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.

At the mention of "engagement," Jareth was so thrilled he nearly tripped over his feet in his giddiness, while Marilla nestled by his side, her cheeks blushing and her eyes misting with joy.

Throughout the discussion, they had completely sidelined Frederic, the head of the family!

In a daze, he was transported thirty years back.

Back then, his father and his younger brother were like the best of friends, always deep in conversation, leaving him feeling like an outsider, his presence barely acknowledged.

His father truly favored his younger brother.

Had it not been for his early death, the Abernathy Group might never have been his.

Hamilton's timely intervention had practically sealed Jareth and Marilla's union.

Now, his fiancée was legitimately his to be, and he was over the moon, bounding down the stairs like a mischievous boy.

Frederic had already stormed upstairs, but still mindful of decorum, he sent Glynnis to see the old man out.

Glynnis followed reluctantly, trailing behind the group, her expression as gloomy as a maid's, not daring to step forward.

Yet the look she cast at Marilla was venomous, like a scorpion's tail flickering with a sting.

"Glynnis." Hamilton suddenly stopped.

"Yes! Grandpa!"

Glynnis hurried to the old man's side, hands clasped in front of her, the picture of obedience.

"Glynnis, I know you were led astray by Elspeth's influence, and you've done some foolish things, but now she's gone. You're young, and I can understand a few missteps, so I'm willing to look past those previous matters," Hamilton spoke coolly, not looking at her.

"Grandpa, it's not what you think."

"But you know me, I can't stand even a speck of dirt in my sight. Now that the snaky woman in the Abernathy family has been removed, I expect no more trouble at Windermere Estate, no more headaches, or eye sores for me," he finally directed his icy gaze at her pale face. "If you behave, you remain my granddaughter. If not, don't blame me for being ruthless. I don't want Elspeth’s toxic legacy to linger."

Glynnis was trembling inside, struggling to defend herself, "Grandpa! What have I done wrong? I grew up at your feet, I've been by your side the longest, my devotion is no less than my brothers'! Why are you saying these things to me?"

Thaddeus and Evadne watched her coldly, witnessing her spectacle.

"Do you know one of the ugliest thoughts in this world?" Hamilton asked sternly.

Glynnis looked bewildered.

"It's resenting someone else's happiness, even if that someone is your own sister."