His Ex Wife Is A Billionaire

Thad patted

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 Eyadne’s scheming. And that scheme involved Aaron.”

Thaddeus then recounted everything that transpired at the Bartley family’s soiree to Jareth.

“But, but you said all this was Evadne’s idea, and it was for helping Marilla shake off the Bartley family nuisance! That was just a play put on by the Ashbourne family’s Suri and Aaron in front of the Bartleys!”

Jareth’s eyes, brimming with hope, pinned Thaddeus, “Evadne has been supportive of me and Marilla all along.

hasn’t she?”

“Evadne came up with this plan to create an opportunity for you and Marilla.”

Thaddeus swirled his glass pensively. “But now, Suri and Aaron are taking this match seriously. After the party,

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Suri left her cherished jade bracelet for Marilla to show her fondness, Moreover, Chairman Emeric has been informed and is flying back from the states to discuss the match with his son.”

“Damn! Do they think I’m some orphan without anyone to fight my corner?” Jareth’s eyes blazed as he shot to his feet.

Thaddeus blinked in confusion.

Jareth clutched his forehead, which was burning with anger, “No, no. I have a mother. What I mean is, they’re

taking advantage of the fact that I don’t have parents to nego on my behalf! They’re trying to claim my

woman by force! This isn’t how you play the game! First, it was a Bartley, now an Ashbourne! No, this can’t go on, or Marilla will become your seventh sister–in–law!”

With that, he strode towards the door.

“Where are you going?” Thaddeus called after him.

“To find Suri in the Ashbourne family, or else I’ll go to the states to find Chairman Emeric!”

Jareth’s chest heaved as if a caged beast was struggling within, “You’ve finally given me a chance, and I can’t miss out on Marilla again!”

“But Marilla has already broken up with you. Even if Suri is keen on matchmaking Aaron and Marilla, it’s understandable.”

Thaddeus‘ stern brow furrowed as he spoke the chilling truth, “Jareth, the problem isn’t between Aaron and Marilla; it’s between you and Marilla.

Evadne helped you get rid of Alston, but there’s still Aaron, who’s taken with Marilla. And if not Aaron, there will be other men. If Marilla insists on not being with you, what then? Are you going to cut off all her chances at love? Do you want her to live without male companionship and to remain unmarried, clinging to the elusive memories of you?”

Jareth stood frozen; his heart felt as if it was being squeezed dry of blood.

“You need to see where the problem lies between you and Marilla.”

Thaddeus rose slowly with an intense gaze, “What you need to do isn’t to keep taking Marilla back and locking her up with you. What you need to do is change for her, to be the warm sunshine in her life, not to make her your possession. Being together with her isn’t the only way for you to get happy. If you truly love Marilla, her happiness should be your happiness.”

Jareth trembled, with realization dawning on his face.

In the early hours of the morning, the police station was still brightly lit.

Aaron was slurping noodles from a bowl while discussing a case with his colleagues; then a female officer entered, her face flushed;

“Captain Ashbourne, someone’s here to report a case.”

“Me? What case?”

“They say it’s a big one, an important one.”

“Well, they still have to follow protocol. Take them to make a statement first.”

him.

The female officer hurriedly said, “He, he claims his last name la Fairhaven. He also said if you don’t see L

he’ll wait as long as it takes.”

In the lobby, Aaron confronted Jareth.

“Mr. Fairhaven, you said you wanted to report a case? I’m here to take care of it personally, let’s hear it, what’s the trouble?” Aaron looked at him with a half–smile.

Jareth’s voice was hoarse, “I came to find you, for Marilla,”

12

Aaron’s nerves tensed instantly, “What happened to Marilla?!”

“I have things to discuss with you, alone.”

In the dimly lit car, the powerful auras of “the new love” and “the old flame” collided silently, creating an indescribably awkward atmosphere.

“Out with it, my colleagues are waiting for me.”

Aaron put his hands in pockets as he looked out the window, it seemed there was an invisible barrier between him and Jareth.

Jareth’s fingers, resting on his knee, curled and uncurled in hesitation:

admit, I’ve been awful to you in the past. I apologize.”

Aaron’s face registered shock, as if he’d seen a ghost, “Mr. Fairhaven, are you talking to me? In the dead of night, have you hit your head or something?”

Jareth was speechless.

“There’s a devil in the details, cut to the chase.”

The man took a deep breath, with his eyes burning with intense emotion, and said word by word, “I love Marilla deeply. For her, I’d give up everything, even my life.

Captain Ashbourne, I came here to ask you to give me a chance to make things right with Marilla.”

Aaron’s brow furrowed, his gaze unflinching on Jareth’s pale and sorrowful face.

Seeing Aaron’s silence, Jareth let go of all his pride and said with a voice heavy and bitter, “Please, give me one chance, will you?

12:46 1NôvelDrama.Org: text © owner.