Chapter 614
When Jareth arrived home, it was well into the night.
Lily, the housekeeper, emerged from the laundry room with a basket of clothes, hurriedly setting down
her chores to greet the young master.
“Is Marilla asleep yet?” Jareth asked as he handed her his suit jacket, a flush of joy lighting up his face.
“She’s retired for the night.”
“Ah, after all the hustle.”
Jareth felt a twinge of disappointment, but it quickly gave way to a wide grin. “Then I’ll share the news
with her first thing in the morning.”
Lily blinked in anticipation. “Sir, is there good news?”
“Grandpa gave his blessing.”
Jareth’s eyes sparkled with excitement, his voice trembling with emotion, “Grandpa, he’s agreed to my
marrying Marilla!”
“Really?”
Lily’s heart leapt with joy, tears glistening in her eyes, “Congratulations! You’re finally going to make it
official with Marilla! There couldn’t be happier news!”
“On the way back, my mother called. She said she’d consent to accepting Marilla, but only if Edith
returned home.”
Jareth’s gaze turned icy. “As if that’s possible. When did my dear mother learn to bargain? Does she
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtthink if she doesn’t agree, I won’t marry Marilla?”
Lily nodded firmly in agreement.
In her view, Mrs. Fairhaven rarely had clarity in important matters, and ever since Jareth’s dad passed
away, it had always been Jareth holding the fort. Otherwise, Gary would have taken over long ago.
Jareth’s tone grew somber, “Still, Grandpa’s consent only came because Gary put in a word. What that
guy is cooking up, we’ll have to see.”
“Careful with Gary, he doesn’t do anything without a motive,” Lily added with a stern look.
After a quick shower, Jareth slipped into bed, contentedly snuggling up to Marilla.
The more he thought about it, the more excited he got and couldn’t fall asleep. So he quietly scooted
closer to her, savoring the soft, fragrant warmth of her body.
It started with just cuddling, which soon wasn’t enough, and turned into a full embrace.
His hands couldn’t resist slipping beneath her nightgown, stirring a familiar desire.
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“Mmm.”
Marilla opened her sleepy eyes and naturally wrapped her arms around him, “You’re back.”
“Sorry, darling, did I wake you?” Jareth said, feeling guilty but unwilling to withdraw his hand.
“Jareth, do you want to?” Marilla, now so attuned and considerate due to his tender training, asked
softly.
He sighed deeply, just holding her tighter, “Not tonight, otherwise you won’t get any sleep.”
“You seem very happy.”
With her eyes closed, Marilla listened to his rapid heartbeat. “Your heart’s pounding so fast, and I swear
I heard you laughing in my sleep. What’s got you so happy?”
Inhaling deeply, Jareth kissed her forehead, his chest swelling with love, “Marilla, I’m finally going to
marry you. Officially marry you, making you my wife, ensuring everyone acknowledges you, not just as
a private agreement.”
Marilla’s eyes flew open, sparkling with tears.
Despite Jareth calling her his wife daily, she had always seen it as a term of endearment, never really
expecting him to truly marry her.
Especially after her mother was sentenced to death for murder, she had given up hope of ever
becoming his bride and was content just to be by his side.
“Jareth, you don’t have to force yourself.”
“Force myself? You think I’m forcing myself?”
Jareth’s voice broke with urgency, his passion almost erupting like molten lava, engulfing the woman in
his arms, “No, Marilla, this isn’t about force. Marrying you is my lifelong desire, my one true wish.”
After a few days of preparation, Jareth chose a restful day to take his beloved Marilla to the
Windermere Estate.
“Sir? Ms. Marilla? You’ve arrived!” Dennis was the first to greet them.
“Hello, Mr. Dennis,” Marilla said, her smile as bright as the warm sun, holding Jareth’s arm.
“Good, good. Seeing you makes me even better, Ms. Marilla.”
Dennis examined her rosy cheeks, noting the added plumpness and the tender care Jareth had given
her. It was clear Jareth treated her well, and Dennis’s worried heart eased.
“Dennis, is Mr. Frederic in?”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmJareth asked with a gentle smile, gripping his love’s hand, “I’d like to speak with him. There’s
something very important we need to discuss.”
Dennis, guessing the reason for their visit from Marilla’s blush, couldn’t hide his delight.
“Mr. Frederic is home, I will go and inform him.”
“Marilla, you’ve come home.”
Before Dennis could finish, Frederic’s voice came from behind.
Jareth and Marilla looked up.
Frederic descended the stairs, dressed in casual home attire, with a much less flamboyant Glynnis
trailing behind.
Jareth barely recognized her. Was this the same ostentatious peacock from before? At first glance, she
could’ve been mistaken for Acacia returning from abroad.
“Dad,” Marilla’s grip tightened on Jareth’s hand, her nerves apparent.
Frederic’s lips pressed into a thin line as he glanced at Jareth, his gaze hardening.
“Oh, Marilla, you’ve finally decided to come home.”
Glynnis forced a welcoming smile, “I’ve missed you so much, dear sister.”
“Marilla,” Frederic’s voice was cold and stern, “Don’t leave again after you’ve come home. You’re the
heiress of the Abernathy Group, not some wild child left unsupervised. What does it look like, staying
out and not coming home?”
“Yes, Marilla,” Glynnis chimed in.
Glynnis furrowed her brow, her face etched with deep concern. “You’re barely in your twenties, the
prime of your youth. What are you doing shacking up with some guy? If word gets out, your reputation
could be toast. Jareth might be a man and shake it off, but you, you’re a young woman. You’ve got so