Chapter 601
Chapter 601
“Ms. Archer, it’s been ages. You’re still a sight for sore eyes, the man said, his gaze lingering on Elsie’s
face, which as a winter’s moon. His smile was light as a feather
“Thank you for the compliment, sir Elsie replied her eyes modestly lowered, her tone neither servile nor
overbearing
Truly a testament to Mr. Chambers years of careful guidance: Gentle and poised, elegant and dignified.
Sometimes even feel like you are the spitting image of Ms. Evadne Ms Archer you are the most perfect
substitute I’ve ever encountered.”
Elsie’s expression remained unchanged, but her eyes darkened with the weight of his words.
The term “substitute turned all his preceding praise into biting sarcasm
Avery didn’t pick up on the awkward moment but instead opened a case to reveal an antique vase.
This is an ancient piece, latticework revolving vase I secured for you at the Aethena auction. A small
token, I hope you f Lit acceptable” Alexia raised an eyebrow
She had been tracking this vase for the gentleman as well, which had sold for a fortune to an
anonymous domestic buyer. She hadn’t expected that buyer to be Avery
Avery was indeed a consummate pleaser, a loyal hound to the end extra care with the dad0044
The man nodded slightly “Mr. Chambers, you are thoughtful as always. I’ll be counting on you to take
extr project
Avery bowed deeply. Rest assured. I will spare no effor
After the two men left, the room, filled with the scent of incense, sank into silence.
“Sir, do you find the face you gave me beautiful, or is Elsies, which resembles Evadre’s to a striking
degree, more stunning?” Alexia’s hands gently rested on the man’s shoulders as she leaned in to
whisper seductively in his ear
The man’s eyes curved into a smile, and he patted his knee twice.
Alexia, understanding her cue, knelt before him, her radiant face lifted to his, her eyes rippling with
tender waves
“Elsie may resemble Evadne, but she will never be her. She’s just a low–grade substitute created to
satiate Avery’s desires” The man leaned forward, his fingertips tracing her jawline, tilting her face up.
“But you, you are my meticulously crafted masterpiece. How could a mere imitation compare to the
object by my side?”
A flicker of darkness flashed through Alexia’s eyes.
This man was like a deity gazing down upon the mortal realm, and in his eyes, all beings were merely
his possessions. Thus, being referred to as an “object” didn’t bother her.
“Sir, if I may be so bold; Alexia said, kneeling beside him, her hands skillfully massaging his legs. I think
there’s no better time than now for you to make your move. As Avery said, the best way to manipulate
a man is to exploit his pity. I worry that Frederic, out of guilt, might hand over corporate control to
Thaddeus.”
The man chuckled lightly. “He won’t.”
“And now that Elspeth has been utterly toppled, Glynnis has no significance in the Abernathy family
any longer”
Alexia spoke softly. “Why not leak the secrets you hold and ensnare them both in one fell swoop?
Useless pawns are nothing but eyesores on the board.”
“Not until the end will you know if they are truly useless.”
Alexia was taken aback
“My grandfather always told me not to be wasteful, that thrift is a virtue.”
The man reclined comfortably, “So I intend to use each pawn to its fullest potential, lest I fail to honor
my grandfather’s teachings.”
Alexia couldn’t help but sneer. “Your full potential includes Avery, doesn’t it?”
The man cleared his throat and elegantly lifted his teacup to sip, Texpect him to deliver a satisfactory
report on the medical trials. Otherwise, our relationship will come to an inevitable end”
On the day of judgment. Elspeth filed an appeal in court
Ten days later, the second trial confirmed the verdict–death sentence upheld!
From that moment, Elspeth felt as though she had gone blind. She spent her days curled in the darkest
corner of her cell, vacantly staring at the iron bars from dawn till dusk, and then into the pitch–
blackness, shrouded in murky fog Property © NôvelDrama.Org.
She reflected on her life, undeniably once glorious. But with each step up the social ladder, someone
had to be her stepping stone, someone had to pay for her vanity
Cynthia was the first person she killed.
Ironically, it was this woman, dead for twenty years, who delivered Elspeth’s death blow.
In truth, she had regretted it.
Cynthia’s death wasn’t necessary: what difference would her living have made?
But back then, Elspeth was like a woman possessed, despising Cynthia and, buoyed by Frederic’s
adoration, had become reckless and lawless, believing that under his protection, she could rule the
world!
Instead, Frederic’s love was nothing but a ludicrous mirage
Elspeth tore at her hair, plucking out strands of gray, the intense pain snapping her into a bitter clarity,
seeing through his selfishness and coldness.
He had never loved her.
But then, he probably hadn’t loved Cynthia much either.
Otherwise, why had he so readily accepted the so–called truth of her suicide twenty years ago?
Elspeth, with bloodshot and blurred eyes, muttered incessantly in madness,
“Frederic, one day you’ll get your comeuppancem you’ll pay for your disloyalty! I’ll be watching from the
heavens!” The next day
“0742, you have a visitor.”
Because she was a high–security prisoner, Elspeth was brought into the visiting room in both handcuffs
and leg irons
Her vision had deteriorated drastically due to neural stress and overuse, unable to distinguish anything
beyond three meters.
Elspeth, looking withered and lost, stood frozen in place.
She had lost all interest in life and had initially not wanted to see anyone. But now that there was i was
curious to see who still had the time to witness her final downfall.
s no one left she cared for, she
“Who is it?”
“Mom.
Elspeth’s dim eyes trembled sharply, and she staggered towards the glass, the clanking of her chains
echoing through the room.
Through her shaking vision, Marilla’s delicate and fair face gradually became clear.
Elspeth pressed her gaunt hands against the cold glass, her eyes wide with shock. Her mouth opened
and closed, and after a moment of hesitation, she stammered out a name, her voice barely above a
whisper,
“Marilla? Is it you, is it Marilla?”
Marilla faced the unrecognizable woman who was her mother, her eyes brimming with tears, and gave
a small nod.
Beside her, Jareth wrapped his large arm around his petite wife’s trembling shoulders, gently caressing
her in an attempt to provide comfort.
He could hardly believe that the woman before him, with her hair as white and brittle as dead grass and
her face mottled like peeling paint, was once the age–defying beauty, the lady of the manor.
Elspeth’s chest heaved as she fought for breath, her lips quivering as tears coursed down her face.
“Jareth, you know about Marilla, don’t you? You really shouldn’t have let her come to a place like this,
it’s so unlucky”
Jareth’s brow furrowed, ready to speak, but Marilla softly interrupted, 1 asked Jareth to bring me here.”
“Marilla”
Elspeth’s sobs escalated into a flood of tears, “I knew it. I just knew you were the kindest child. I knew
you wouldn’t bear to let me
But the next second, that faint glimmer of solace she had felt was extinguished by Marilla’s piercing
words.
I came to see you one last time, not because I’ve forgiven you”