His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 681

In Elmsworth, the long-absent Marilla finally managed to secure a spot as an audit student at the prestigious Elmsworth Academy of Fine Arts, thanks to the strings pulled by Jareth.

Already a week into her new life, Marilla sat quietly at the back of the classroom, shielded by a large canvas. Despite her attempts to remain inconspicuous, her striking beauty didn’t escape the attention of the boys in class. Their necks craned so often towards her that one might worry about their spines by the end of the lesson.

But Marilla was focused solely on her art, her pencil dancing across the paper, oblivious to the fact that she was the wolf den’s newest interest.

She treasured this opportunity to learn, an opportunity Jareth had fought hard to give her. She intended to absorb every lesson like a sponge, not daring to let her mind wander even for a second.

As the afternoon class ended, Marilla began to pack her art supplies. A group of the lads nudged one particularly handsome boy towards her. Mustering courage, he awkwardly approached the last row where Marilla sat.

“Mrs. Fairhaven, sorry for the delay. I got tied up with a phone call," Lily, as swift as a gust of wind, arrived beside Marilla, deftly gathering her art supplies and gently guiding her by the waist.

Lily’s icy gaze swept over the boys, her steely eyes enough to petrify them where they stood. While Marilla was a beauty, Lily was a force to be reckoned with!

"What do you think you’re doing? Are you trying to hit on a married woman?"

Married woman?!

The boys stood dumbfounded, their hearts sinking at the thought that such a flower was already plucked from the garden.

"Our lady is married, gentlemen. Lay eyes on her again, and you'll be slapped with harassment charges," Lily warned, though originally she intended to say “you’ll lose your eyes”; yet considering they were Marilla’s classmates, she softened her words, skipping the bloody scene she might have created.

As they left the classroom, Marilla’s cheeks were flushed, and she shyly lowered her gaze.

"Mrs. Fairhaven, I had some urgent business to attend to today, hence my tardiness. From now on, I’ll wait for you by the back entrance when you’re in class," Lily was still rattled by the boys' audacity.

She understood now why Jareth was so protective, his eyes reddened with worry as he watched over her. It was distressing to think of leaving such a gem amidst thieves.

"Lily, Jareth and I aren't married yet," Marilla's lashes fluttered, remembering Lily’s earlier proclamation that she was Mr. Fairhaven before her fellow students. Even though she felt pleased inside, she still was a bit embarrassed.

"It’s merely a matter of paperwork. Even without marriage, Jareth’s heart - and everything else - belongs to you, always." Lily smiled gently, stroking her hair, "He’s planning your engagement in secret. Next month, he plans to attend a royal auction in Aetheria. There’s a diamond up for grabs; rumor has it that it was once worn by their queen. No matter the cost, he intends to win it for you, to slip that ring onto your finger himself."

"I don’t need Jareth to spend so much. Knowing he cares for me, that’s enough," Marilla gently tugged at Lily’s sleeve, shaking her head slightly.

"He’d pluck the stars from the sky if he could, just to stud them in your ring. You deserve that and more.” Lily chuckled, “And honestly, you needn't save his money. With nothing but you and his wealth, splurging is one of his few pleasures. Indulge him in that."

As they spoke, Lily received Jareth’s message. Once reading it, she sighed to herself.

"Is Jareth not coming home for dinner again tonight?" Marilla, attuned to Lily’s mood, perceived the situation.

"My apologies, Mrs. Fairhaven. There's a board meeting. He’s a bit tied up."

"It's alright; I understand. Being a CEO must keep him incredibly busy." Marilla clutched her teddy bear tighter, her eyes clear of any disappointment, and she smiled understandingly, "I'll just wait for him at home. Before, my brother was also busy, rarely home. My sister-in-law would wait up for him every night, never undressing, never closing her eyes. Even when he came home late and drunk, she would look after him without a word of complaint. I'll do the same for Jareth, just as well as she did."

Lily was touched by her words, feeling both the bitterness of past hardships and the relief that Marilla's journey with Jareth promised a smoother path.

Thankfully, with Ms. Ashbourne’s persistence and Mr. Abernathy eventually realizing where his heart belonged, the couple had found their way back to each other in the very end.