Chapter 408

The video of Elspeth and her daughter creating chaos at the funeral went viral online in no time!

Whether it was Cassius pulling strings behind the scenes, or due to disgust at Elspeth, the media present at the scene collectively decided to show only Alva standing up against her and Erica’s grandma pouring soup over her, Evadne and Thaddeus were barely on camera, seemingly well–protected.

Initially, the most explosive news was about Evadne being Thaddeus‘ ex–wife.

However, with both President Ashbourne and Thaddeus exerting pressure, no journalist dared to reveal this piece of news, fearing it would spell the end of their career.

Even though online rumors about their hidden marriage were rife, the storm surrounding Elspeth was so big that the rumors barely made any waves.

Netizens made memes of Elspeth drenched in soup, along with all sorts of witty comments and jokes. The Abernathy Group’s PR team couldn’t keep up with the deletion of these posts.

[May Elspeth live long, I need her scandals to keep me entertained!]

[Such a snaky woman, who doesn’t care about common people’s dignity, should spend her remaining years in jail!]

[The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree! Elspeth’s daughters can’t be any better!]

[Elspeth’s eldest daughter is definitely a brat, but her younger daughter has never appeared in public and no negative news about her has ever been reported. She must be a good girl, right?]

[A shrew like Elspeth can only bring up daughters of the same kind!]

Elspeth, it could be said, has completely ruined her reputation!

Glynnis, with her own dark history, was dragged back into the spotlight due to her mother’s antics.

But this was far from enough. What Evadne and Thaddeus wanted was not just their social annihilation, but also their being completely destroyed!

After handling his business affairs and matters related to Thaddeus, Jareth was ready to go home to bid farewell to his beloved wife.

Sitting in his car, he furiously browsed through social media comments, using a fake account to lambaste anyone who dared to slander Marilla.

The proud heir of the Fairhaven family, usually arrogant and unyielding, was now cursing like a fishwife, engaging in an online war of words with the keyboard warriors, all this to defend his delicate wife!

His driver was sweating bullets, his b*dy trembling, except for his hands which were steady due to muscle memory.

“Lily!” Jareth suddenly roared.

The driver turned white with fear, stuttering, “M–Mr. Fairhaven, did you forget? You asked Lily to stay at the villa to take care of Mrs. Fairhaven.”

“Damn, I forgot it.” He rubbed his forehead, exhaling deeply.

Currently, everyone around Jareth had been ordered to refer to Marilla as “Mrs. Fairhaven“.

Actually, he also wanted to transfer half of his shares and all his properties to Marilla’s name.

He had been thinking about this for a while. The reason why he still hadn’t taken any action was because he wanted to wait until the current storm was over, and then officially asked for Marilla’s hand from the Abernathy family.

But before that, he must help Thaddeus and Evadne get rid of Elspeth, not just out of friendship, but also for his own selfish reasons.

Who would want their future mother–in–law to be such a sinister woman? That would be like planting a bomb next to their peaceful life!

Jareth couldn’t wait to get home and called Lily directly, “Lily, monitor the comments online immediately! If any media outlet dares to bad–mouth my wife, catch that journalist and I will personally beat him until his mother can’t even recognize him! If there are any idle keyboard warriors talking nonsense, replace them out too. I will sue them until they lose everything!”

I have already started looking into and deleting negative comments about Mrs. Fairhaven. Like you, I don’t want this chaos to affect her.” Lily had been with him for many years and knew him well.

“Good job! I will reward you with a big bonus!” Jareth nodded in satisfaction.

“But right now, there is a bigger problem.”

Lily sighed, feeling guilty, “This morning, news about Erica’s funeral reached Mrs. Fairhaven while she was watching TV.”

Jareth’s heart clenched; the thing he feared most happened.

“It’s my fault. I was lack of consideration. I didn’t expect the news to be leaked so quickly, especially since we had a complete news blackout before. But there are no excuses. I failed in my duty. Don’t give me the bonus, instead, punish me.” Lily felt remorseful and was willing to accept the punishment.

“It’s not your fault, Lily. You have been doing a lot by taking care of Marilla and handling all the work for me.”

Jareth was deeply worried, his eyes filled with anxiety, “How is Marilla now?”

“She’s not doing well. She has been crying non–stop. I think you should come home soon.”

“Alright, I’m on my way.”

After ending the call, thinking of his wife crying alone at home, Jareth felt a mix of worry, fear, and anxiety. His blood pressure shot up and he kicked the back of the driver’s

seat

“Drive faster! Don’t you want your salary?!

“Yes, sir!” The driver stepped hard on the gas, feeling as if his hemorrhoids were about to pop out.

