a gift."

His voice brightened. "Of course. I’d never come empty-handed."

"Get lost!"

The weekend arrived.