Chapter 239

The world around Glynnis spun violently, her ears filled with a deafening buzz as if struck by lightning. She stood frozen, unable to move.

"Mom, save me! Mom!"

Watching her daughter being dragged away by the police, Elspeth abandoned all pretense of aristocratic dignity. She even attempted to physically block the officers. "My daughter is innocent! How can you, as law enforcement, handle a case so carelessly? How dare you arrest an innocent person?!"

Jareth observed the dramatic mother-daughter duo with icy detachment, silently willing the police to hurry and remove them from his sight. "Elspeth, if you don’t step aside, we’ll charge you with obstruction of justice!" The officer’s tone was sharp, unyielding.

"My daughter was set up! By her—by the Fairhaven family’s daughter, Edith!" Elspeth shrieked, her voice trembling with fury and fear, her venomous glare locked onto Edith.

"What does this have to do with me? Even if I forged the name, it’s just a copyright issue. A little compensation and it’s settled. But I had nothing to do with leaking trade secrets!"

Edith’s words caught in her throat as her heart lurched painfully. She slapped a hand over her mouth.

Damn it. She’d slipped up. In her haste to distance herself from Glynnis, she’d accidentally confessed to the forgery.

She felt exposed, as if sharp arrows had pierced her chest.

Slowly, she turned to meet Jareth’s gaze—filled with rage, shock, and crushing disappointment.

"Mr. Jareth! Your sister isn’t as innocent as you think! She’s deceitful, and she’s lied to both of us!"

Glynnis’s shrill scream echoed through the Fairhaven estate, chilling as a banshee’s wail. "Edith! You used me as your scapegoat. I’ll never forgive you—just you wait!"

"Edith! Come here, now!" Mrs. Jareth called, visibly shaken by Elspeth and her daughter’s theatrics.

"Mummy!"

Still reeling, Edith tried to run to her mother, but Jareth seized her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.

"Jareth." Her voice trembled.

"Edith, why did you do it? Was it to get back at Ms. Evadne?" Jareth’s eyes burned red with fury.

"It’s all Glynnis’s lies!"

"You’re still denying it!"

Jareth roared, tightening his grip until Edith cried out in pain. "Ouch, Jareth, let go! It hurts! Mummy, help me!"

"Jareth! Release her this instant! Are you trying to break your sister’s wrist?"

Mrs. Jareth rushed forward in a panic, prying Jareth’s fingers open and pulling Edith protectively into her arms. "Can’t we discuss this calmly?"

"Discuss? I gave her a chance to explain, and what was she doing?"

Jareth’s fury was palpable, his gaze locked onto Edith’s tear-streaked face—still angelic, still innocent.

A sharp ache radiated through his chest. "She conspired with Glynnis to frame Ms. Evadne! What did Evadne ever do to deserve this? Because she’s Thaddeus’s ex-wife? Is that your petty reason?"

"Enough, Jareth! You’ve watched Edith grow up. Don’t you know how kind-hearted she is?"

Mrs. Jareth cradled her trembling daughter. "Even if Edith made a mistake, it’s because that Abernathy girl manipulated her! How can you accuse your own sister? If this gets out, Edith will be ruined!"

"She flew to Aetheria on a private jet before Glynnis and Ada’s contract signing. When I asked where she was going, she lied about attending a fashion show. If you’re truly innocent, why lie?"

Jareth’s voice was thunderous. "You already admitted to forging the name. How can you deny it now? If Father knew how low you’ve sunk, he’d turn in his grave!"

"Jareth! How dare you speak to your sister like this!" Mrs. Jareth’s eyes welled with tears at the mention of her late husband.

"Jareth! You bastard!" Edith was flushed with humiliation and rage, drowning in fear and indignation. "Evadne humiliated me in front of Thaddeus and everyone else! What’s wrong with giving her a taste of her own medicine? You’re so self-righteous now, defending her! You only care about that woman—I’m nothing to you! But no matter how much you grovel, Evadne will never love you. You’re just a pathetic fool!"

"Edith!"

Jareth’s crimson eyes bore into her. The sheer intensity of his voice made her shrink back into her mother’s embrace.

"Even if Evadne couldn’t be your sister-in-law, she doesn’t deserve your malice. And I know her character. She’s stubborn, ruthless, and vengeful—but she’d never attack anyone unprovoked. If what you say is true, you started this feud!"

Edith was so furious she could spit blood.

"One more thing—give up on Thaddeus. He loves Evadne. Anyone with eyes can see it, except him." Jareth smirked.

Edith’s face burned crimson, bile rising in her throat.

"Tomorrow, you’re apologizing to Ms. Evadne. Face to face."

