His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 617

Hamilton's words were like an emotional grenade, detonating without warning and leaving shockwaves in their path.

Not only did Frederic's face look like it had taken a hit, but I bet even a fly buzzing by would have swelled up from the blast. Only his dad knew how to handle this black sheep of the family.

Glynnis shrunk behind Frederic like a quail in hiding, too scared to even show her face.

Evadne hurried over, her voice soft and soothing, "Marilla, honey, don't be scared. I'm here, your brother and granddad are here too."

Marilla lifted her tear-stained face from Jareth's embrace; her cheeks were swollen as if soaked by the moon's glow, dampening his shirt with her tears.

"Evadne."

That term of endearment brought a swell of emotion to Evadne's eyes, a numbing pain to her heart.

Marilla, choking back sobs, clung to Jareth's shirt, her delicate hands gripping tight, "I don't want to be apart from Jareth."

In that moment, Jareth felt a sharp pain in his chest, pulling her in closer as if to crush her into his being, "We won't be apart, Marilla, no matter what happens, I won't leave you."

Evadne stood speechless, her heart brimming with empathy.

In Marilla, she saw her own past self - the one who had been locked away at home by Emeric, the one who had leapt from her window on a stormy night, frantic to find Thaddeus.

She too had been held in his arms, insisting over and over that she couldn't bear to be apart from him.

But she had been luckier than Marilla.

Emeric was all bark and no bite, his harsh words belied a tenderness and a willingness to compromise for the love of his daughter.

But Frederic was different. Self-serving and cold-hearted, how could he truly have Marilla's best interests at heart?

To him, his reputation and the Abernathy family's interests trumped everything, even family ties.

"I'm not going to waste my breath on you, boy, because you've never understood a word I've said! I came here today to back these young lovebirds!" Hamilton's gaze was steely as he stared down Frederic, "Didn't you just say you'd rather die than agree to this match? Well, go ahead and die then."

"Dad! What are you saying?"

Frederic was fuming, his eyes bloodshot with anger, his words almost laughable, "Why should I die?"

"Yeah, why should a man like you die? Especially since you're the esteemed chairman of the Abernathy Group. You've just managed to push me into retirement; you wouldn't want to die now, would you?"

Hamilton let out a bitter chuckle, "Since you don't want to die, stop threatening the younger generation with such nonsense! Jareth respects you for Marilla and Thaddeus' sake, but you're acting as if you're the center of attention. Using your own life as a bargaining chip, my face is red with embarrassment because of you!"

Frederic felt dizzy, his hand gripping the stair's railing, veins bulging with tension.

For years, his father had berated him with harsh words in private, which he never took to heart.

But this time, it wasn't just in front of his children, but Evadne and Jareth as well. Hamilton's actions were beyond shaming him; they were tearing his dignity to shreds!

Glynnis suddenly realized.

How did Hamilton know every detail of their conversation with Jareth? He had just arrived, hadn't he?

But half an hour earlier.

Hamilton's car had quietly parked outside Windermere Estate.

Inside the vehicle.

Thaddeus sat opposite Evadne and Hamilton, watching his lady love openly display her skills in front of Hamilton, hacking into the villa's surveillance cameras with ease, her eyes filled with adoration.

"Grandpa, we're all set." Evadne handed the tablet to Hamilton.

"Is it done?" Hamilton looked at her in amazement.

"Yes."

"My goodness. Evadne, you are so talented! Not like Thaddeus, good only for making money!" Hamilton said, playfully pinching Evadne's nose with affection.

Thaddeus turned silent.

That cheeky old man, not only was he putting him down, but he was also getting handsy with his woman.

The trio huddled together, intently watching everything unfold on the screen.

Evadne, seeing the young couple being bullied, clenched her fists in anger.

"Grandpa, should we go now?" Thaddeus asked, his voice strained.

Hamilton's face was grave, "Let's wait."

Both youngsters were surprised.

"If Jareth wants to marry my granddaughter, this is undoubtedly a tough test for him."

Hamilton cherished his granddaughter but was also rational, "They've just taken the first step and faced such a huge obstacle. There will be more trouble ahead. This time, I need to see just how much Jareth loves Marilla and whether he has the strength to protect my little granddaughter. The Fairhaven family, as far as I know, isn't much stronger than the Chambers family, which is a den of wolves. If Marilla is to be with Jareth, I must be sure that Jareth has the ability to provide a safe haven for her before I can entrust her to him."

Evadne and Thaddeus exchanged looks, deeply moved.

This was the true love of an elder for the younger generation.

And Jareth, with his actions, had thoroughly earned Hamilton's approval.