His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 748

"Marilla, are you kidding me?!" Even the usually composed Thaddeus lost his cool, his large hands gripping her shoulders firmly, "Marriage isn't child's play; it's about your lifetime of happiness! Do you even know what kind of man Alston is? Didn't you see how cozy he was with Edith last time? Aren't you afraid this is just another one of Edith's schemes to get at you and Jareth?!"

Marilla let him shake her, her teary eyes quivering with emotion.

"Do you really not love Jareth anymore? Look me in the eyes and tell me, do you really not love him?!" Thaddeus' brows were furrowed with concern as he bombarded her with questions.

"Thaddeus, I've grown up. I'm not that little girl anymore, the one who used to lock herself in her room, too scared to face people, finding solace in sketches and dolls."

Marilla's voice was as soft as silk, but her stance was resolute, "I know what I'm doing, and I know what I want."

Voice trembling, the man asked, "Marrying Alston, is that what you want?"

"If I can't be with Jareth, then it doesn't matter whom I marry."

"Who says you can't be together? Jareth loves you deeply; he'd give up everything for you! If only you'd stand by him."

"Thaddeus, I'm tired."

Marilla dropped her eyelids, exhausted, shaking her head weakly, "If Jareth has to face the loss of his inheritance and the alienation of his family for my sake, I would feel guilty for life. Even if we were together, I wouldn't be happy. But if I marry into the Fairhaven Group, I doubt I'll ever have peace. I'm scared. I'm even more scared of causing trouble for Jareth, hurting Lily. Parting is the best thing for both of us."

Thaddeus slowly let go of her shoulders, the bitterness scorching his throat, leaving him speechless.

That day, after Lily returned the hairpin to Jareth, the latter fell gravely ill, overcome by shock and grief. In a fit of rage, he collapsed, coughing up blood.

A hospital visit revealed a severe stomach condition, a result of his irregular lifestyle and frequent social drinking.

Previously, it was just stomach pains that occurred during his busiest times, so he would just pop some antacids and push through.

This time, however, the condition had worsened, and he was forced to be hospitalized. But aside from Lily and Dean, no one else knew of this.

Jareth officially took over as the CEO of the corporation, but he didn't show up on time for his first high-level executive meeting.

In the boardroom, Barry sat at the head, eyeing the empty seat beside him with clear displeasure.

"Mr. Jareth Fairhaven misses his very first meeting? How presumptuous."

"Look at that. Now that he's seized power, he probably doesn't even care about Mr. Barry Fairhaven anymore."

"You're laughing too soon. Gary might have been defeated but he's not out of the game. If Mr. Jareth Fairhaven keeps this up, Mr. Barry Fairhaven might just hand the CEO position back to Gary in a fit of rage."

Gary listened to the murmurs of disapproval toward Jareth, a smug smile playing on his lips. Beneath the table, he was messaging Edith.

“My dear niece, I really must thank you for your help when I have the chance.”

“You're so welcome, Uncle Gary. Alas, it's a pity we couldn't pull that brat down from his CEO pedestal. Grandpa Barry still favors him, such a shame.