Chapter 454

Evadne gasped; it was only now that she noticed the blinking green light in a hidden corner. A camera had been set up without her realizing, and the whole sordid affair with the Fairhaven family’s smug denials and Gary’s bully–boy antics had been broadcast live!

Everything had happened so stealthily that even the detail–oriented Evadne had failed to notice in time.

The live chat was exploding with viewers pouring in. The viewer count had skyrocketed past five million!

[Holy smokes! The Fairhaven Group were beyond ruthless! To win a competition they would stoop to harming animals, and they nearly killed Ms. Ashbourne! That’s a crime! That’s murder!]

[Utterly despicable! Morally bankrupt! They’ve hit a new low!]

[The Fairhaven family were rotten to the core. Barry’s dad was nothing but a dockworker at the Skyrim ports back in the day, hauling sacks for a living before turning into a thug. But he was gutsy and ruthless, and it was that along with a stroke of luck that saw him rise to mob leader. That’s how the Fairhaven Group started.]

[Oh, it figures! Just street thugs at heart, no wonder they’re so utterly shameless!]

[Indeed, compared to a true blue–blooded dynasty like the Ashbourne family, they’re nothing! Edith trying to measure up to Ms. Ashbourne is like trying to touch the moon by standing on tiptoes!]

[Oh dear! Why does Mr. Jareth Fairhaven have to be tied to the Fairhaven family? He’s such a looker; it’s a crying shame!]

[The commenter above, what are you on about? Since when do we judge good from evil based on looks? Although, I must admit Jareth is quite the eye–candy.]

Thaddeus had been plotting the live stream long before it all kicked off, and he’d given Jareth the heads up.

At first, he had worries, but Jareth was nonchalant, waving his hand dismissively, “Go for it. And don’t just go for it; I want you to make a real show. Gary has high blood pressure; if you can get him bedridden for a couple of weeks, I’d owe you one!”

Thaddeus could only smile wryly, “You’re always such a rebel. But you should know, public opinion is a powerful thing – it can float you, and it can sink you.”

Jareth flicked his cigarette casually, “I used to think I was one of the Fairhaven family. But now I have my own life, so let the Fairhaven family be the Fairhaven family, and Jareth will be Jareth.”

The live broadcast utterly dissipated the Fairhaven family’s arrogance. Edith watched as her family was skewered by public opinion, berated and vilified. Rather than worrying about her grandfather who always doted on her, she was relieved that Duke hadn’t thrown her under the bus.

And she managed to keep her cool, not showing fear or wetting herself with panic like Elspeth. Imagine if that had been caught on camera – mortifying! The Fairhaven family might be shameless, but she had to save face!

Mrs. Fairhaven couldn’t handle the scandal. Physically and mentally drained, she was sweating bullets and could barely stand.

– how

“Grandpa Barry, Uncle Gary, Mom can’t take it anymore; I need to get her to the hospital!” Edith didn’t even wait for a response before she escorted her mother out, flanked by bodyguards, looking like a dog with its tail between its legs.

the parking lot.

and Mrs. Fairhaven’s color started to return. It was half fright and half not wanting to stay and lose face any longer. “Duke is usually so cautious and reliable; how could

boss.” Edith soothed her mother’s back, her eyes filled with a sinister chill, “But now with this mess, it’s his own bad luck. Grandpa and Uncle just need to throw Duke to the wolves, let him take the fall as the Ashbourne family’s punch bag. If we insist this was all Duke’s idea and nothing to do

it’s

truly is Duke’s fault, he’s still a member of the Fairhaven Group, and our attitude towards Thaddeus and Evadne was so confrontational. It’s like we’ve provoked a hornet’s nest. The public backlash is going to hit the Fairhaven Group’s stock prices and reputation hard; they’ll plummet by tomorrow. And your

but internally she was gloating.

her? Her father had already tucked away enough money for her and her mother to live lavishly for a lifetime. With plenty of assets

the car window startled Edith. She looked up sharply and

the car, he commanded

sister. Can’t you speak to her a

Now, Jareth was unyielding, his

unspoken agreement to keep their conversation away from

oblivious to

manicured fingers, Edith feigned indifference while appreciating her flashy fingernails, “Why don’t you run along to your silly

your mouth, Edith.” Jareth’s towering frame stepped closer, his eyes glinting with barely contained fury, “You should count your blessings that I still let Marilla be your sister–in–law. If you keep acting out,

her chin, questioning, “Do you have

pulling the strings,” Jareth moved his

you rambling

to it. No more lies, Edith – I

confessed, didn’t he? No one instructed him; it was all his doing.” A sinister smirk suddenly crept across Edith’s face, “And even if I did orchestrate it, where’s your

slammed into the wall beside Edith’s head, making her gasp

one gets to use others as stepping stones without paying a price,” he seethed, locking eyes with her, devoid of any sibling warmth, “Duke looked after you like his own since you were a kid. He was loyal to the Fairhaven family and took the fall for you. But not everyone is Duke. Your misdeeds will catch up with you. You’ll end

were you. You’ve lost our dad, abandoned your sister, and now you’d risk losing our mom? She loves me; I am her world. If anything were to happen to me, what do you think would become of her frail health?

arms

how cunning his brother’s family were. They were quick to claim victories and even quicker to dodge calamities.

Gary was done; for all his cunning, he was at a

hands trembling slightly, “Walking away now would be

there he stood, maintaining the dignity of the family patriarch in front of a million viewers, cutting ties with Duke in a bid to salvage their name, “Duke, I brought you from the orphanage. You were raised alongside my sons, never wanting for anything. The Fairhaven family has treated you well. How could you commit such despicable acts? I’ve always considered you family. Where does this leave us? Duke, I am bitterly disappointed in you. Now that the evidence is clear, you’re guilty. Chairman Emeric Ashbourne, Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy, we will abide by your decision. Moreover, we will take full responsibility for the

lips curling into a cold smile. Moments before, the Fairhaven family had shown no concern, hoping to protect one of their own. Now they

Thaddeus, however, was not satisfied. With a protective arm around Evadne, he spoke in a chilling tone, “Mr. Fairhaven, do you think this settles

the culprit, and we’ve committed to taking full responsibility. What

premeditated crime has crippled a prized racehorse of the K Group and injured Evadne. The extent of

mind; this was the outcome

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