His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 615

Marilla's heart pounded with the ferocity of a drum in the night, her rosy cheeks draining to a chalky white, as if she were a frightened bird trembling on a limb, buffeted by an unseen storm.

She pursed her lips and instinctively let go of Jareth's hand.

Jareth's breathing hitched, his grip tightening almost imperiously, her fingers starved of circulation!

"What's it to you? Is it any of your business?"

Jareth's sharp brows arched, his piercing gaze skewering Glynnis, who wore a poorly concealed smirk, "I never knew you to be such a traditional lady, Glynnis. Quite the departure from your usual liberation."

Glynnis' heart skipped a beat, her face ashen, "What are you blabbering about?"

"Whether I'm blabbering or not, step outside of Windermere Estate, ask around the Elmsworth socialites, and they'll tell you all about your wild escapades and reputation, clear as day."

Jareth's lips curled with a sinister slowness, "I've got a few buddies who've had their share of fun with you. If you've forgotten, I can jog your memory with their names. Who knows, maybe Mr. Frederic has heard a tale or two."

Frederic's jaw clenched, his eyes ablaze with suppressed fury, glaring at his wayward daughter.

"Dad, it's not like that. He's slandering me! He's bullying me!"

Glynnis' forehead beaded with cold sweat, almost missing a step and tumbling down the stairs!

Her infamous escapades in Elmsworth's nightlife had earned her a less-than-savory reputation long ago.

She'd always played the role of the pure and obedient daughter in front of Frederic, but now, the facade she'd so painstakingly maintained was being ripped away by Jareth, leaving her in utter panic.

Frederic momentarily ignored Glynnis, his attention returning to his younger daughter.

"Marilla, come here."

His command was brief but loaded with an unmistakable threat.

"Daddy." Marilla's voice was meek, her feet rooted in hesitation.

Frederic's gaze darkened, his command irrefutable, "Come here."

"Mr. Frederic, my visit today concerns a matter of great importance I wish to discuss with you," Jareth said, his eyes burning with earnestness.

"Whatever you have to say, Mr. Jareth, say it here," Frederic looked down upon him, not even bothering to offer a seat. "But make it quick, don't delay our dinner."

His demeanor was not just dismissive but scornful.

Glynnis, hidden behind her father, snickered with vindictive satisfaction.

Remembering how Jareth had confronted her esteemed father at the William and Son's party, taking a stand against the entire Abernathy Group, she relished the fact that the story had spread like wildfire through Elmsworth's elite circles.

Marilla stood stiffly, her whole body cold with dread.

"Mr. Frederic, direct your anger at me if you must. Insult me, and I won't utter a word in defense."

Jareth's eyes blazed with a dangerous red, "But don't involve my best friend and the woman he loves. My affairs are my own; they have nothing to do with them! You owe Thaddeus and Ms. Evadne more respect!"

The grand hall was swept by a chilly undercurrent, the tension palpable.

Dennis, watching Marilla, felt his heart leap to his throat as Jareth and Frederic seemed poised for an all-out feud.

Jareth was a man of integrity and fierce loyalty, but sometimes his emotions got the better of him, often at the expense of prudence.

Frederic was the type to respond to humility and contrition. If you bowed your head and showed regret, there might be room for maneuver. But Jareth, accustomed to privilege and pride, was likely facing the most humbling moment of his life.

And like any man of honor, he could not—would not—simply endure.

"Look, Jareth, let's cut the pleasantries," Frederic's mocking expression suddenly turned icy. "You marrying Marilla is a pipe dream! There's no way I'm giving my daughter's hand to someone who's been disloyal to the Abernathy family. It's like keeping a ticking time bomb right in my own backyard. If you married Marilla, you'd be my son-in-law, and if your heart's not with us, you'd just be another turncoat waiting to stab me in the back when it counts. How could I possibly allow such a snake to slither into the Abernathy family?"

Jareth stood there, breathing heavily, feeling as if he'd been sucker-punched. His insides churned with a pain so acute it felt as though his very organs had been shaken.

"I've tolerated you this long because of the old playground bond you share with Thaddeus, but that doesn't seem to have taught you humility," Frederic said, chin tilted up in arrogance. "I've made myself crystal clear: I would rather die than agree to this union! Leave Marilla here and get off the Windermere Estate immediately. And for your own good, make sure you never show your face around here again!"