Jareth rushed home in a frenzy, barely changing out of his suit before rushing upstairs to check on his wife.

“Mr. Fairhaven.” Lily was waiting outside the door, bowing when she saw him.

“Is she inside?” Jareth’s heart was racing.

“Yes, she hasn’t eaten or drunk anything and refuses to come out.”

Lily bit her l*p, looking troubled, “I didn’t dare to go in. You know, at a time like this, the person she needs the most is you.

Jareth gently pushed open the door and walked into the room.

Despite it being daytime, all the curtains in the room were drawn and the lights were off, making the room feel oppressively dark.

“Honey? Honey?”

Jareth searched his study, bedroom, dressing room, and bathroom, but couldn’t replace the figure he was longing for.

The man was in a panic, his shoulders trembling under his well–tailored suit, and his palms soaked in cold sweat!

“Marilla? Marilla?!

His calls brought Lily, who was waiting outside, into the room.

“Marilla is gone!” Jareth was panic–stricken

“How could this be?!”

Lily also panicked, “I’ve been guarding the door, and Mr. Fairhaven didn’t step out of the room!”

This statement was like a bolt from the blue, leaving Jareth’s handsome face pale as a ghost, his heart pounding as if it would leap out of his throat!

He rushed to the window, yanked open the curtains and the window, terrifying images flashing in his mind.

With all his courage, Jareth, his forehead drenched in sweat, looked down at the ground below with red eyes.

Everything was calm and quiet, there was nothing down.

He took a deep breath, his heart easing a bit, his well–tailored suit completely soaked in sweat.

Lily knew what Jareth was afraid of. She was scared too.

After all, Marilla had mental health issues. They were really scared that if she got upset, she would do something extreme!

“Find her!”

Jareth slammed his hand on the window sill, his eyes burning with a fiery red, “Even if I have to tear this mansion down, I have to replace her!“.

“Yes! I’ll go search right away!”

Lily immediately left to replace Marilla.

The room was silent again, Jareth’s anxious and tense mood relaxed slightly, and he became a bit calmer.

Just then, he faintly heard the soft sound of sobbing, and his heart tightened.

“Marilla!”

Jareth was overjoyed and ran into the bedroom following the sound. The sobbing became clearer, each sound making his heart ache.

Finally, Jareth arrived at the door of the bedroom wardrobe, where the sobbing was clearer, accompanied by the rustling sound of fabric. Jareth slowly opened the wardrobe door, and the next moment, his heart ached so much that he could barely breathe.

Marilla’s thin and frail b*dy was curled up, like a lost kitten trembling in a damp and dark corner.

Her arms were wrapped around her knees, her black bangs stickily clinging to her smooth forehead due to the sweat; her pale and tender face was flushed red from the lack of oxygen after hiding for such a long time.

“Jareth.”

As soon as Marilla saw Jareth, she couldn’t hold back her tears. She burst into tears, her tears falling like broken pearls, “Is Erica really dead?”

Each word pierced Jareth’s already extremely aching heart, making it bleed heavily.

He opened his strong arms and carried her wet b*dy out of the wardrobe.

The moment he touched her skin, his heart was in chaos. Her whole b*dy was burning hot, showing that she had been hiding in there for a long time.

Jareth’s eyes filled with tears, even his voice of comfort was choked, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry Marilla. I’m sorry.”

He didn’t know what else to say, he could only keep apologizing, his heart in a mess.

“Is Erica really dead?” Marilla kept asking, over and over again, tireless.

“She’s just gone to another world, a better, happier world,” Jareth patiently answered her, over and over again.

Later, probably because she was too tired, coupled with the lack of oxygen and excessive grief, Marilla fell into a faint–like sleep.

Jareth immediately called the Fairhaven family’s private doctor to check on her. After learning that it was just excessive sorrow combined with low blood sugar, and that she would be fine with some rest and an intravenous drip, he finally relaxed a bit.

The man knelt down by the bed, holding her hand tightly, his l*ps gently brushing against her arm, feeling anxious.

“Mr. Fairhaven, the car is waiting for you downstairs. It’s time to leave.”

Lily paused, then spoke in a subdued voice, “If you really can’t bear to leave Mrs. Fairhaven, then you might as well not go. I can go for you. Going to Country T to catch criminals is dangerous, and you’re not the same as before. You have someone to worry about. It’s better to stay out of such things.

“No, I have to.”

