His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 781

Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy arrived at the abandoned factory grounds at the same time as Jareth; their steps echoed through the desolation.

When Jareth stepped out of his sports car, his chiseled face was as pale as marble, except for the piercing eyes that glinted ominously under the headlights.

"Where's Marilla? Any news?!" He spoke with a strained voice and with his lips cracked.

His hoarse voice made his words sound broken and fragmented. Seeing the pain in his eyes, Thaddeus felt a pang of sympathy.

In a single night, Jareth had been struck by blow after blow, each as devastating as a thunderbolt, which left him visibly shaken to the core.

"Lily was here early. She's on the trail, but I've lost contact with her!" Evadne clenched her jaw when pulling out her cell phone, "Every damn cell signal is blocked here. The kidnappers chose this place on purpose. Cunning bastards!"

"Evadne, keep cool. I've got a hunch. Gordon's already contacted Abernathy Telecom, our family's company. They're sending portable satellite backpacks and some cutting-edge gear to restore the signal," Thaddeus said, while wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her close.

Thaddeus was prepared for this scenario, as he had lived through a similar ordeal in his youth.

"Lily's got skills. She'll be okay. She'll find Marilla."

Jareth's pale lips trembled as he repeated the words like a mantra; it was hard to tell whether what he said was for their comfort or his own.

Ignoring them, he started towards the back hills, only to be intercepted by Thaddeus.

"Jareth, where are you going?"

"To find Marilla." Jareth's gaze was dazed and unfocused.

"Alone? You won't find her by blindly charging over those hills!"

Thaddeus's eyes burned with intensity, "Don't panic. The team Evadne and I brought is already spreading out to search. Captain Ashbourne will be here any minute!"

"Don't panic? Thaddeus, they've taken Marilla, she's my life!"

Jareth's voice broke into hysteria, and his eyes were bloodshot, "I've got nothing left, only Marilla. If anything happens to her, if anything happens to her..."

He couldn't finish.

Alive he might be, but he felt as if there was no difference from being dead.

That's when Aaron arrived with a squad of police; there was enough manpower to surround the entire factory. Drones were dispatched to scour the west district.

"Team one, sweep the back hills! Team two, with me!"

"Yes, Captain Ashbourne!"

Despite being in pain from a recent scuffle with Hans, Aaron was too worried about Marilla to care for his own injuries.

"Aaron!" finding his face so pale, Evadne rushed to his side.

"I'm fine, don't worry."

Aaron took a deep breath; his eyes were misting as he faced Jareth, "Mr. Fairhaven, I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

Jareth cut him off, and his voice was carried away by the cold wind, "You were trying to protect Marilla. I know. The person who took was probably after me. I'm the one who's put her in danger."

Hearing this, Aaron felt a deeper sense of guilt; he wished Jareth would just grab him and shake the life out of him.

Marilla was still bound, but she fought like a fierce young lioness trapped in a cage, attacking her captors with a ferocious desperation she had never shown before. But her frail body was soon overpowered and knocked to the ground.

"Beat her, beat her hard!" Edith, clutching her bleeding ear, screamed with a vicious fury, "otherwise, do you want to get bitten like Alston?"

The others were scared stiff, so they complied by raining down blows upon Marilla. A kick to the abdomen sent a sharp pain through her, and a metallic taste filled her mouth.

Though her body endured the brutal assault, Marilla had her lips curled into a bitter smile. For the first time in her life, she fought back with all her might, for her dignity.

Even if it meant death, she had no regrets.

Besides, Glynnis watched with a twisted delight and cackled at the chaos.

"Did you think I brought you here to watch the show?" Edith snarled while shoving her, "She's nearly half-dead. Finish her off!"

"Me?" Glynnis scoffed, with arms crossed, "Why don't you do it?"

"It was I who gave you the chance for revenge, and you expect me to get my hands dirty?"

"Ha, Edith, you think I'm a fool? If I lay a finger on her, I'd be a murderer," Glynnis sneered, "Why should I take that risk for you? I wouldn't even do that for my own mother, let alone you."

"Glynnis!" Edith shrieked, "You ungrateful wretch! You deserve everything that's coming to you!"

The insult hit Glynnis hard, and she laughed maliciously, "I'm not just an ungrateful wretch. I've got AIDS."

"What?!" Edith staggered back in horror and revolted, "You filthy thing, you've got that dirty disease? Stay away from me, don't come any closer!"

"Stay away? Oh, we're much closer than you think. We're kin now."

Glynnis' eyes gleamed with madness, "Welcome to the world of AIDS, Ms. Edith."

"What are you talking about?"

"Remember the coffee I served you last time? I added a special ingredient to show my gratitude. It was my blood."