Chapter 303

Outside the villa.

Evadne got into Jareth’s luxury car.

“Evadne, it’s rare that you’d want to spend time alone with me.”

Jareth’s eyes, always carrying a flirtatious allure, were filled with mirth as he looked at the beauty beside him. “I’m feeling on top of the world right now, but I’m afraid Thad would blow a fuse if he knew we were having a private chat here. He’s still unwell, you know.”

“If it wasn’t for Marilla, do you think I’d want to share the same air with you?”

Evadne crossed her shapely legs, folded her arms, and spoke in a voice as cold as ice, “So, Mr. Jareth, have you had too much of the rich and decadent, and now you’ve set your sights on that innocent little girl, Marilla?”

Hearing Marilla’s name, Jareth felt a shiver of anticipation, a tingling sensation spreading throughout his body. His voice trembled slightly, “Evadne, you know what happened between me and Marilla.”

“About you and Marilla? Hm, I don’t understand.” Evadne’s rose–colored lips curled in cold sarcasm.

“Evadne, there’s no point in hiding anything now.”

Jareth took a deep breath, his heart pounding. He began to speak, each word heavy with sincerity, “I’ve fallen for Marilla. I want to be with her.”

“Is she the how many girls you’ve fallen for this year?” Evadne’s scornful smile deepened, her disdain for him evident.

“She’s the one I love the most!”

“The one you love the most among all those you ‘love‘?”

“Evadne! I’m serious about Marilla!”

Jareth’s handsome face reddened with urgency. He turned to look at her, his gaze intense, “I admit that I used to be quite a playboy, and I’ve been with quite a few women. But it’s always been about taking what we need from each other. Once that’s done, we part ways. I’ve never truly cared about any of them. But Marilla is different. I’m in love. Evadne, every cell in my body is in love with her!”

“So, you’ve extended your claws towards your best friend’s sister.“.

Evadne found his words laughable. “And Marilla is a type you’ve never encountered before. You must find it especially exciting. Men always love a challenge and always crave novelty. Once you’ve had your fill of Marilla, you’ll despise her more than any woman. Once the novelty wears off and she can’t satisfy your vanity like a regular girl, Marilla will become a discarded rag.”

“A rag? I can’t wait to cherish her every moment! She’s the apple of my eye! Evadne, don’t you have any faith in me?” Jareth’s voice cracked with frustration.

“I’d sooner believe a pig could climb a tree than believe you’d settle down.” Evadne rolled her eyes.

“Damn, why can’t a playboy settle down? Even a thousand–year–old tortoise needs to come ashore!”

Jareth’s expression was serious, his eyes filled with burning intensity. “Evadne, I know you care about Marilla as if she were your own sister. But please believe me, I swear on my life. I love Marilla, more sincerely than I’ve ever loved anyone. I want to be with her, to have a future with her!”

“Alright, then I have a question for you.”

Evadne suddenly stopped mocking him and asked in a very serious tone “If your family members oppose your relationship with Marilla, and vows to disinherit you from the Fairhaven Group if you marry Marilla and you will lose everything from the Fairhaven Group. Your mother will disown you and your family will never know peace because of this. Would you still choose to be with Marilla? Would you?”

Jareth’s eyes were bloodshot, his fists clenched tight. “Perhaps I can’t have the whole Fairhaven Group right now, and maybe the risks you mentioned do exist. But I’ve made up my mind about Marilla. I will do everything I can to protect her, and I won’t let anyone bully her, including the people from the Abernathy Group!”

“That’s not what I asked.”

Evadne’s lips curled in a cold smile, disappointment in her eyes. “The only way you can protect her is to marry her, to make her your legitimate wife. Otherwise, your so–called protection is, in some ways, harming her!”

Marry her!

Evadne’s words echoed in Jareth’s mind, his jawline tightened, and he was caught off guard.

Seeing his stunned silence, Evadne laughed, “When you boldly declared you wanted to marry me, you were full of courage. Now, when I ask if you would dare to marry Marilla, why are you speechless? Or, in your eyes, Mr. Jareth, the least significant miss in the Abernathy family, Marilla, is not worth bringing home as your wife. Her greatest value is to be your secret treasure, your hidden canary, right?”

“Evadne!” Jareth’s chest roiled with anger, his face red. This was the first time he had ever had a heated argument with Evadne.

He finally understood why Thaddeus had vomited blood.

Was it because she had infuriated him?

no point in arguing. I respect all true love, but I don’t want Marilla to suffer because

I don’t want to make things worse for

for Thaddeus to be admitted to the hospital, Jareth returned

Home

villa where he and Marilla spent their private

passed away, his mother had become gloomy and often went abroad for treatments. His sister studied abroad. The grand

days with Marilla had made him feel comfortable, relaxed,

wished that

Marilla?” Jareth asked as soon as he saw Lily upon

her to sleep, but she seems to be greatly shocked and can’t sleep at all. It’s

16.29

this, Jareth felt a lump in his throat filled with guilt. He

planning to do about Miss Edith?” Lily

I’m utterly ineffective?” Jareth asked, his

Lily was taken aback.

years, and he was always willful, nobly proud. But he had never shown this lack

always been a godlike

Tell what to do, Lily, honestly, I don’t know what to do.”

when she bullied Marilla, and a sense of heartbreaking defeat surged in his chest. “At most, I can send Edith back to Aetheria, but will

it slow. As long as you don’t give up on Ms. Glynnis, even if Miss Edith doesn’t like it, she’ll eventually

the room, collected himself, and

“Marilla? I’m back.”

only lit by a single bedside

curled up, her head buried in

put it on the sofa, afraid of making her cold. He then gently

does it still hurt?” His large hand covered her

girl shook

go to sleep?” Jareth asked in a particularly

began to

seemed like all he thought about was sleeping with her!

“I am not sleepy.”

spoke weakly, “I want to be alone for

I’ll sit

neck with a tenderness that was nearly overflowing from his eyes. “If you don’t sleep, I won’t sleep. If you find me annoying, I’ll keep quiet and just sit here with you. What if you get thirsty or hungry later? You

stay with you

go to sleep.” Marilla didn’t raise her head, her soft voice was urging

heart, his breath hitched. “Alright, if you

and moved to leave, Marilla suddenly reached out and grabbed his arm, her grip tightening and her breathing becoming

Jareth’s eyes

Jareth,

face were all tear–streaked, “I lied.

he gently wiped away her tears, “I’m not going

with tears

“Jareth, hold me.”

suppress the love that was about to

a deep breath and held

“I’m holding you.”

“Tighter.”

neck, his thin lips brushing against her reddened

me even tighter?”

“Alright.”

trembling back, “I wish I

the two figures held each other

each other for a while, Marilla finally became

they lay together, as natural as a newlywed

man’s sturdy arm, her small face buried in his chest.

Jareth held her shoulders, gently

“Mm, okay.”

like me?” The moment

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255