Jareth issued the command coldly before turning to leave.

"Jareth! Have you lost your mind? I won’t apologize to Evadne! Never!" Edith screamed hysterically.

"If you don’t, I’ll send you back to Aetheria tonight. Without my permission, you won’t set foot in Elmsworth again!"

Jareth’s resolve was unshakable, leaving even Mrs. Jareth stunned. She’d heard rumors of her son’s ruthlessness, but when had he become so cold toward his own sister?

All for Thaddeus’s ex-wife, Evadne?

"Jareth, come back!"

Edith’s voice was hoarse from screaming, but Jareth—who had always doted on her—didn’t even glance back.

Midnight, Sapphire Nights Club

Jareth sat alone in the VIP room, downing shot after shot.

The accusations against Edith gnawed at him, his heart pounding painfully. The alcohol churned in his stomach, a fire burning inside him.

The door creaked open.

"Get out! I don’t want company!"

Irritated, Jareth hurled his glass to the floor, shattering it.

"Mr. Jareth, it’s Mr. Thaddeus."

Lily offered an apologetic smile, stepping aside to reveal Thaddeus. "Apologies, Mr. Thaddeus. Mr. Jareth isn’t in the best mood tonight."

"I’m used to it." Thaddeus’s expression was unreadable.

"Please, come in."

Thaddeus nodded and entered.

Lily bowed and shut the door behind him.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Thaddeus frowned, taking a seat beside Jareth. "Didn’t Evadne reject you already? Why the theatrics?"

"You think it’s funny I got rejected?" Jareth grabbed the bottle, gulping directly from it.

"Rejected? You don’t even qualify for that term."

Thaddeus lit a cigarette, exhaling smoke. "Evadne never accepted you in the first place. At best, you were a backup."

"Damn it. If I’m a backup, you’re a flat tire—useless dead weight. Even a Ferrari wouldn’t move with you on board!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Jareth remembered Edith calling Evadne a "slut," and his chest constricted. His eyes reddened as he smashed another bottle.

If it were anyone else, he’d have already struck them down.

But the one who insulted Evadne was his beloved sister. No matter how furious he was, he couldn’t lay a hand on her. He couldn’t even bring himself to punish her harshly.

Thaddeus flicked ash from his cigarette, his gaze turning frosty. "You’re not yourself. What happened?"

Jareth exhaled heavily. "The forged name Glynnis used to bribe Ada? It was Edith’s work."

Thaddeus’s pupils contracted slightly, but he remained silent.

"You’re not surprised?"

"I suspected as much."

Jareth’s stomach twisted. "Thad, about my sister—"

"Since we’re on the subject, there’s more."

Thaddeus blew out smoke, his aura icy. "The person who hired reporters to attack Evadne at the charity event? Also your sister."

Jareth paled, as if sinking into quicksand.

After a long pause, he stammered, "Thad, I’m sorry."

"The one who should apologize isn’t you. It’s your sister. And she should apologize to my ex-wife."

The word "ex-wife" stabbed through Jareth’s chest.

"Edith is twenty-two. I know ‘young and naive’ isn’t an excuse anymore."

Jareth’s voice was rough. "But you’ve watched her grow up too. She’s spoiled, reckless, acts without thinking—but she’s not evil. Glynnis led her astray. As her brother, I failed to discipline her properly."

Thaddeus was silent for a beat. "So how do you plan to make amends for your sister’s mistakes? How will you compensate Evadne?"

Jareth’s breath hitched.

"Tomorrow, I’ll take Edith to apologize to her."

"That’s it?"

"Thad, she’s still my sister. For my sake, can you let this slide just once?" Jareth pleaded.

"I’ll go with you tomorrow." Thaddeus’s tone was light.

"Why? You think I’d side with Edith and cause trouble for Evadne? I wouldn’t dare."

"No. I’m afraid you’ll get stabbed." Thaddeus stood leisurely.

Jareth’s chest tightened—was this bastard referring to the time Evadne threatened him with a knife? Heartless!

"Anyway, it’s been a while. I want to see how she’s doing."

Thaddeus’s eyes softened slightly as he walked toward the door.

"Thad! You haven’t answered me!"

Jareth called urgently. "For the sake of our twenty-year friendship, let this go just once. I’ll ensure Edith apologizes, and the Fairhaven Group will compensate Evadne for all damages!"

Thaddeus paused. "Jareth, if it were your sister attacked like this, could you swallow your pride?"

Jareth fell silent.

"For our friendship, I’ll spare Edith this once."

Thaddeus glanced back, his fist clenching. The chill around him was suffocating.

"But only this once."