Jareth placed Marilla’s small hand on his chest, his eyes filled with reluctance but his tone was firm, “I promised Thad. He’s my only buddy, and I have to help him Besides, if it wasn’t for that bastard who killed Erica, would things have gotten this bad? Would my wife have cried herself sick? Damn it, when I catch him, I won’t let him live a peaceful Ufe!”

With the Fairhaven family’s methods, there was no way this person could leave Country T alive and intact! But Thaddeus insisted on bringing him back alive for his woman to deal with, making the task more difficult. He’d have to be there to lend a hand.

“Then, for your safety on this trip, be sure to wear the bulletproof vest that I have prepared for you and Mr. Abernathy.”

“Alright! Lily, you’re more naggy than my mom! I picked you because you’re a woman of few words. Why do you talk more as you get older?Jareth chided her.

Lily pressed her l*ps and took a step back, feeling discomforted.

In the past, women came and went in Jareth’s life, but the one constant was her. Over the years, she played multiple roles by his side – secretary, b*dyguard, dance partner, confidante and when necessary, she even had to play his lover to fend off annoying women.

She was used to being needed by Jareth. She never had any other men, except for Mr. Fairhaven.

They were not lovers, but sometimes they were even closer than lovers. She didn’t know if this was love, but she knew one thing – he and she was never going to happen. What’s more, Jareth already had the love of his life; she really shouldn’t be so naggy, and make him annoyed.

“Lily, the next few days will probably be even harder for you.”

After k*ssing his wife’s l*ps, Jareth slowly stood up and told her solemnly, “Please stay with Marilla all the time from today, move into her room, close all doors and windows at night, and never be careless.”

“Yes, Mr. Fairhaven, I will.”

Lily gave a firm nod, her gaze as sharp as a fatcon’s, “I assure you, I will protect Mrs. Fairhaven around the clock, even if it costs me my life. I promise you that when you return, she’d be safe and sound.”

Over at the Abernathy Group, they were busy dealing with the d*rty laundry of Elspeth’s misdeeds. You could say they were in a state of chaos, suffering a crushing defeat. But in reality, Frederic wasn’t trying to clean up after Elspeth this time; he was trying to salvage the corporate image of the Abernathy Group from another negative news onslaught!

The taller the tree, the stronger the wind. Ever since Thaddeus took over the Abernathy Group, his bold reforms and swift decisions facilitated the group’s rapid expansion in Elmsworth, and the group’s business map in the continent was also expanding. But the price of rapid rise was making countless rivals, with several competitors keeping a close eye on them.

Now, the Abernathy Group had an important project to collaborate with a famous financial group in the country. If the Abernathy Group caused a scandal at this critical moment, leading to a sharp drop in reputation and stock market turbulence, it could seriously affect the collaboration and give those with malicious intentions an opportunity to take advantage.

“Frederic! What do you have to say for yourself this time? How long are you going to protect that wench?!”

Outside the Chairman’s office at the Abernathy Group, a few senior executives lined up on both sides, hearing the clatter inside and were sweating bullets.

Inside, the office was a mess.

Hamilton Abernathy, seated in his wheelchair, had thrown everything on the desk at Frederic; one of the pen holders hit his forehead, making it swell up instantly, but Frederic just stood there, not daring to move.

Throwing a tantrum and flinging things on the desk seemed to be an Abernathy family tradition.

“Just this morning, the minute the stock market opened, our stocks are in the red! And have you seen what the media is saying about us?!

Hamilton was livid, pointing at Frederic and berating him harshly, “They’re calling us a family of devils, ruthless money–grubbers, villains! The Abernathy name is being dragged through the mud by that ungrateful woman!

Frederic clenched his teeth and fists, fury seething within him. He saw what Hamilton saw, and his anger was no less than his father’s.

He’d warned Elspeth more than once to keep a low profile, to behave herself, but she’d ignored his advice time and time again, acting recklessly and finally causing trouble, making a big mistake!

She dared to do so because he had spoiled her over the years, because she was relying on his indulgence.

He regretted it now, but in front of his father, he didn’t want to admit his mistakes, didn’t want to admit that his choice back then was a huge blunder.

—“Elspeth is currently confined to our home, reflecting on her actions. She is not to step foot outside of Windermere Estate without my permission.”

1

Frederic took a deep breath, gritting his teeth, “Dad, I think she went to the funeral to help save the Abernathy family’s reputation. Regardless of whether she genuinely mourned the maid, she wanted to foster a good image for the Abernathy Group. If things had gone as planned, there wouldn’t have been any issues. The reason it turned out this way has a lot to do with your precious granddaughter–in–law, Ms. Ashbourne!”

Tip: You can use left, right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.Tap the middle of the screen to reveal Reading Options.

If you replace any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.

Report