Chapter 361

Glynnis felt like she was negotiating with a deranged woman who'd made such outrageous demands.

Thaddeus was the formidable CEO of the Abernathy Group, a man whose influence eclipsed even Frederic's. What could the Fairhaven family possibly do against him?

But she didn't bother pointing that out. She'd rather sit back and watch them humiliate themselves, letting all of Elmsworth witness their idiocy.

"Sure, whatever makes you happy," Glynnis muttered, clutching her throbbing cheek. "Here's to a long and blissful marriage with Thad." Her congratulations dripped with sarcasm.

"By the way," Edith suddenly shifted the topic, "remember when you told me about Mr. Bartley's son? The one who was interested in you, but you turned him down?"

Glynnis stiffened.

She remembered.

Her mother, Elspeth, had dragged her to a golf course to meet the Bartleys, hoping to set her up with their son. But the Bartleys hadn't been impressed—instead, they'd wanted to meet her dim-witted sister. The humiliation still burned.

Later, to save face, she'd lied to Edith, claiming she'd rejected the Bartleys because she could do better.

"Why bring him up now?" Glynnis snapped.

"Oh, nothing much," Edith said, a smug smirk curling her lips. "Except he's currently pursuing me."

Glynnis scoffed. "You're about to become the Abernathy Group's CEO's wife. Why would you care about some mayor's son?"

"Of course, Thad is my only choice. So, I turned him down." Edith's grin widened, malice glinting in her eyes. "But he said he'd do anything for me. Anything."

Glynnis's stomach twisted. "What are you planning?"

"I want him to marry Mari."

Glynnis sucked in a sharp breath. The sheer audacity of the demand left her speechless.

The Fairhaven family had truly raised a monster.

"You're Mari's sister," Edith continued smoothly, her voice laced with cunning. "There are things I can't do alone. I need your help to make this marriage happen."

She leaned in, her tone dripping with poison. "My family is powerful. If Mari marries into an ordinary family, my brother won't give up on her. But if she marries into the Bartleys? His hopes will be crushed forever."

The cruelty of the scheme sent a chill down Glynnis's spine.

"I still remember how you 'helped' me last time," Glynnis hissed, her face throbbing with pain. "You nearly got me arrested. And now you want my help again? Why should I?"

Edith smirked. "Because I'm about to be your sister-in-law. Shouldn't we maintain a good relationship?"

She tilted her head, feigning innocence. "Besides, Mari stole the man you love. Don't you want revenge? Who else can help you but me?"

Glynnis's fists clenched.

She remembered Jareth's brutal beating, the humiliation, the pain.

Her heart burned with hatred.

"Fine," she spat. "What do you want?"

Meanwhile, chaos reigned in the Chambers family.

Two nights ago, during a storm, Byron had been in a horrific car accident.

The driver died instantly. The bodyguard in the passenger seat was barely clinging to life.

Byron, seated in the back, had survived—but with a severe head injury, glass embedded in his face, and his legs crushed beyond repair.

Jeff had consulted every top surgeon in the country. None could restore his son's ability to walk.

Now, the family sat in the living room, shrouded in gloom.

Margaret wept dramatically, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. "How could this happen? He drove that road every day! Why now?"

Avery, lounging elegantly on the sofa, sipped his tea. "Just because a road is familiar doesn't mean accidents can't happen."

Margaret shot him a venomous glare. "You seem awfully pleased about this."

"Pleased? No." Avery adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. "I'm just not hysterical like you, mourning someone who isn't even dead."

"Enough!" Jeff slammed his hand on the armrest. "Byron is suffering, and all you do is argue? If you can't help, at least don't make things worse!"

Margaret fell silent, seething.

Avery set down his tea. "Actually, Father, I might have a solution."

Jeff's eyes lit up. "Speak."

"Evadne has a secret identity—she's a renowned surgeon. She once performed a complex craniotomy on Thaddeus. In medical circles, she's known as 'Dr. Eve.'"

Matthew's head snapped up, his gaze sharpening.

Jeff's jaw dropped. "Evadne? A surgeon?"

Avery nodded. "She's brilliant but humble. If anyone can help Byron, it's her."

Jeff's expression shifted from shock to hope. "Then we'll go to Skyrim tomorrow. You'll accompany me to personally request her help."

"Of course."

Jeff clasped Avery's shoulder, his voice softening. "You've always been close to her. She'll listen to you, won't she?"

Avery smiled modestly. "Evadne has a kind heart. She'd help regardless."

Jeff beamed, his approval of Avery growing.

Matthew watched, his teeth grinding.

Later, in the hallway, Matthew cornered Avery.

"Your act is impressive," he sneered. "Gaining favor while playing innocent."

Avery yawned. "It's late. I'm going to bed."

"Byron's accident was your doing, wasn't it?" Matthew hissed. "You sabotaged his car—not to kill him, but to cripple him."

Avery adjusted his glasses, then burst into laughter.

The sound echoed eerily through the empty hall.

"Matthew, with that imagination, you should've been a novelist instead of a CEO." He wiped a tear from his eye. "If you insist I'm responsible, then I must be his bad luck charm."

With that, he strolled away, leaving Matthew fuming.

Back in his room, Avery poured himself a glass of wine, satisfaction curling his lips.

Sometimes, making someone suffer was far more rewarding than killing them.

A knock. His assistant, Harvey, entered.

"It's done," Harvey murmured. "The driver took full responsibility. He won't talk."

"Good." Avery swirled his wine. "Tomorrow, Jeff and I will visit Evadne. We'll ask her to 'save' Byron."

Harvey frowned. "But what if she actually cures him?"

Avery smirked. "She's a doctor, not a miracle worker."

Byron's legs were beyond repair—by his own design.

"This way," Avery mused, "Jeff will see me as the devoted son who risked everything to help. Even if it fails, he'll be grateful."

Harvey's eyes widened in understanding.

Avery gazed out the window, his reflection dark against the glass.

"Even if Byron was his favorite, what does it matter now?" He took a slow sip. "Emeric would never let his precious daughter marry a cripple. In the end, I'll be Jeff's only hope."