Chapter 92

Glynnis's flawless makeup froze instantly, her body tensing like a coiled spring.

"Whoa there, are we suddenly besties? You can't just grab me like that."

Jareth's icy glare could've frozen hell over as he forcefully pulled his arm away.

"Mr. Jareth, I'm sorry! You're Thaddeus's close friend, so I treated you like family. I didn't mean anything inappropriate." Glynnis panicked, desperate to salvage the situation.

"You're his sister, not mine. Keep your hands to yourself next time."

Without another word, Jareth turned on his heel and strode off.

The clothes he wore—gifts from Evadne—were practically sacred to him. He barely washed them, let alone let some random woman sully them with her touch.

Glynnis's nails dug into her palms, her frustration boiling over.

Then—Jareth stopped dead in his tracks.

One hand slid into his pocket as he glanced back at her, his expression unreadable.

Glynnis's heart leapt.

See? He does care!

"Man, I'll never understand women's fashion trends."

"Huh?" She blinked, confused.

"L*pstick, sure. But tooth-stick? That's a new one."

With a mocking smirk, Jareth sauntered away, leaving Glynnis gaping.

It took her a full three seconds before she bolted to the nearest mirror.

Her teeth were smeared with bright red l*pstick.

A shriek of humiliation tore from her throat. She wanted to smash the damn mirror.

In the study, Jareth sprawled across the sofa like he owned the place.

"Glynnis is like some clingy octopus. No sense of personal space. Evadne would never pull that crap."

Thaddeus didn't even look up from Gordon's reports. "What do you want?"

"Just checking if you've recovered from that cold." Jareth lit a cigarette, exhaling a lazy smoke ring. "Feeling smug, aren't you?"

Thaddeus's grip on his pen tightened.

"Eh, I'm alright. At least I can still walk through her front door." Another drag. "Unlike some people."

That stung.

Thaddeus's jaw clenched.

Here he was—Evadne's actual husband—getting drenched like some lovesick fool before being straight-up rejected.

Pathetic.

Jareth crushed his cigarette into the crystal ashtray and leaned across the desk, locking eyes with Thaddeus.

"I'm going to win Evadne over. She'll be mine."

His gaze was razor-sharp, dissecting Thaddeus like a lab specimen.

What the hell does she see in you?

Three years of neglect. A forced divorce. And this guy gets to call himself her husband?

No way.

Thaddeus's breath hitched. "She's with Cassius now."

"As long as she's not with you, I'm good."

A muscle twitched in Thaddeus's jaw.

"Cassius is single. Evadne's divorced. Two consenting adults—what's the issue?" Jareth arched a brow. "But you? Engaged to Acacia, yet lurking outside Evadne's place in the rain? What's next, serenading her at midnight?"

Thaddeus's chest tightened. "Last night wasn't—"

"Save it. You're taken. Back off."

"I won't go there again." Thaddeus's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "But if you actually care about her, don't screw up her chances with the Ashbournes. They adore her. Cassius could give her the life she deserves."

Jareth scoffed. "The Ashbournes aren't the only wealthy family in town. And Evadne isn't marrying Cassius."

"Why not?" Thaddeus's eyes narrowed.

"Because she's not into him. This whole thing? Probably just to piss you off." Jareth smirked. "If I were her, I'd totally flaunt a new guy too. Show my ex I've still got it."

His ears burned as he remembered Evadne's words:

"Without Thaddeus, I won't love anyone. I won't love again."

But hell if he'd admit that to Thaddeus.

The guy's ego was inflated enough already.

Thaddeus's heart lurched.

Was it true?

Would she really throw away her happiness just for revenge?

The hotel was thriving.

Occupancy rates had skyrocketed. The restaurant? Packed daily.

Morale was through the roof—especially after Glynnis's humiliating public apology. The staff finally felt valued.

Evadne lounged in her office, reviewing the financial reports with a satisfied smile.

Success meant one step closer to the presidency.

And she lived for ambition.

"Ms. Evadne, President Ashbourne is here!" Jason announced, ushering Cassius inside.

"Good morning!"

Beaming, Evadne dashed over and hugged him.

"Tired?" Cassius's arm slid around her waist, effortlessly intimate.

"Please. If I can't handle this, how am I supposed to run the company?" She clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes twinkling. "Oops. Not that I'm impatient for you to retire!"

Cassius chuckled, tweaking her nose. "I'm just afraid you'll suddenly vanish to backpack across Europe."

"Never again." Guilt flickered across her face. "I was selfish before. The Ashbournes are my family now—I won't let them down."

Her phone buzzed.

Alva.

Evadne hesitated before answering. "Hello?"

"Mrs. Abernathy—"

"It's just Evadne now."

"Sorry, force of habit." Alva's voice turned urgent. "The medicine you gave Mr. Thaddeus worked! His headaches are gone, and the bruises are fading!"

"That's... good." Evadne's tone was carefully neutral. "I'm busy now—"

"Wait! Do you really not care about him anymore?"

"No."

Alva's voice cracked. "The house is a mess. No one looks after Mari—Glynnis hurts her, and Mr. Thaddeus is never home! I'm just a maid—what can I do?"

Evadne's fists clenched.

Mari.

That sweet, fragile girl—being tormented?

Her vision blurred with rage.