Chapter 57 : Why Bring Her?
Ronan snorted. “Who else? He’s never really been one of us. My dad doesn’t trust him. If he ends up with someone powerful backing him, that’s a threat. You think my dad will sit back and let that happen? No way.”
In the pavilion.
Allison rested her chin on her palm and listened through the earbud. She heard everything.
So this was why Nigel brought me here. To pressure Ronan into marrying Sherrie.
He could not stand the thought of Sherrie being humiliated, so he let me take the humiliation instead.
He brought her along just to make Sherrie look better next to her. To put her scarred face on display. A man like Ronan, who had always gone for pretty girls, was never going to choose someone like her.
Of course, he would choose Sherrie.
Allison had to admit it. Nigel had thought everything through. He really was a good big brother, just not for her anymore.
Inside Maplecrest Villa, the conversation went on. The point was clear. If Jareth did not get married, Ronan could not either. And if Jareth married someone powerful, Ronan had to surpass him.
No matter what, Ronan had to come out on top of Jareth.
And to the Lopez family, the Rogers family had nothing to offer.
Outside, the sharp tap of a cane echoed along the stone path.
Jareth walked slowly with his cane. Oliver followed beside him. When he looked up, he paused. “Jareth, isn’t that Allison over there?” He frowned. “Why is she sitting out here under the cold weather?”
The tapping stopped for a moment. Jareth glanced toward the pavilion, wearing a blank expression. “Let’s go.”
From where she sat, Allison noticed Jareth as well.
He was heading toward Longevity Springs, the part of the estate where Jackson lived.
Not long after Jareth disappeared, a servant hurried over to the pavilion with a scarf and a hand warmer.
Allison blinked in surprise. “Who sent this?” she asked.
But the servant saw Ronan and Nigel approaching from the villa and quickly left without answering.
Nigel walked into the pavilion, and his eyes narrowed when he noticed the scarf in her lap. “Where did that come from?”
Before Allison could answer, Ronan walked up behind him. “Why don’t we bring Allison along?” he suggested casually.
Nigel frowned. They were heading to Longevity Springs. Why bring her?
Ronan glanced at Allison. His tone sounded casual, but the sarcasm was obvious. “Even if the engagement is off, Allison is still a friend. She’s always welcome in our home.”
Ronan had just received a call from Luke. Jackson was about to deal with Jareth, and they had been invited to witness it.
Nigel was not sure what Ronan was planning.
But Ronan had something else in mind. Allison keeps saying Jareth is better than me? Fine. Let her see how the Lopez family deals with someone who has no place at the table.
Nigel was too focused on Sherrie’s engagement to pay attention to Allison. He let Ronan lead the way to Longevity Springs without a word.
They walked quickly, staying just behind Jareth.
Allison followed a few steps back, but her view was blocked by Nigel and Ronan’s tall figures. She kept her head lowered, lost in her thoughts, until a sharp crack yanked her back to reality.
A sharp crash echoed ahead.
She looked up just in time to see a teacup shatter at Jareth’s feet. The porcelain exploded across the stone floor, right after it slammed into his shoulder.
But Jareth did not flinch. He stood there, completely still, steam rising from the shoulder of his black coat. The tea must be scalding hot.
Then a voice came from inside. “Don’t forget who’s still in charge here.”
Ronan crossed his arms, a smirk on his face. “Grandpa has been calling for him for days. Looks like he finally lost his patience.”
He turned to glance at Allison with an arrogant expression.
As if Jareth being humiliated was something worth showing off.
Allison ignored him. She looked at Nigel instead.
He stood off to the side, completely undaunted. As if this kind of thing happened all the time. As if there was nothing wrong with it. He and Ronan were clearly on the same side. And the higher Ronan climbed, the better it was for Sherrie.
Up ahead, Jareth stepped over the shattered teacup. One hand braced against the doorframe as he crossed into Longevity Springs.
Allison halted her steps. She remembered that entrance from when she was younger. It had not been that high before. Had they rebuilt it on purpose?
Jareth already struggled to walk. That steep step was clearly meant to trip him.
If Jareth fell at the doorway, it would happen right in front of everyone. He would hit the floor, humiliated, with all those eyes watching him in silent judgment.
What a twisted mind.
Allison followed them into the main hall. Ronan dropped into a chair off to the side, slouching comfortably against the backrest with his arms stretched over the armrests. If Jackson were not in the room, he probably would have crossed one leg over the other like he owned the place.
Nigel took the seat beside Ronan.
Even Allison had a seat, though hers was placed behind Nigel, farther from the center.
She hesitated before sitting. When she looked up again, she realized there were no empty chairs left.
Jareth stood alone in the center of the hall. No one had even thought to offer him a seat.
Jackson took the main seat. Luke was not there, but his young wife, Linda, stood beside Jackson, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
The moment she saw Jareth, Linda started scolding him. “Jareth, don’t blame Father for hitting you. You really crossed the line this time. You’re older. Ronan is your nephew. You should have let it go. How could you beat him so badly that he can’t even get out of bed?” Then she added, “If you had come back right away and apologized, father wouldn’t have gotten angry. But no. He sent people to find you more than once, and you ignored them every time. Were you deliberately trying to provoke him?”
Jareth leaned on his cane, one shoulder lifting slightly as he shifted his weight to conserve his strength.
As he listened to Linda’s accusations, a smirk slowly formed on his lips. His eyes and expression were filled with mockery.