His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 728

"Evadne!" Thaddeus' voice was laced with urgency.

Jareth, a man typically known for his towering presence and dashing looks, now slumped forward as if his bones had been siphoned from his body, on the verge of collapse under Evadne's grasp.

"Jareth, you claim you're keeping Marilla caged to protect her, but look at the mess you've made! You couldn't even ensure her basic safety!"

Tears swelled in Evadne's eyes; she was brimming with rage and heartache, "You think you're so noble, sacrificing everything for Marilla. But what have you actually lost? It's always been Marilla who's losing."

Thaddeus' breath caught in his throat as he watched his beloved stand in the pouring rain. Abandoning any attempt to shield himself, he stood beside her, soaked to the skin.

One was the love of his life, the other, a brother in arms. He couldn't persuade either side; remaining neutral was the only stance he could take.

"Marilla gave up her freedom, her pristine reputation, to be with you. She could've been our baby girl forever, the pampered daughter of the Abernathy family, untouched by the world's grime. But she chose to follow you in her prime, to give everything for you, to grow up swiftly for you, to learn to be the docile, dutiful wife!"

Under the weight of accusation, Evadne's tears streamed down unchecked, "She's tried so hard to please you, to accommodate you. She's done everything she could to avoid troubling you! But after everything, why has it come to this?! What did Marilla do to deserve this bullying?!"

Jareth was faced with her piercing questions; his heart, riddled with countless fissures, ached to the point of trembling. His lips parted, but no coherent words formed.

"It's my fault, it's all my fault."

He repeated, his cheeks indistinguishable between rain and tears, his drenched, disheveled hair obscuring the once proud and lively gaze.

The once vibrant and defiant pride of Elmsworth now seemed unrecognizable to Thaddeus. This man, could it really be Jareth?

"Before, no matter what I gave her, she said she liked it, she said she loved me, she wanted to be with me forever."

"Because Marilla has never known how to refuse, because everything she does is to win your favor!" Evadne shoved him hard, causing his sturdy frame to stagger.

Won his favor. For Jareth, who had vowed to cherish Marilla for a lifetime, this was the ultimate irony!

His perceived beautiful love was built on Marilla's compromises, her sorrows, her tender heart.

"Evadne, Jareth knows he's wrong; he truly loves Marilla," Thaddeus spoke softly, his voice low, as he draped his suit jacket over her delicate shoulders.

"Marilla's world is simple and pure. She has no concept of deceit and manipulation; she just wants to live a peaceful life."

Evadne rubbed her swollen eyes and sniffled, her nose reddened due to coldness, "But now, you've dragged her into this mess. She doesn't even have the strength to retaliate. She's never even cursed anyone in her life. How can she withstand the darkness of the Fairhaven Group? She hasn't even married in your family yet and they're already scheming against her with such malice. If she truly becomes your wife, she'll just whittle away amidst plots and schemes. Can you live on edge for a lifetime? As long as you're in power, those vipers in your family won't stop attacking her! She's bound to break down again one day!"

No prestigious family was simple; they were all vats of corruption. Families as warm and harmonious as the Ashbourne family were rare gems.

"I'll take care of it."

After a long silence, Jareth finally spoke with a tremor in his voice, "I'll deal with the Fairhaven Group. Evadne, I love Marilla; without her, life is meaningless. Don't make me leave her; please give me one more chance, the last one, okay?"

A clear plea.

Evadne shook her head without lifting her gaze, "I can't decide for you; I can't influence anything. Get past Grandpa Hamilton first; then we'll talk."

With that, she turned and left without looking back. Thaddeus stood with his buddy in the rain, their silhouettes like eternal sculptures against the world.

Evadne bit her lip softly, whispering, "When you have time, get Marilla a box of pastries."

"Alright. I'll get them first thing tomorrow and deliver them to Mr. Hamilton Abernathy's."

"Want to pay a visit to Marilla?"

Aaron's voice carried a boyish timidity blended with the understanding of a mature man, "No need to disturb her. Let her rest. And don't mention that I bought the pastries."

Evadne felt a pang of ache in her heart upon hearing this. Two equally exceptional men, each on their own tonight, keeping watch over the same woman.

But where did Marilla's true happiness lie?

Lily lingered in the room, comforting Marilla for a long time before she reluctantly stepped out. Rubbing her misty eyes, she turned and saw Mr. Thaddeus and Mrs. Evadne Abernathy approaching her.

"Lily, you've always had impressive skills, the best bodyguard in the Fairhaven Group."

Thaddeus, with his brows furrowed, finally voiced the crucial concern, "How could someone from the Fairhaven Group hurt you so badly, depriving you of the ability to alert Jareth in time, and then whisk my sister off to the Fairhaven Group without anyone noticing?"

"The audacity is just too much, too reckless!" Evadne's eyes flared with anger as she clutched her partner's arm, her grip wrinkling his crisp white shirt.

In that moment, Lily, still recalling the encounter, felt a chill down her spine.

"The man I fought with must be a professional hitman. His moves were ruthless and unpredictable; I stood no chance against him. Perhaps, Mr. Abernathy, only someone with your capabilities could stand a chance in a fight with him."