Betrayed by the Father Reborn in His Rival's Arms novel Chapter 102

Who did she think Arthur Whitman was? He was a titan of industry, a man so highly regarded that even presidents sought meetings with him. He was someone who made monumental contributions to the national economy.

How could they just stand by and let her hurl insults like 'ancient fossil' at him?

Liliana broke down completely, clutching her cheek and sobbing. "Your family is bullying me!"

"I gave the Whitmans a child, and this is how you treat me? You're a bunch of bullies!"

She wept pathetically, but Barnaby just scoffed coldly. "We can have as many children as we want, and we'll pick the good ones. A bastard child born of your deceit won't serve as a tool for you to effortlessly seize wealth. Someone like you would squander a fortune the second you got your hands on it anyway. You have no right to stand here and hurl insults at your elders. If I hear you say one more word, the next slap won't be nearly as light."

The elderly butler's hands were weathered and veiny, but the strike had been ruthlessly sharp.

Liliana's lips trembled in agony, and she didn't dare make another sound.

Lucius, who had always rushed to her defense no matter the circumstances, remained dead silent.

Liliana finally realized what an incredibly stupid mistake she had made by dragging Leo here to demand a proper title.

But she wasn't the only one suffering the consequences of her actions.

Arthur spoke up, his voice booming. "Tomorrow, I will convene the Whitman Board of Directors and announce a decision. I am stripping Lucius of half his management rights. His remaining authority will be placed under strict board supervision. Any major moves Lucius wants to make—whether it's transferring subsidiaries, reallocating liquid funds, or appointing key personnel—will have to go through me first. I absolutely refuse to let Lucius squander the wealth our family has spent generations building."

Arthur's words carried immense weight. The moment he spoke, a deafening silence fell over the room.

Arthur knew how devastating this whole ordeal must be. Madeline had poured her heart into raising Leo for years, only for the boy to coldly call her by her first name. Anyone could see how deeply that hurt her.

What baffled the old man was that Madeline hadn't thrown a hysterical fit when Liliana showed up. She hadn't screamed, attacked the woman, or even shed a tear.

Defying every stereotype of the scorned wife confronting the mistress, Madeline appeared eerily calm. In fact, she seemed entirely indifferent. No matter what Liliana did, she didn't bat an eyelash.

Her expression was so tranquil it was as if the drama had absolutely nothing to do with her. She looked as though she had anticipated this exact moment all along.

Only now did a flicker of emotion cross Madeline's face. Her eyes gleamed faintly as she looked up at Arthur, her voice soft but resolute. "I want a divorce."