Thad patted his veiny hand to steady his emotions:
"I know, you've been digging into your father's death for years, and you've always suspected that Gary had the strongest motive, but you just couldn't nail him without the proof. Now, April's suddenly filing for divorce from Gary, and she's drawn up a whopping settlement. She must have something on him that could bury him. Even if it's not connected to your father's passing, it's enough to make Gary eat his own wicked deeds behind bars for the rest of his miserable life."
"It had to be Gary, who else could it be?!"
Jareth replayed his father's demise in his mind, feeling the agony wracking his heart; his eyes turned reddening with pain, "Back then, he and my dad went down to Spring City for a business trip; they took a chopper over the sea, but mid-flight, the main gearbox malfunctioned, sending the chopper spiraling uncontrollably into the ocean before it sank rapidly! My dad was wearing a life vest, but the sinking was too fast, and the cabin was sealed shut – he had no chance to escape! He perished alongside three other top execs and the pilot! But somehow. only Gary survived!"
Thad's lips tightened into a cold, straight line.
"How could it be such a coincidence. How could only he be so lucky?!"
Jareth, feeling his heart wrenching, slammed his hand on the table, "My father broke his back for the Fairhaven Group; he was a charity saint, who cleaned up the family's shady past and put us on the straight and narrow. Such a great, hardworking, kind man was he – why would the heavens claim his life?! I refuse to believe that fate is so blind!"
Thad's expression grew somber, "Everyone perished, except for Gary. Indeed, that's bizarre."
"Exactly! Jareth doesn't have nine lives!" Dean couldn't contain his rage.
"Gary managed to escape the cabin because he had a compact emergency hammer with him. He shattered the window and swam to the surface."
Lily's voice was hoarse with hatred, "Afterward, he claimed it was his habit to carry such a tool and argued that he was incapable of saving Mr. Fairhaven because he was a poor swimmer- if he had tried, both would've been lost to the sea. But who would buy such a lame excuse? He was just taking advantage of his power within the Fairhaven Group back then, to bully a young master and a family left with a widow and an orphan!"
Thad fell silent for a moment before speaking calmly, "Even if Gary had 'I killed him' written across his face, without solid evidence after all these years, it's hard to pin the crime on him. Think of my mother's case; if it weren't for Erica recording Elspeth's confession and finding the maid who had served my mother and could testify in court, I'd never have avenged my mother."
Jareth clenched his teeth, his eyes burning with fury.
"Maybe, just maybe, we might get lucky with April."
Thad suddenly furrowed his brows, "As Gary's wife, she must know many secrets."
"I heard Mr. Fairhaven's already got all the paperwork sorted to ship Gary overseas, and to never let him return to Elmsworth. That's clearly a sign he's cutting Gary loose."
Lily mused, "Stripped of power and exiled, now crippled, Gary's no longer a threat. No wonder April, with no family or background to speak of, dares to file for divorce at this critical moment."
"Divorce is a good opportunity."
Thad's eyes narrowed, with a chilling intensity sparking within, "Once she's out of the Fairhaven Group and without Gary to back her, it will be a piece of cake to squeeze her for information."
Having understood his meaning, Jareth nodded in agreement.
Dean, both admiring and intimidated, thought to himself that Mr. Thad was one sharp cookie. Aside from Ms. Ashbourne, few could outplay him.
Jareth immediately ordered, "Dean, keep tabs on April these next few days. The moment she finalizes the divorce from Gary, let me know."
"Right away, Mr. Fairhaven!" Dean hurried off.
Thad: "Be ready for her to deny everything."
"I have ways of dealing with tough nuts. Even if she doesn't spill about this, she'll spill something else."
Then Jareth broke into a clear smile, just like before, "It's getting late, we haven't hung out in ages – how about dinner?"
Thad barely smiled, "Sure."
He had promised Evadne he'd be home early to cook a new recipe he'd perfected.
But when a good buddy asks you to stay, especially at a time when he needs you most, you can't say no.
They headed to their usual haunt, a restaurant with a reputation for fine dining.
In the private dining room, an array of exquisite dishes was served, but Jareth clearly wasn't in the mood to eat; he barely touched his food and just kept pouring drinks.
"You know you have a bad stomach; try to avoid alcohol," Thad said, placing his palm over Jareth's glass.
"Besides you, I doubt anyone else cares about me anymore." Jareth leaned back; with his large frame slouched, he gave out a hollow laugh.
Thad's tone turned urgent, "Does being apart mean we don't care about you anymore? Being irresponsible to yourself is a way of hurting those who care about you."
Jareth felt a sharp sting in his heart; his fingers trembled as if he could barely hold the glass:
"How's Marilla doing?"
"I came out with you today to tell you something. Marilla won't marry Alston, and the Bartley family's plans have fallen through."
"Really?! Marilla called it off, she did?!"
Jareth's eyes instantly regained their brilliance, and his gaze burned into Thad's, "I knew Marilla wouldn't leave me, she loves me, how could she marry someone else?!"
Thad looked at him deeply,while shaking his head slightly, "That marriage was orchestrated by Frederic himself, and he pressured Marilla into it. Marilla's always been soft-hearted and always putting others first; she simply can't, and won't, fight back." It was Suri, and me, Mr. Ashbourne who blew the whistle on the wedding.”
“Aaron?!” Jareth’s chest tightened; he nearly shattered the glass in his grip.
“You’re my best brother, so I wouldn't keep you in the dark. The reason Marilla got out of the Bartley family mess so quickly was all thanks to Evadne’s scheming. And that scheme involved Aaron.”
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus)
Please upload further chapters...
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Where is the continuation of this story? You should not have started writing a story if you dont intend to continue till the end you left us hanging, thats very unprofessional as a writer....
Next chapter please.....
1 chapter per day??...
Hurry up and load more better yet just load the whole book...