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Chapter 685
Chapter 685
Chapter 685
Chapter 685
Furious, Lily clenched her fists so tight they almost cracked!
“Mr. Fairhaven and Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy are best buds, and Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy’s with
Evadne. So, tell me, do you really think stealing Mr. Fairhaven’s girl is cool? You wanna put Mr.
Thaddeus Abernathy in a tight spot, tick off Ms. Ashbourne?”
“Did I ever say I was gonna steal her? It’s been you, Lily, with your crazy paranoia about Mr.
Fairhaven.”
Aaron’s lashes fell, his gaze tenderly landing on Marilla’s lovely sleeping face, “But if you keep on
thinking this way, eventually you’re gonna make me feel like I ought to step up my game, just out of
respect for you.”
“Captain Ashbourne, remember who you are!” Lily’s eyes blazed as she abruptly sat up!
But she forgot she was still in the car, and with a thud, her head hit the roof, pain furrowing her brow as
she slumped back down.
“Lily, my job is not an excuse for you to morally hijack me.”
Aaron’s lips quirked in a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “And for the record, there’s nothing I dislike
more than being threatened.”
Lily felt a shiver of fear! Every extra minute she spent with Aaron, the youngest son of the Ashbourne
family, the more frightened she became!
Her intuition screamed that if Aaron ever truly set his sights on Marilla, and if it ever came to competing
for her affection, he would be a formidable rival to Mr. Fairhaven, a force to be reckoned with!
When Marilla was whisked into the treatment room, Jareth arrived with the frost of autumn on his brow
and the whirlwind of his stride.
Behind him, a throng of the Fairhaven group’s men followed, crowding the expansive hallway. His
presence seemed less like a visit to a darling wife and more like he was heading to settle a score in
some alleyway rumble.
As soon as he entered the hospital, Jareth’s handsome face was an unapproachable slab of
millennium–old ice.
He had been on his private jet, en route to a neighboring city with Barry for an important business
meeting. Having seen the news about the incident at Elmsworth Academy of Fine Arts, and perhaps
due to a sense of premonition, he frantically called Lily, who did not answer.
Unable to confirm whether Marilla was involved or not, he ignored Barry’s protests, and ordered the jet
to turn back to Elmsworth – skipping even an international assembly if necessary.
Barry was so agitated that he had to breathe oxygen frantically to avoid passing out.
“Mr. Fairhaven.”
Seeing Jareth’s crimson eyes and his intimidating approach, Lily immediately bowed deeply, a bead of
cold sweat dripping to the floor.
“Why! Why didn’t you tell me?” His few words were clenched between his teeth.
“At the time, it was urgent. I was afraid that you…
“Why didn’t you tell me?!”
Jareth roared, his outburst echoing down the corridor, prompting the Fairhaven Group’s men to bow
deeply in the presence of his formidable aura.
Lily bit her pale lip, her head sinking lower, weighed down by a ton of guilt.
“Lily, you’re suspended.”
Jareth glared at her, a mix of fury and heartache, deep disappointment in his hoarse voice, “From now
on, you go home and reflect. I’ll increase security around my wife; she doesn’t need you anymore.”
Didn’t need her anymore. A tear mingled with a drop of sweat in Lily’s eye.
The thought of being separated from Mrs. Fairhaven she served day and night was heart–wrenching.
However, it was her oversight, her neglect, she had no excuses.
“This isn’t Lily’s fault. We, the police, advised against contacting you.” Aaron explained, emerging from
around the corner with a calm gaze, “The situation was volatile, Marilla was being held by a criminal,
and any slight disturbance could have escalated the danger. Lily wanted to inform you immediately, but
we didn’t want any complications. After all, we have more expertise in these matters. So, Mr.
Fairhaven, please don’t direct your anger at her.”
“Is it the police’s advice, or is it your idea, Aaron?” Jareth’s knuckles cracked with tension, his voice a
low rumble of chilling threat.
On his way here, he had seen the live stream showing Aaron carrying a girl out of the school building.
Even with her face hidden, he recognized from her build that Aaron was holding his woman! He had
long suspected the guy had eyes for his wife, and now it was as clear as day.
Marilla was his life, his heart and soul. Touch her, and it was war.
“I am the police. Is there a difference?” Aaron replied coolly, a slight smirk on his lips. Standing alone,
he faced off with the Fairhaven Group’s army without flinching.
Jareth clenched his teeth, stepping closer, “Marilla is my wife. In a moment of life and death, you kept
me, her husband, in the dark, preventing me from coming to her rescue. What’s your angle? Do I have
to tear off your mask to make you speak plainly?”
*Jareth, are you being dumb or just naive? Even if you’ve never been in this kind of situation, haven’t
you watched enough cop movies growing up?”
Aaron, hands in his jacket pockets, squinted and chuckled, “Even if you were there, what good would it
do? Would you have your men rush in and beat up the criminal, or shout that the girl he’s holding is Mr.
Fairhaven’s woman, dare him to touch her and see his family ruined by dawn?”
Jareth felt a surge of anger, “Aaron!”
The Ashbourne family was known for their sharp tongues eloquent to some, venomous to others.
“I didn’t inform you; it’s not about trust, Jareth. It’s about eliminating risks to ensure the success of the
hostage rescue. Marilla is your girl, and that’s the only reason I kept you in the dark. Had it been
anyone else, I would’ve done the same. I’ve been on the force for years. I’ve seen cases that shatter
your worldview, squared off against scum of the earth who’ve lost all humanity. When they’re cornered,
they’re suicidal. The murderer that hijacked Marilla is the same; saving her was like pulling teeth from a
tiger’s mouth.”
Jareth was too hot–headed to consider Aaron’s explanation, “So what, should I be thanking you,
Captain Ashbourne?”
“No thanks needed. Just doing my duty.” Aaron replied with a casual wave of his hand, “I’m not here to
argue; I’m beat. You must be tired too after all the commotion. Save your energy for looking after
Marilla. And Lily, she’s been through hell and high water with you. It’s tough on her. Blame me if you
must, but go easy on her, will you?”
Lily, hunched in the corner with her shoulders drawn up, felt a lump form in her throat upon hearing
Aaron’s words.
She’d been at Mr. Fairhaven’s side for over a decade, weathering all kinds of hardship, often forgetting
she was a woman at all. But now, for the first time, she felt an unfamiliar sting of injustice.
She quickly suppressed the feeling. The last thing she should feel while serving Mr. Fairhaven was
self–pity.
After that, Aaron walked away.
“Aaron,” Jareth’s eyes gleamed dangerously, “if you had the guts to face me openly, I might respect
you. But using your badge to get close to Marilla, isn’t that a bit underhanded?”
If Aaron weren’t Evadne’s own brother, Jareth might have thrown a punch by now. He was already
seething with guilt and anger for not being there when Marilla was hurt. Aaron’s words felt like mockery.
Aaron paused briefly, his voice dripping with sarcasm, “Ha, I used to think that you being friends with
my brother–in–law was like charity work. Now I feel it’s the opposite.”
He resumed his stride, humming a tune, exuding an air of nonchalance that left the Fairhaven Group’s
men silent and awestruck.
Jareth’s eyes were red with a brewing storm when the clinic door opened with a heavy thud. He turned,
taken aback.
Marilla stood there, fragile and pale as if a gust of wind could sweep her away. Her furrowed brows
focused on Jareth, her eyes filled with reproach that cut deep into his heart.
“Jareth, why did you have to speak to Aaroh like that? He’s the one who saved me.”
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